What’s New
Who are America’s Poor Children?
The Official Story
America’s official poverty measure needs to be updated and improved, but it is still used by researchers, policymakers, and the media to define economic disadvantage. This fact sheet details some of the characteristics of children who are considered poor by the official standard – including their race/ethnicity, parental nativity, and the hardships they face.
Making Work Supports Work
A Picture of Low-wage Workers in America
This report analyzes the effectiveness of America's “work supports” – such as earned income tax credits, public health insurance, child care assistance and food stamps. Work supports can close the gap between low earnings and basic expenses, but working more does not always pay as families lose eligibility for critical supports. NCCP found that small increases in family income can trigger sharp reductions in benefits, leaving some families no better off – or even worse off.
Featured Projects
Project THRIVE
Project THRIVE is a public policy analysis and education initiative to promote healthy child development and to provide policy support to the State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) initiatives.
Improving the Odds for Adolescents
Improving the Odds for Adolescents is a two-year project to improve health outcomes for adolescents – with a special focus on disadvantaged youth – through the strengthening of state policies, including fiscal strategies.