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Those who need relief most are getting short end of Mass. tax refund

Originally posted on The Boston Globe. Re “Refunds could be bigger than expected: Checks triggered by 1980s law are expected to be 13% of taxpayer liability” (Page A1, Sept. 17): It’s true that at a time when rising inflation continues…
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Tuesday, September 27, 2022 - Dr. Eddie Ochoa & Tanya Nixon-Silberg at "Equity & You: Raising Anti-Racist Children"

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Addressing Food Insecurity At Its Root

Originally posted on BU Experts. Ahead of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, food insecurity expert shares research-backed approaches for addressing hunger in the U.S. It is estimated that hunger and food insecurity…
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Robust policies reduce food insecurity and child poverty

In September 2022, the US Department of Agriculture released their annual “Food Security in the US” report for the 2021 calendar year. Food insecurity, identified as a household level social and economic condition of lack of consistent access…
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‘Worrisome’ data link eviction to poor health in children

Originally posted on Healio. Eviction was associated with increased odds of poor health in children and their parents, according to a study published in Pediatrics. Co-author Dr. Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, PhD, MPH, Executive Director of…
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New study shows families with children at higher risk for eviction

Originally posted on Verywell Family. A new study released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) shows families with children facing or experiencing eviction have poorer health than those who do not. Following the COVID-19 pandemic…
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Eviction and Household Health and Hardships in Families With Very Young Children

Abstract Background Families with versus without children are at greater eviction risk. Eviction is a abstract perinatal, pediatric, and adult health concern. Most studies evaluate only formal evictions. Methods Using cross-sectional…
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Prenatal WIC Is Associated with Increased Birth Weight of Infants Born in the United States with Immigrant Mothers

Originally posted on Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Abstract Background The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) improves health outcomes for participating mothers and children.…
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Our Policy Focus Areas

Children’s HealthWatch research and policy analysis specifically focuses on the child health and developmental impacts of economic hardships with a particular focus on food insecurity, unstable housing, health care hardships and inability to afford adequate household energy.

  • Food Security

    Consistent access to food for all family members is crucial for ensuring children are healthy. Food and nutrition assistance programs are an essential cornerstone in supporting the health and well-being of low-income families.

  • Housing Stability

    Stable housing supports healthy growth and development among young children, and means families are not behind on rent, moving frequently, doubled up, overcrowded, or homeless. Policies that create affordable housing options that provide access to safe, stable housing help ensure young children and their families can thrive and be successful in life.

  • Energy Security

    Maintaining consistent utility services so homes are heated in the winter and cooled in the summer is critical for children’s health and safety. Energy supports protect families from the harmful health effects of having their utilities shut off.

  • Health Care Hardships

    When families are forced to choose between paying for health care, such as medical care and prescriptions, and other basic needs such as food, rent, child care, or utility bills, that decision can have an effect on the health and wellbeing of young children. Providing supports necessary to care for children, especially those with special health care needs, is crucial for improving child health.

  • Poverty

    Alleviating economic hardships for families with young children will require comprehensive policy solutions including improvements to nutrition assistance programs, increasing access to affordable housing, providing energy assistance, making work pay through reducing cliff effects and increasing  and expanding access to the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, providing affordable child care to all children, and supporting the health and development of all children.

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