The well-being of children and youth is a central Urban Institute research topic. Our work spans child development at the youngest ages to teenagers transitioning into adulthood. We study child care, the child welfare system, juvenile justice, child poverty, and children's health and education.
Our annual Kids Share’ reports estimate how children fare in the competition over federal and state dollars. By tracking spending trends, we seek to inform the national conversation about the budget and how best to invest our limited resources. Our researchers also track indicators of child well-being, examine the role of place and neighborhoods in child development, and evaluate programs aiming to improve the education and employment prospects of disadvantaged youth.
Latest Research
