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Children and Poverty - Findings
Recent research indicates that even mild under nutrition experienced by young children during critical periods of growth may lead to reductions in physical growth and affect brain development. Center on Poverty and Hunger, 2003
68% of food insecure households below 100% of the poverty line reported that they did not receive any form of public assistance. Weingart.org, 2003
Children make up nearly 40% of all emergency food clients. Another 20% are elderly Americans. Nearly 40% of all households served by food banks include someone who is working. Center on Poverty and Hunger, 2003
LA County has the highest child poverty rate in the U.S. 844,985 children were eligible for free or reduced price school meals in year 2000. LA County Department of Health Services, May 2001.
One in three children lives below the poverty level, exposed to poor nutrition, lack of health care, poor school achievement and the dangers of drugs and crime in many poor neighborhoods.
State of the County Report 1999 from: United Way of Greater Los Angeles
Food insecurity was reported by 32% of LA's CalWORKS recipients. Weingart.org, 2003
In Los Angeles County, 59% of children in public schools participate in the School Lunch program. IN THE KNOW NEWSLETTER, DECEMBER 2000 FROM: HUMAN SERVICES ALLIANCE
Only 39% of children using the school Lunch program also get a School Breakfast.
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, MAY 2001
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Only 32% of children using the school Lunch program also get meals while not in school through the Summer Food Program
LA County Department of Health Services, May 2001
Hungry children cannot learn. Children arriving at school without breakfast are often irritable, feel ill and cannot concentrate. "Even before...results are...detectable, inadequate food intake limits the ability of children to learn...affecting their social interactions, inquisitiveness and overall cognitive functioning." Tufts University Center on Hunger Poverty and Nutrition. "The Link Between Nutrition and Cognitive Development in Children," 1995
The percentage of children living with only one parent is the highest ever, nearly 22%, while grandparents, other relatives or non-relatives are raising one child in ten.
State of the County Report 1999 from: United Way of Greater Los Angeles
In Los Angeles 30% of all children are poor. For these children, death is 1.5 to 3 times more likely than for their affluent counterparts. They are twice as likely to suffer serious physical or mental disabilities. For ages 3 and older, poor children are likely to score between 11-25 percentiles lower on achievement tests. On top of that the level of illiteracy among our poor is a national disgrace.
Carl C. Holmes, Esq., July 1999 from: National Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals
Homeless children are twice as likely as children in general to experience chronic health problems. They also experience more dental problems, more nutritional deficiencies, and the ironic combination of hunger and obesity.
American Journal of Public Health
The homeless eat fewer meals each day then average Americans, and often go entire days without food. Urban Institute
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