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Child Health

Making the Case for Paid Family Leave

2023

Paid family leave is essential for promoting health equity and supporting family well-being. Extensive research has shown that paid family leave programs have a positive impact on adult and child mental, physical, and financial health, and the vast majority of people in America are in favor of paid leave.

Changing the Narrative to Change the Policy: Ending Hunger in America

2022

This brief represents the insight and expertise of people with lived experience and their solutions to address poverty and hunger in America.

Policy Solutions to End Hunger in America: Calling on the White House for Radical Strategy Change

2022

This policy brief outlines the solutions necessary to make true and lasting change regarding food insecurity and diet-related health through both specific programmatic changes and larger-scale philosophical shifts. 

Keeping Children's Weight on Track: A Pathway to Health and Well-Being

2018

This 2018 report examines weight trajectories among 2,719 children interviewed by Children's HealthWatch.

Mother's Adversity and Their Children's Development Risk

2017

This 2017 Children's HealthWatch research brief highlights the impact of maternal childhood trauma on their children's health.

Philadelphia Hardship Data

2016

This 2016 Children's HealthWatch report provides a breakdown of the demographic, food insecurity and other hardship data that the Children's HealthWatch team collected from 2005 to 2016.

Freedom from Hunger: An Achievable Goal for the United States of America

2015

To identify solutions to hunger, Congress created the bipartisan National Commission on Hunger to provide policy recommendations to Congress and the USDA Secretary to more effectively use existing programs and funds of the Department of Agriculture to combat domestic hunger and food insecurity. This report is a summary of the findings of public hearings from eight cities and over 180 testimonies.

Making SNAP Work for Families Leaving Poverty

2014

SNAP is effective in reducing food insecurity. However, this 2014 report shows that when SNAP is reduced too quickly or families are cut off of SNAP because of an increase in income, they experience greater hardships than those who consistently receive SNAP. 

Steadying the Foundation: Maternal Job Stability, Safety Net Programs and Young Children's Health

2014

This 2014 Children's HealthWatch report explores the impact of mothers' job instability on her mental and physical health and the health and development of her children.

Cost of Cutting SNAP

2013

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is America's first line of defense against hunger, but as shown in this report, it is not enough for many families to make it through each month.

Punishing Hard Work: Consequences of Cutting SNAP Benefits

2013

This 2013 Children's HealthWatch report looks at the “cliff effect” related to nutrition assistance programs and offers policy recommendations that would ensure families can climb to economic independence and not “fall off a cliff” when they begin to make progress toward self-sufficiency.

Multiple Hardships Among Philadelphia Families with Young Children (2008-2011)

2012

For many low-income families, hardships are rarely experienced in isolation. This 2012 report looks at the instances and impacts of housing, energy, and food insecurity and when families experience more than one at a time.

The SNAP Vaccine: Boosting Children's Health

2012

This 2012 report examines the impact of SNAP on the health of young children, specifically among those from immigrant families, and provides recommendations to improve the program to better meet the needs of families.

Stable, Affordable Housing Supports Young Children’s Health in Philadelphia 

2012

This Children's HealthWatch report from 2012 explores the impact of housing insecurity and frequent moves on child health and development.

WIC Improves Child Health Outcomes

2012

This 2012 policy brief looks at the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) for child health and stresses the importance of protecting its funding.

Behind Closed Doors: The Hidden Health Impacts of Being Behind on Rent

2011

Research presented by  Children’s HealthWatch in this report shows that being behind on rent or mortgage correlates strongly with negative health outcomes for mothers and children.

LIHEAP Stabilizes Family Housing and Protects Children’s Health

2011

This 2011 Children's HealthWatch report highlights the health impacts of energy insecurity and the support offered by LIHEAP to stabilize families’ housing and protect children’s health and growth.

Overcrowding and Frequent Moves Undermine Children’s Health 

2011

This 2011 Children's HealthWatch report explores the impact of overcrowded housing and frequent moves on child health and development.

Too Many Hurdles: Barriers to Receiving SNAP Put Children’s Health at Risk

2011

This Children's HealthWatch report from 2011 looks at how barriers to accessing SNAP put children’s nutrition, health, and growth at risk. 

Child Care Feeding Programs Support Young Children’s Healthy Development

2010

This Children's HealthWatch brief highlights research findings that show toddlers in subsidized child care with supplied meals are more likely to be in good health than similar toddlers whose meals must be supplied from home.

Children of Immigrants: Healthy Beginnings Derailed by Food Insecurity

2010

This Children's HealthWatch report shows the role food insecurity plays in harming the health of young children of immigrants, despite their likelihood of having a healthier start.

Earning More, Receiving Less: Loss of Benefits and Child Hunger

2010

This 2010 report shows that families who lose SNAP or TANF benefits when they exceed income eligibility limits experience higher rates of child food insecurity than those receiving benefits.

Energy Insecurity is a Major Threat to Child Health

2010

This 2010 Children's HealthWatch report shares that young children in energy insecure homes are at high risk for food insecurity, poor health, hospitalizations, and developmental delays. The recession increased the risk of energy insecurity, putting more children’s health in jeopardy.

Healthy Families in Hard Times: Solutions for Multiple Family Hardships

2010

Families experiencing multiple hardships suffer negative health effects that have life-long consequences; this June 2010 study shows that as the number and severity of hardships increase, so do risks to children’s health and development.

WIC Improves Child Health and School Readiness

2010

This 2010 Children's HealthWatch report looks at the impact of the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) on child health amd development.

Affordable Health Care Keeps Children and Families Healthy

2009

This Children's HealthWatch report presents that the health of young children is negatively impacted when parents cannot afford healthcare for themselves or or when parents have to forego payment of household expenses in order to pay for healthcare.

Even Very Low Levels of Food Insecurity Found to Harm Children’s Health

2009

This 2009 Children's HealthWatch report highlights that many of the 2.6 million children under age five living in marginally food-secure households are not receiving needed nutritional support through WIC.

Food Insecurity Rates Rise Steeply with Recession

2009

This 2009 Children's HealthWatch report explores the impact of the 2008 recession on food insecurity.

Funding Shortfall for Housing Vouchers Could Have Serious Health Consequences for Children

2009

This 2009 Children’s HealthWatch report presents research showing that young children whose families have a housing subsidy are less likely to be seriously underweight than young children whose families are eligible for but do not receive a subsidy.

Balancing Acts: Energy Insecurity Among Low-Income Babies and Toddlers of Color

2007

This report highlights the negative effects of energy insecurity on food insecurity and health of low-income babies and toddlers of color.