Combating Childhood Poverty in Policy and Practice: AAP Recommendations

The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued recommendations for policymakers and pediatricians to combat child poverty and its detrimental effects on child health. An accompanying technical report summarizes current knowledge on this topic (NEJM JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Mar 9 2016; [e-pub] and Pediatrics 2016; 137:e20160340). Key recommendations are as follows:

For policymakers:

• Invest in young children; doing so is cost-effective and helps “families and communities build a foundation for lifelong health.” Such investments include funding essential benefits programs like Early Head Start, Head Start, Medicaid, CHIP, and WIC.

• Advocate for strategies that support both children and parents, including programs that promote employment and increase …