Economic stability is a social determinant of health—or a nonmedical factor—that can impact the health and well-being of children, youth, and families. When families have economic stability, they have reliable access to resources to meet their basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing. This is necessary for improved quality of life.
Focusing on upstream prevention by connecting families to services and resources that provide economic support can help children, youth, and families thrive. Cross-system efforts to help families receive concrete supports, such as cash transfers, tax credits, housing assistance, adequate nutrition, and subsidized child care, have been shown to reduce the need for child welfare intervention. Equitable access to these concrete supports is crucial to address longstanding systemic inequities. For example, Black Americans are disproportionately likely to experience economic instability compared with Americans overall.
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How Concrete and Economic Supports Can Improve Child and Family Well-Being
Explores how various human services agencies can provide concrete and economic supports to ensure families have what they need to keep children safe and healthy, avoiding maltreatment, particularly neglect.
A Key Connection: Economic Stability and Family Well-Being
Provides information on economic and concrete supports that play a critical role in preventing child abuse and neglect and reducing overall child welfare involvement as well as promoting child and family well-being through state and federal policies.
How Do Economic Supports Benefit Families and Communities?
Learn how community-based strategies that provide basic economic support to families can decrease the risks of child maltreatment, the likelihood of child welfare system involvement, and family separation and improve child and family well-being.
Addressing Economic Hardship Key to Preventing Child Welfare System Involvement
Summarizes historical policy context and provides information on policy, programs, analytic, and engagement strategies for leveraging economic supports to better promote child and family well-being and prevent maltreatment.