One in six newborns were born poor over the past 40 years, and nearly half remained poor half their childhoods. These persistently poor children are nearly 90 percent more likely than never-poor children to enter their 20s without completing high school and are four times more likely to give birth outside of marriage during their teenage years. Children whose parents did not complete high school are less likely to complete high school themselves. This paper examines the magnitude of child poverty, family characteristics related to childhood poverty persistence, and childhood poverty's lasting…
Nearly half of children born to poor parents remained poor half their childhoods. Black children are especially disadvantaged: two-thirds of poor black newborns are persistently poor. Children who are poor early in life (age 0-2) are 30 percent less likely to complete high school than those first poor later in childhood, even after controlling for poverty duration and other factors. Reaching vulnerable children at birth is vital, as a childs early environment can affect brain development. This factsheet summarizes the report Child Poverty and Its Lasting Consequence". (Author abstract)
This study evaluated the family-inclusive case management component of the Chicago-based Safer Return program, which engages family members in service provision to former prisoners. Using qualitative and quantitative data, the research focused on the associations between family support and family members' and formerly incarcerated persons' short-term outcomes. The research found that family members have strong and positive relationships with their formerly incarcerated relatives. However, engaging families in the reentry process directly can be challenging because incarcerated persons are…
Demonstrating the urgent need for broad national action and collaboration between private and public leaders in our communities, The White House Council for Community Solutions released an analysis showing that in 2011 alone, taxpayers shouldered more than $93 billion to compensate for lost taxes and direct costs to support the young people disconnected from jobs and school. At least one in six young adults is disconnected from education and work, according to this report. Projections show that over the lifetime of these young people, taxpayers will assume a $1.6 trillion burden to meet the…
This report summarizes and synthesizes study findings on the effectiveness of responsible fatherhood programs, including those aimed at promoting responsible fatherhood and economic self-sufficiency among low-income and noncustodial fathers. In particular, there is growing interest in ascertaining "what works for whom"--that is, in examining program impacts among meaningful subgroups of fathers in order to foster better program design and provide a basis for targeting program services. (Author abstract modified)
Current policy regarding child protection services places increasing demands for providers to engage fathers whose children are involved in the child protection process. This requisite brings to the fore the ongoing challenges that fathers have historically faced in working within these systems. Despite this need, there is little empirical evidence regarding the factors and strategies that impact the engagement of fathers in interventions relevant to child protection services. This comprehensive and systemic review synthesizes the available literature regarding factors and strategies that may…
A parenting adult and a 10- to 15-year old were surveyed in 1,511 racially, ethnically, economically, geographically, and structurally diverse U.S. families. Key findings indicate: (1) The average American family surveyed scores 47 out of 100 on the Family Assets Index; (2) Families are more alike than different when it comes to overall levels of Family Assets; (3) Some demographic factors do make a difference in overall levels of Family Assets, though these differences tend to be small -- some factors that do affect overall levels of Family Assets include age of the child, parenting adults'…
The underestimation of the presence of nonresident fathers is discussed and findings from a study that investigated the ability of household surveys to identify nonresident fathers are shared. Using data from the 2011 Current Population Survey (CPS) March Supplement, the Wave 4 Poverty Topical Module from the 2008 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) panel, and the 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), the study compared estimates of nonresident fathers and considered the socioeconomic characteristics of nonresident fathers identified in these surveys. Results…
Thirteen years have passed since the last comprehensive review of the fatherhood field, Map and Track: State Initiatives to Encourage Responsible Fatherhood (Bernard & Knitzer, 1999). In the interim, two recessions, funding cuts, and tight fiscal conditions have made it extremely unlikely that states would fund fatherhood initiatives without federal subsidies. Given diminished opportunities to leverage public funds for responsible fatherhood, organized philanthropy has also reduced funding for responsible fatherhood. Despite these funding constraints, however, the array of fatherhood…
By reading this particular volume in The Intermediary Development Series, intermediary organizations and the faith-based and community-based organizations they work with will learn key concepts about increasing their capacity to evaluate the extent to which they are achieving their intended results and to conduct outcome measurement by creating and implementing an outcome measurement plan for their program. After reading this guidebook, they will better understand the key elements required to develop an outcome measurement plan and accurately measure their program's outcomes including how…
