Parents

Poverty

Poverty is the greatest threat to children’s healthy development. Twenty-five percent of children under age six live in poverty. That’s six million young kids whose parents struggle to afford safe housing, healthy food, and quality early care and learning. Growing up in poverty has long-term consequences for children’s well-being, impacting children’s health, academic achievement, and social-emotional development. The risks are greatest when children are young.

Docs for Tots believes that families need access to a range of supports in order to be financially secure. Young children’s doctors can connect families with important resources, like tax credits, and be advocates for strengthening supports like family leave insurance.

Doctors can also be a powerful voice for drawing attention to the health consequences of child poverty.

As a parent, you can:

• Teach your children about finances early on
• Educate yourself and take advantage of any tax credits, other economic supports available to you
• Learn about financial literacy: smart saving, spending and sharing and work towards your financial health
• Advocate for investments that promote financial health