1
|
Kim H, Kim YY, Song EJ, Windsor L. Policies to Reduce Child Poverty and Child Maltreatment: A Scoping Review and Preliminary Estimates of Indirect Effects. Child Youth Serv Rev 2024; 156:10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107311. [PMID: 38031557 PMCID: PMC10683790 DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
This study includes a scoping review of prior studies investigating the effects of policy changes on child poverty rates. It further conducts an empirical analysis to estimate the relationship between child poverty rates and child maltreatment report (CMR) rates, utilizing national county-level data. The study then calculates the indirect effects of policy changes on CMR rates, mediated through child poverty rates, by integrating information from previous studies with its own empirical findings. Among the policy changes explored in prior studies, those related to a child allowance and a fully refundable Child Tax Credit demonstrate the largest indirect effects but also the highest costs. The expansion of in-kinds and near-cash benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and housing vouchers, shows moderate effects with moderate costs. Tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit exhibit lower effects and costs when targeted at the lowest earners, and moderate effects and costs for broader expansion. Focused tax credits, such as the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, had lower effects and costs, even if made fully refundable. Despite certain limitations, the study's approach yields consistent estimates with a recent simulation study, indicating its potential validity. While some proposed policy changes may seem expensive, implementing them is anticipated to substantially reduce CMR rates, with the benefits outweighing the associated costs. Overall, the findings suggest that addressing child poverty to reduce CMRs is an attractive strategy with numerous potential benefits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyunil Kim
- School of Social Work, University Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Yun Young Kim
- School of Social Work, University Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Eun-Jee Song
- School of Social Work, University Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Liliane Windsor
- School of Social Work, University Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Holdroyd I, Barton G, Holdroyd D. The effect of working tax credits on child maltreatment rates: A systematic review. Child Abuse Negl 2023; 143:106279. [PMID: 37331186 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Socioeconomic status and poverty are strongly associated with Child Maltreatment. Multiple studies have described the effects of working tax credits on Child Maltreatment with heterogeneous results. There is yet to be a comprehensive review of this research. OBJECTIVES This study aims to review all research which explores the effect of working tax credits on child maltreatment. METHODS Three databases (Ovid Medline, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched. Title and abstracts were screened according to a set of eligibility criteria. Data were extracted from eligible studies, and risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool. Results were synthesised narratively. RESULTS Nine studies were included. Of these, five papers investigated overall reports of child maltreatment, with three finding a positive effect of tax credits. Results suggested a protective effect against child neglect, however, no significant effect was found with respect to physical or emotional abuse. Three of four papers found that working tax credits resulted in decreased rates of entry to foster care. Mixed results were found with respect to self-reported child protective services contact. A range of methodological and temporal differences between studies was identified. CONCLUSIONS Overall, some evidence found that in work tax credits are protective against child maltreatment and that they are most effective in reducing neglect. Policymakers can take courage in these results, as they represent an example whereby the "risk factors" of child maltreatment can be countered in order to reduce rates of it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Holdroyd
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SP, UK.
| | - George Barton
- School of Medical Education, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - David Holdroyd
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SP, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abstract
Child protective services (CPS) contact occurs at substantially higher rates among Black than White families. The present study considers systemic racism as a central driver of this disparity and emphasizes racialized poverty as a possible mechanism. We used data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study and logistic regression analyses to assess the associations between income poverty, a racialized experience, and CPS contact, separately among Black and White families. Results indicated that income poverty was a significant predictor of CPS contact among White families, who were protected by higher income. In contrast, income per se was not a significant predictor of CPS contact among Black families, who were instead impacted by racialized family regulation and consequences of poverty, such as poor health and depression. Refundable state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) policies were protective for Black families, and more expansive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs decreased CPS contact for Black and White families. Implications include centering systemic racism and specifically racialized poverty as causes of racial inequities in CPS contact and rethinking the role of CPS in protecting children.
