The Effects of the Recession on Child Poverty

A new brief from The Brookings Institution finds that 25 states may face high child poverty rates in 2009 as a result of the recession. In making this assessment, The Effects of the Recession on Child Poverty examines child poverty rates in 2008 and the increase of enrollment rates for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) between 2008 and 2009. The report identified the District of Columbia and eight states, including Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, as facing the highest risk of high child poverty in 2009. All eight states and Washington, D.C. experienced high child poverty rates in 2008 and a very high increase in SNAP enrollment rates. The report also finds that only five states, which had low child poverty rates in 2008 and only a moderate increase in SNAP enrollment, are at low risk of child poverty in 2009.

Download the report online at:  http://www.spotlightonpoverty.org/EconomicOpportunityResearch.aspx