Foundation for Child Development study reveals 22% of US children live in poverty

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.examiner.com/x-43490-Infant-Health-Examiner~y2010m6d8-Foundation-for-Child-Development-study-reveals-22-of-US-children-live-in-poverty


According to a study by the Foundation for Child Development, 2010 will see the highest rate of children living in poverty in two decades. Study results reported in USA Today (June 7, 2010) showed staggering increases since the start of the recession: One in five children live in poverty, approximately 18% of families are unsure where they will obtain food and an estimated 500,000 children are homeless. As always, poverty and health problems go hand in hand. The president of the American Academy of Pediatrics states, “Family poverty increases many risks for children, including low birth weight, premature delivery, learning problems, asthma and other health problems.”

As Americans struggle together through the recession, these study results bring to mind the obvious question—what are we, as a country, going to do about this? While preparing to write this article, I was saddened to see many comments online negating the importance of this research study. There were remarks that these children will all get government handouts, food stamps or subsidized housing. There were tirades about the parents of these kids being illegal immigrants or deadbeats unwilling to work when it’s easier to take as much as the government will give. People are broke, frustrated and angry and with good reason, however, it is important to remember that these are children in trouble who need help. Yes, it can be unbelievably frustrating as a working person struggling to get by to see parents on welfare with the latest cell phones or fancy clothes. And, yes, things like this should not be. Nonetheless, complaining about how some families abuse the welfare system does nothing to help the 500,000 children who will find themselves homeless this year.

Changes need to be made, welfare needs to be reformed, money needs to get to those who really need it. There are so many government cut backs happening this year that will negatively affect our children such as decreasing monies to schools and cutting free lunch programs (for many of the children in the community where this author works as a nurse, free school lunch is often the only meal these children will have all day.) someone needs to be a voice for the children of poverty. As Americans, as a people, someone needs to answer the question—what are we going to do about this?

[emilyg]

1. Let's just engage in spending more on wars.

[xchrom]

2. Yeeesh. Nt

[villager]

3. That's okay! We have to cut "entitlements," to free up corporate subsidies

...and war spending!

[OhioChick]

4. Shameful n/t

[YvonneCa]

5. And yet some wonder why public schools...

...are struggling. Poverty is the #1 reason for student lack-of-success in school. Even an excellent...highy qualified...teacher can't do it alone.

[zazen]

7. but they must improve "achievement in STEM to compete globally in the 21st century!"

People would not _believe_ the money that goes to quixotic 'education reform' projects and consultants that could feed all the children in a district for a year.

Because getting more kids in the "STEM pipeline" matters so much, since there are all of those high-paying jobs statewide just waiting for them.

[Militant_Populist]

6. Right-wing Presidents

Thanks to the Reagan and Bush families for this.