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New data reveals that policy shifts in aid for children in families with the least income have had a significant impact.
While public assistance programs became less effective in the decade after the 1996 law that created TANF, assistance polices for children in deep poverty grew stronger during the Great Recession and prevented what likely would have been a large surge in deep poverty among children.
However, deep poverty among children remains a significant problem. Some 2 million children live in families below half the poverty line, or below just $14,000 a year for a family of four.
Deep poverty rose in the decade after 1995 largely because government benefits became less effective at protecting children from deep poverty.
To make more substantial progress in reducing the number of children in deep poverty will require further action.
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