Research Topic

Poverty and Inequality

CCFP researchers study the impact of poverty and economic inequality on children, families, and communities. Our teams study and evaluate the effectiveness of programs and policies designed to help low-income families, the day-to-day experiences of working parents and their families, and the impact of living in poverty on children and families. CCFP researchers also study and evaluate efforts that have been successful at disrupting systemic inequities affecting low-wealth families and building on the strengths of communities to improve outcomes for children and families.

Latest Research

Journal Articles

How do Different Food Policies Impact Food Insecurity and Health? A Review and Meta-Analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis examined the impact of different types of government food policies (financial aid, food aid, technical support, capacity building, and land tenure management/food production) on food insecurity and health in numerous countries, and moderators involving study design, cultural context, and country economic advancement.

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Journal Articles

A Research Note on Unconditional Cash Transfers and Fertility in the United States: New Causal Evidence

As cash transfer policies have gained traction in recent years, interest in how financial resources could impact fertility has also grown. Findings from the Baby’s First Years study might indicate that modest cash transfers to mothers with low incomes in the United States are unlikely to have substantial impacts on fertility.

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Anna Gassman-Pines

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Lisa Gennetian

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Christina Gibson-Davis

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Reducing Structural Barriers in a School-Based System of Food Assistance to Reduce Inequality in Food Security and Child Outcomes

Project Description In the U.S., food insecurity (FI), or the inconsistent access to food of the quantity or quality needed to fuel a healthy life, is an important source of socioeconomic and racial inequality in youth outcomes. Decades of research finds that FI undermines youths’ physical, socioemotional, and cognitive development, and their academic outcomes as…

learn more about Reducing Structural Barriers in a School-Based System of Food Assistance to Reduce Inequality in Food Security and Child Outcomes
learn more about Reducing Structural Barriers in a School-Based System of Food Assistance to Reduce Inequality in Food Security and Child Outcomes

Property Sales and Residential Displacement of Black and Hispanic Children in the American South: Implications for School Mobility and Educational Inequality

This project looks at the impact of rental housing sales on children’s residential mobility, school switches, and school performance.

learn more about Property Sales and Residential Displacement of Black and Hispanic Children in the American South: Implications for School Mobility and Educational Inequality
learn more about Property Sales and Residential Displacement of Black and Hispanic Children in the American South: Implications for School Mobility and Educational Inequality

Evaluation of NC Community Schools Coalition

Project Description The North Carolina Community Schools Coalition aims to improve the academic, mental, and physical health of North Carolina students through the development of Full-Service Community Schools across the state. Full-Service Community Schools prioritize partnerships between schools and the community to promote the overall success and well-being of children and families. The community schools model…

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learn more about Evaluation of NC Community Schools Coalition

STEPS: Study of Teen Experiences that Promote Success

This project aims to advance research on the relationship between economic well-being, wealth, adolescent functioning and mental health.

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learn more about STEPS: Study of Teen Experiences that Promote Success
March 12, 2025
Journal Articles

Net Worth Poverty and Food Insecurity

This paper explores how net worth poverty and its two subcomponents—asset and debt poverty—relate to food insecurity in households with children.

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January 13, 2025
Journal Articles

Family Wealth and Adolescent Physical Health

Inequalities in the distribution of wealth among families with children may have deleterious health consequences, especially for adolescent children. This review discusses what is known about wealth-related inequalities in adolescent physical health and proposes four psychosocial mechanisms that may explain how wealth shapes adolescent physical health.

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December 17, 2024
Journal Articles

Multilingual Students Benefit When Grade-Level and Specialist Teachers Collaborate

The BELLA (Bridging English Language Learning and Academics) professional learning program (bellapd.org) aims to enhance teachers’ practices and accelerate multilingual learners’ language and literacy growth by bringing together ESL and grade-level teachers in a yearlong, job-embedded professional learning experience.

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November 28, 2024
Journal Articles

Net Worth Poverty and Child Well-Being: Black–White Differences

This study examines how net worth poverty and its subcomponents of asset and debt poverty relate to Black and White children’s academic and behavioral outcomes.

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