Collapse
|
4
|
Sun R, Budhwani H. Negative sentiments toward novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines. Vaccine 2022; 40:6895-6899. [PMID: 36307288 PMCID: PMC9584858 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.10.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Addressing negative vaccine sentiments is paramount to COVID-19 prevention efforts. However, assessing population sentiments is challenging due to the desirability bias that can emerge when directly asking respondents for their opinions on vaccination. Social media data, containing people's unfiltered thoughts, have the potential to offer valuable insights that could guide vaccine promotion messaging. We extracted one week's (4/5-4/11, 2020) worth of COVID-19 vaccine posts on Twitter (tweets) from the U.S. (N = 208,973) and segmented tweets with negative sentiments toward COVID-19 vaccines (n = 14,794). We imputed location based on Twitter users' self-reported state of residence. We found that states in the South had significantly higher prevalence of negative tweets compared to states in other parts of the country, and higher-income states reported lower prevalence of negative tweets. Our findings suggest the existence of negative vaccine sentiments and geographic variability in these opinions, warranting tailored vaccine promotion efforts, particularly for the southern U.S.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyan Sun
- Department of Health Policy and Organization, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Henna Budhwani
- Center of Population Sciences for Health Equity, College of Nursing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kovski NL, Hill HD, Mooney SJ, Rivara FP, Morgan ER, Rowhani-Rahbar A. Association of State-Level Earned Income Tax Credits With Rates of Reported Child Maltreatment, 2004-2017. Child Maltreat 2022; 27:325-333. [PMID: 33464121 PMCID: PMC8286976 DOI: 10.1177/1077559520987302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Poverty is an important predictor of child maltreatment. Social policies that strengthen the economic security of low-income families, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), may reduce child maltreatment by impeding the pathways through which poverty leads to it. We used variations in the presence and generosity of supplementary EITCs offered at the state level and administrative child maltreatment data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) to examine the effect of EITC policies on state-level rates of child maltreatment from 2004 through 2017. Two-way fixed effects models indicated that a 10-percentage point increase in the generosity of refundable state EITC benefits was associated with 241 fewer reports of neglect per 100,000 children (95% Confidence Interval [CI] [-449, -33]). An increase in EITC generosity was associated with fewer reports of neglect both among children ages 0-5 (-324 per 100,000; 95% CI [-582, -65]) and children ages 6-17 (-201 per 100,000; 95% CI [-387, -15]). Findings also suggested associations between the EITC and reductions in other types of maltreatment (physical abuse, emotional abuse); however, those did not gain statistical significance. Economic support policies may reduce the risk of child maltreatment, especially neglect, and improve child wellbeing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L. Kovski
- Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Heather D. Hill
- Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephen J. Mooney
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Frederick P. Rivara
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Erin R. Morgan
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ali Rowhani-Rahbar
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Elavarasan RM, Pugazhendhi R, Shafiullah GM, Kumar NM, Arif MT, Jamal T, Chopra SS, Dyduch J. Impacts of COVID-19 on Sustainable Development Goals and effective approaches to maneuver them in the post-pandemic environment. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2022; 29:33957-33987. [PMID: 35032263 PMCID: PMC8760582 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17793-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In the pursuit of constructing a sustainable world for all through the instrumental seventeen Sustainable Development Goals, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and affected the efforts concentrated on these goals. Therefore, there is a pressing need to analyze the extent of the impact that unfolded from the pandemic on each Sustainable Development Goal and further to direct the post-pandemic situation to accelerate the progress in every goal. Besides, there exists a knowledge gap in understanding the Sustainable Development Goals and its interaction with each goal through synergic and trade-off effects. To address the aforementioned imperative problems, this study is formulated to perform an impact assessment as well as to provide direction in the post-pandemic environment to effectively progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals by using a hybrid qualitative and quantitative framework. A detailed investigation is carried out to examine the pandemic impacts in every goal, and a quantified impact analysis is performed in terms of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals with the aid of ranking methodology. The results indicate that SDG 1 and SDG 8 are the most impacted goal. To provide deeper perspectives into the Sustainable Development Goals, a critical analysis of the targets and indicators is performed to characterize the goals from their elemental point of view, such as nature of goals, depending factors, locus of the goal, and Sustainable Development Goal interactions. Further, a novel parameter, the degree of randomness, is proposed whose application in environmental research is immense. The impact on each goal and impact interaction between all the SDGs are also mapped, through which the dynamics of Sustainable Development Goal interactions is elaborated. In context with the post-pandemic scenario, the strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals with environmental focus are presented with prioritization factor that supports quick recovery. The introduced prioritization factor is formulated by employing a multi-criteria analysis methodology. In addition, the fundamental elements of SDGs are built upon one another to frame an optimized and effective approach to achieving the SDGs in the post-pandemic environment. Despite the strategies, a conceptual framework to align the business practices with the SDGs is propounded. This study deep down would provide a unique perspective to the research community and would impart deeper knowledge in connection with sustainability, while the solutions framed would steer the policy and decision-makers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rajvikram Madurai Elavarasan
- Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, 625015, India.
| | - Rishi Pugazhendhi
- Research & Development Division (Power & Energy), Nestlives Private Limited, Chennai, 600091, India
| | - G M Shafiullah
- Discipline of Engineering and Energy, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, 6150, Australia
| | | | | | - Taskin Jamal
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Shauhrat Singh Chopra
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Joanna Dyduch
- The Institute of the Middle and Far East, Jagiellonian University, Oleandry 2a, 30-063, Kraków, Poland
| |
Collapse
|