Child Poverty in the United States
In the United States of America (U.S.), one of the populations that are likely to suffer from poverty is children. The rate of child poverty in the U.S. is higher compared to other developed nations across the world. According to Harrison (2013), about 22 percent of children, equivalent to one in every five children in the country live in poverty. In addition, about 24 percent of American children aged below six years are poor; with 11 percent of poor American children hailing from families whose income is 50 percent below the country’s poverty levels (Harrison, 2013). As a result, child poverty is one of the pressing social challenges in the U.S.
The rates of child poverty are not equal among the different states in the U.S. Some have high child poverty rates compared to others. Notably, the rate of child poverty is highest in the Southern States, such as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as Texas and New Mexico in the South-west (Harrison, 2013). In these states, the rates of child poverty are approximated to be above 25 percent (Harrison, 2013). Harrison (2013) asserts that the high rate of child poverty in these states can be attributed to that most of the children are from families of black and Hispanic backgrounds. Most families from these backgrounds have low incomes, which tend to fall below the average federal poverty threshold. In this sense, children born and raised in these states are also likely to be poor. On the other hand, some of the states with the lowest child poverty include: Utah, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Nebraska, Maryland, and Minnesota, among others. The low rate of child poverty in these states is because some of them have the country’s best economies, and others have the fastest growing economies resulting in families that live above the federal poverty levels. In light of this, child poverty remains a significant challenge in the U.S. despite progress in several states to tackle the problem.
The rates of child poverty are not equal among the different states in the U.S. Some have high child poverty rates compared to others. Notably, the rate of child poverty is highest in the Southern States, such as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as Texas and New Mexico in the South-west (Harrison, 2013). In these states, the rates of child poverty are approximated to be above 25 percent (Harrison, 2013). Harrison (2013) asserts that the high rate of child poverty in these states can be attributed to that most of the children are from families of black and Hispanic backgrounds. Most families from these backgrounds have low incomes, which tend to fall below the average federal poverty threshold. In this sense, children born and raised in these states are also likely to be poor. On the other hand, some of the states with the lowest child poverty include: Utah, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Nebraska, Maryland, and Minnesota, among others. The low rate of child poverty in these states is because some of them have the country’s best economies, and others have the fastest growing economies resulting in families that live above the federal poverty levels. In light of this, child poverty remains a significant challenge in the U.S. despite progress in several states to tackle the problem.
The rates of child poverty are not equal among the different states in the U.S. Some have high child poverty rates compared to others. Notably, the rate of child poverty is highest in the Southern States, such as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as Texas and New Mexico in the South-west (Harrison, 2013). In these states, the rates of child poverty are approximated to be above 25 percent (Harrison, 2013). Harrison (2013) asserts that the high rate of child poverty in these states can be attributed to that most of the children are from families of black and Hispanic backgrounds. Most families from these backgrounds have low incomes, which tend to fall below the average federal poverty threshold. In this sense, children born and raised in these states are also likely to be poor. On the other hand, some of the states with the lowest child poverty include: Utah, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Nebraska, Maryland, and Minnesota, among others. The low rate of child poverty in these states is because some of them have the country’s best economies, and others have the fastest growing economies resulting in families that live above the federal poverty levels. In light of this, child poverty remains a significant challenge in the U.S. despite progress in several states to tackle the problem.
References
Harrison, B. C. (2013). Power and society: An introduction to the social sciences. Cengage Learning.