26% of children under age 6 in the U.S. live in poverty; nearly 50% live below 200% of poverty. And child poverty is rising. Public safety net and work support programs are a crucial means for families to combat the detrimental effects of living in poverty. Families that participate in SNAP are more likely to have adequate supplies of food throughout the year, and in turn, their children are less likely to be underweight or at risk for developmental delays. And these benefits have been found to last into adulthood. Similarly, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps families pay for energy costs, has been shown to improve outcomes for children, including increasing their odds of having normal weights for their age. The importance of safety net and work support programs is the central focus of a new policy brief, A Stronger Safety Net For America’s Children, provides an overview of the opportunities and challenges currently facing public safety net and work support programs for children and their families.
Source: Center for Law and Social Policy, 7/15/13, Kid's Safety Net
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