Forty-nine percent of babies born to poor families will be poor for half their childhood in contrast with four percent of babies born to families that are not poor.  A new study published by the Urban Institute on June 30, 2010 is the first to link poverty status at birth to persistent poverty and adult outcomes.  The study shows that those poor at birth are more likely to be poor in childhood and early adulthood, drop out of high school, have a teen non-marital birth, and have trouble holding a job.  These poverty outcomes were significantly worse for black children than white children.  The authors of the article suggest that targeting resources to children and their families in poverty could improve children’s future outcomes.  

Resource:

http://www.urban.org/publications/901356.html

http://www.urban.org/publications/412126.html