1 / 15

ILLINOIS KIDS COUNT SYMPOSIUM

This symposium discusses the hidden impact of recession on children, including the long-term effects of unemployment and child poverty rates in Illinois. It also highlights the need for policy investments to secure the future of children and families.

pedron
Download Presentation

ILLINOIS KIDS COUNT SYMPOSIUM

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. ILLINOIS KIDS COUNT SYMPOSIUM March 5, 2010

  2. Introduction • The most visible signs of recession don’t reveal full impact on children • Children are hidden casualties of the economic crisis • Recessions have lasting effects on child poverty

  3. Effects of Unemployment When parents lose a job, children are more likely to: • Struggle in school • Repeat a grade • Have behavior problems

  4. Long-Term Effects of Child Poverty Children growing up in poverty are likely to have: • Lower levels of educational attainment • Diminished employment prospects • Greater health problems

  5. Child Poverty in Illinois, 2008 (before recession) • Children in poverty: 530,000 • Child poverty rate: 17% (18% in U.S.) • Children as share of Illinois residents: 25% • Children as share of poverty population: 35%

  6. Illinois Poverty Rates by Age, 2008 Children 17% Under age 6 20% Ages 6-17 15% Ages 18-64 11% Age 65 & over 9%

  7. Recession and Child Poverty • Poverty rates will be higher for 2009 • Poverty expected to continue rising even after economy begins to recover • Child poverty in U.S. projected to reach 24% in 2012 • Expected rate in Illinois: 22% (more than 650,000 children)

  8. Trends Before Recession:Family Incomes Lag Behind Inflation Change in median family income, adjusted for inflation, 1999-2008 All families -2.6% White -0.2% Black -8.8% Latino -6.7% Asian +1.9%

  9. Trends Before Recession:Child Poverty in Illinois 2000-01 2007-08 All children 15% 17% White 8% 9% Black 37% 39% Latino 19% 22% Asian 9% 9%

  10. Trends Before Recession: Homeless Children • More than 25,000 homeless students in Illinois public schools in 2007-08 • Evidence that homelessness has become much worse since then

  11. Economic Security Programs: Unemployment Insurance • End of 2009: one in seven children in U.S. lived with unemployed parent • Unemployment Insurance considered first line of defense in a recession • But majority of unemployed workers do not receive regular UI benefits

  12. Food Stamp Program • About half of Food Stamp recipients in Illinois are children • Illinois residents receiving Food Stamps June 2007: 1.26 million June 2009: 1.50 million (22% increase) • Food Stamps and federal EITC are the most effective programs in lifting children above poverty level

  13. Policy Gains for Illinois Children • Early childhood care and education • Health care coverage • Child care assistance for low-income families • Mental health services • Child welfare and prevention strategies

  14. Securing the Future for Children and Families Recession and state fiscal crisis put these policy investments in jeopardy Policy challenges: • Protect families in need • Build on successful policies • Strengthen foundation for prosperous future

  15. Illinois Kids Count 2010 report is available at: www.voices4kids.org/library/kidscount.html

More Related