Reducing Child Poverty

New York has for too long allowed hundreds of thousands of children endure the hardships of poverty – in times of recession, and in times of plenty. New York’s child poverty rate has hovered just above and just below 20% for decades, with Black and Latino children significantly more likely to live in poverty than their white peers.

For our children experiencing poverty, every day matters. The experience of poverty and trauma in childhood can have long-lasting impacts on development. The stress of poverty can alter the brain development of young children–causing permanent changes in the structure and functioning of the brain. As a result, many children who experience poverty face significant challenges–in the form of poor health, academic obstacles, lower earnings – for the rest of their lives. This has a detrimental impact on children, but also on the future viability of communities.

Schuyler Center works to bring public and policymaker attention to the need to address child poverty and advance State budget.

Policy Focus

  • Child Tax Credits: Fully utilize child tax credits as a tool to reduce poverty – at the State and Federal level, including:
    • Strengthen and expand New York’s Earned Income Tax Credit;
    • Expand and strengthen New York’s child tax credit;
    • Expand the Federal Child Tax Credit
  • Expand access to high quality, subsidized child care and universal pre-K;
  • Strengthen public health coverage programs.
  • Assist low-income individuals and families who struggle to make ends meet, even when employed, because of low wages, lack of benefits, and/or volatile job schedules.

Reducing Child Poverty Core Workgroup

Children’s Defense Fund-New York
Citizens’ Committee for Children of NY (CCC)
Community Service Society
New York Immigration Coalition
NYS American Academy of Pediatrics, Chapters 1, 2 & 3
Prevent Child Abuse NY
Robin Hood

Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy
The Children’s Agenda
The Education Trust-New York
United Way of Greater Rochester
Westchester Children’s Association

Partners

Action for a Better Community
Adirondack Foundation – Birth to Three Alliance
Alliance for Quality Education
Alliance of New York State YMCAs
Astor Services for Children & Families
Bivona Child Advocacy Center
COFCCA
Callen-Lorde Community Health Center
Citizen Action of New York
Community Health Care Association of NYS
Docs for Tots
ECE on the Move
Early Care and Learning Council
Educators for Excellence – New York
Foodlink
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
Hope For Youth
League of Women Voters of St. Lawrence County
Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York

Medicaid Matters New York
The Mental Health Association of Westchester
Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network
New York State Community Action Association
New York State Council of Churches
NYPALC – New York Portuguese American Leadership Conference
NYS Network for Youth Success
Open Door Family Medical Center
Poppy Muse Inc.
Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative
United Way Of The Greater Capital Region
University of Rochester
University of Rochester Medical Center
United Way of Westchester and Putnam
Westchester Library System
White Plains Youth Bureau
YWCAs of NYS
Yonkers Coalition for Youth

Child Poverty Resources


March 15, 2024
Addressing Child Poverty in NYS Budget – Letter from Advocates to Leadership

Resource Category/Categories: Child Care, Child Poverty, Child Welfare, Health, NYS Budget | Resource Type: Letters


March 13, 2024
Schuyler Center Statement in Response to One-House Budget Bills

Resource Category/Categories: Child Care, Child Poverty, Child Welfare, Health, NYS Budget | Resource Type: Statements & Press Releases


March 6, 2024
Schuyler Insider newsletter – March 6, 2024

Resource Category/Categories: Child Care, Child Poverty, Child Welfare, Health, NYS Budget, Oral Health | Resource Type: Newsletter - Schuyler Insider


Child Poverty News