Heather Koball

Children of Recent Immigrants: National and Regional Trends

Sixty-five percent of the children of recent immigrants are low income. For these children, the challenges in academic, physical, emotional, and social development usually associated with economic insecurity are likely to be exacerbated by language barriers, the process of migration and acculturation, and restrictions on access to safety net programs. Two-thirds of children of low-income, recent immigrants live in the South and West, with an increasing proportion moving to the South. Nationwide, 85 percent of these children live with parents who are employed, and 71 percent live with married parents. Still, almost half (45 percent) of children of low-income, recent immigrants have parents who do not hold a high school degree, and 47 percent of these children are under age 6, placing them at risk for the negative impacts of low income on early development. Immigrant families limited access to the work supports and public benefits offered to other low-income families increases their financial and social vulnerability.

Rate of Children in Low-Income Families Varies Widely by State

Young children—under age 6—are more likely to live in low-income families than older children. Across the United States, 41 percent of young children live in low-income families. The low-income rates for young children follow a similar pattern across states as those for children of all ages. For example, only 21 percent of younger children in Maryland live in low-income families, compared to 60 percent in Arkansas (see Table).

The Racial Gap in Parental Education

Although education is one of the most effective ways that parents can raise their families’ incomes, black and Latino children benefit less from higher levels of parental education than do white and Asian children. Latino children are the least likely to have a parent who attended college. Both black and Latino children are more likely to be low income, even when their parents have some college education and are employed full-time.

Receipt of Government Supports Varies Widely by State

Low-income families face very different access to government programs depending on the states in which they live. State choices in implemention of federal policy can encourage or restrict access to government programs that offer important supports to low-income families. At the same time, although 37 percent of U.S. children live in low-income families, the low-income rate varies tremendously across states. For example, the state with the lowest percent of children in low-income families is Maryland at 20 percent. The state with the highest percent is Arkansas at 53 percent (see Table).

Parental Employment Does Not Guarantee Health Insurance for Children

1 Estimates in this fact sheet were prepared by Heather Koball and Ayana Douglas-Hall of NCCP based on the U.S Current Population Survey (CPS), Annual Social and Economic Supplement for March 2001-2003; final figures represent the average data over calendar years 2000, 2001, and 2002. 2 Low-income is defined as income below twice the poverty level, which research suggests is the minimum income level necessary to meet basic needs. The federal poverty level was

The New Poor: Regional Trends in Child Poverty Since 2000

18,850 for a family of four in 2004. DC