The Foundation for Child Development has a longstanding commitment to leveraging research to influence policies and practices that support young children and families grappling with poverty. Throughout our history, we have acknowledged the complex array of challenges faced by low-income families, including parental employment hurdles, stress, food and material insecurity, housing instability, limited access to healthcare, and disparities in early childhood and educational offerings. Extensive research underscores the profound impact of family poverty on children’s health, social, behavioral, and educational outcomes.
Our funding has supported descriptive research to increase understanding of disparities in outcomes and intervention research aimed at two-generation approaches to poverty and bridging the opportunity gaps between children experiencing economic disadvantage and those who do not.