Welfare Reform and the Health of Young Children

This article investigates associations of loss or reduction of welfare with food security and health outcomes among children aged 36 months or younger.  In a sample of 2,718, children in families whose welfare was terminated or reduced had greater odds of being food insecure, of having been hospitalized since birth, or being admitted the day of an emergency department visit. Changes implanted under the new welfare reform law may be associated with unintended harmful consequences for young children’s health.