Thursday's Child

Building on our March forum, which analyzed how tax policy affects low-income working families, in April we turn to two supports designed to help parents stay in the workforce: child care subsidies and paid family leave.

The child tax credit (CTC) and the earned income tax credit (EITC) are designed to help working families with children. Yet these major initiatives leave out or provide limited assistance to some very low income families. Panelists discussed why tax programs for low-income families have expanded in recent years, while subsidy programs have remained relatively constant. They also analyzed problems that arise due to different treatment of families by CTC and EITC and the outlook and options for refining these programs that aim to support working families.

Current estimates indicate that on any given day, more than 150,000 children have a mother in prison, yet far too little is known about these children and their needs and experiences. What are their home environments like before, during, and after incarceration? What emotional and behavioral challenges do these children face? What can charitable organizations, service providers, and policymakers do to address those challenges? With these questions in mind, this panel sought to cast a bright light on this often invisible population of children.

Despite changes to social welfare policy over the last decade, a Chapin Hall study shows that African-American infants are still nearly three times more likely than white infants to be placed in foster care. Panelists considered how child welfare system administrators are leading initiatives to reverse the tide of racial disparity.

Despite changes to social welfare policy over the last decade, a Chapin Hall study shows that African-American infants are still nearly three times more likely than white infants to be placed in foster care. Panelists considered how child welfare system administrators are leading initiatives to reverse the tide of racial disparity.

Most publicly funded adolescent substance abuse treatment is provided and managed by the juvenile justice system, and juvenile courts and allied agencies are often the first responders to teen drug problems. But is this the right approach?

Who is responsible for protecting children affected by workplace raids, and what policies and procedures could alleviate the negative consequences on young people? Panelists at this event discussed these topics and others.

What makes an effective school in a high-poverty neighborhood? How do community factors, social service systems, and school leaders affect school performance? Beatriz Chu Clewell of the Urban Institute, Cheryl Smithgall of Chapin Hall Center for Children, Bryan Samuels of Chicago Public Schools, and Cynthia Brunswick of the Chicago New Teacher Center discuss. Elizabeth Brackett from The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer moderates.

Panelists discussed academic achievement gaps and segregation, poverty and the accumulation of risk factors, and programs designed to alleviate these conditions. Listen to the podcast.

SCHIP is up for congressional reauthorization this year, and contentious issues such as expanded eligibility will surely factor in that debate. Panelists discussed one potential sticking point: whether SCHIP should be used to cover parents of low-income children. Listen to the podcast.