Help Children Born into Poverty

This commentary was authored by Caroline Ratcliffe and Signe-Mary McKernan of the Urban Institute on children born into poverty. Poverty often starts at birth, which can lead to unstable housing, schooling, and nutrition; and data show that children born into poverty are more likely to drop out of school, have a child as a teenager, and be underemployed. The authors argue that social services can help alleviate the long-term effects of poverty for lower-income children.