Published: November 2024

ID #: 80767

Publisher: Child Trends

Authors: Elizabeth Villegas, Lauren Kissela, Gabriel Piña, Kathryn Leifheit, Yiyu Chen, Eliana M. Perrin

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This study focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic-related experiences of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic families with young children (birth to age 5) and low incomes. Families with low incomes were overrepresented among the unemployed populations in most U.S. metropolitan areas, and a higher percentage of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic workers with low incomes were displaced for work compared to their mid- to higher-earning counterparts. Financial stressors are strongly tied to mental health and well-being outcomes, negatively impacting child development. In contrast, financial support can faciliate resilience. Throughout the pandemic, a number of relief programs were designed to mitigate the impacts of the economic recession and positively impact child and family outcomes. Many families were eligible to recieve direct economic relief or “stimulus” payments, extended unemployment insurance, expanded child tax credits, and emergency rental assistance from the federal government. In addition, many local community agencies and programs provided various forms of relief and connections to services. This brief offers an overview of the study, key findings, and research-based recommendations for policymakers and programs that serve families with low incomes.

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