Economic Security
The paper, "America Insecure: Changes in the Economic Security of American Families," synthesizes findings from a series of Urban Institute reports produced under the "Risk and Low-Income Working Families" research initiative funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur and Annie E. Casey Foundations. The paper places this research in the broader context of literature on economic mobility and income volatility and addresses two key questions: (1) How have economic instability and insecurity for America's low-income working families changed over time? and (2) What are the key factors for substantial income losses and recoveries from such losses?
Safety Net
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, the nation's primary safety net program for families with children, is due for reauthorization this year. The Urban Institute held a roundtable of experts from federal and state governments, academia, and policy organizations to discuss the program's current status and effectiveness. Highlights and reflections from the roundtable are presented in the LIWF brief, "Next Steps for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families."
Risk and Recovery
The paper, "Risk and Recovery: Understanding the Changing Risks to Family Incomes," builds on an earlier brief funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The paper examines the characteristics and circumstances of families vulnerable to substantial income drops and those most likely to recover financially. Using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, the study finds that more than 13 percent of nonelderly adults in families with children will see their incomes fall by half at some point over the course of a year, and about 40 percent fully recover within a year.
Vulnerable Youth
The fact sheets, "Transition to Adulthood: African American Youth and Youth from Low-Income Working Families," examine the transition to adulthood for two groups of youth using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1997 cohort. Low-income African Americans are compared to low-income white youth, and youth from low-income “high-work” families are compared to low-income youth from moderate-work and nonworking (i.e., low-work) families.
Children of Immigrants
Up-to-date state information on children of immigrants is essential for social policies that affect children and families. The "Children of Immigrants: National and State Characteristics" brief, accompanying the new Urban Institute's interactive Children of Immigrants Data Tool, describes the national and state characteristics of children of immigrants based on recent American Community Survey data. Since children of immigrants account for almost a quarter (24 percent) of children under age 5, their share in the school-age population will increase, with important implications for education policy. In addition, children of immigrants' poverty and low-income rates vary across states, highlighting the importance of state and local policies in promoting children's well-being.
Latest Research
