Our Works of Charity / David Bethuram

How to break the cycle of poverty and its continuing impact on children

Sixty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson launched the “War on Poverty,” introducing legislation aimed at lowering the national poverty rate. Back in 1964, 23% of U.S. children lived in poverty.

While the poverty rate has fluctuated through the years, the most recent data from 2023 shows that 12.4% of children in the U.S. are living in poverty. In Indiana, the child poverty rate was 20.5% in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. This statistic represents the percentage of children under 18 living in households below the poverty threshold.

Although Indiana’s child poverty rate may have improved in 2023 (with fewer children residing in high-poverty areas) non-white children continue to face a higher likelihood of living in poverty compared to their white peers.

For instance, 20.6% of Black children aged 5 to 17 live in poverty, compared to 10% of white children in the same age group. Below, I highlight four ways poverty negatively impacts children and why it’s crucial to continue this fight:

Poverty harms the brain and body.

For children, poverty isn’t just about lacking life’s essentials; it can significantly impair their physical and mental development. In severe cases, poverty can alter the brain’s architecture, leading to a higher likelihood of chronic illnesses and reduced life expectancy in adulthood.

Poverty intensifies achievement gaps.

Children raised in poverty start falling behind early compared to their more economically secure peers.

From infancy, gaps in learning, knowledge and social-emotional development are evident and tend to widen as they grow. Without intervention, these early disadvantages lead to poor performance in kindergarten, lower reading skills by the end of third grade, weak executive functioning, and poorer school attendance in eighth grade.

As a result, children facing poverty are more likely to drop out of school and miss opportunities for higher education.

Poverty impacts physical, emotional and behavioral health.

Even when poverty doesn’t directly alter biological systems, it increases the likelihood of poor physical, emotional and behavioral health.

Poverty restricts opportunities and exposes children to numerous risks. Children in this situation are more likely to experience food insecurity and have diets lacking essential nutrients. They also have higher rates of chronic health conditions, such as asthma, and are less likely to receive preventive medical and dental care.

Poverty affects children through its impact on families and home environments.

While the strengths of poor families are often overlooked, these parents face numerous challenges that affect their emotional well-being and, in turn, their children’s.

Parents living in poverty report higher levels of stress, frustration and depression compared to higher-income parents.

Financial strain makes it difficult to plan, prepare and provide for their family’s needs. Children in low-income families have fewer educational resources at home and fewer opportunities for enriching experiences.

These families are also more likely to face housing instability. Evidence from various studies shows that increasing family income can lead to improvements in children’s social and academic outcomes.

At Catholic Charities, we are on the front line in the war on poverty every day, working tirelessly to support vulnerable families and uplift communities in need.

Our programs provide essential resources such as food, shelter and educational opportunities, empowering individuals to break the cycle of poverty.

We believe in the dignity of every person and are committed to addressing the root causes of poverty through compassionate service and advocacy. Together, we strive to create a brighter, more equitable future for all.
 

(David Bethuram is executive director of the archdiocesan Secretariat for Catholic Charities. You can contact him at dbethuram@archindy.org.) †