Research Report Children Cared for by Relatives
Subtitle
What Do We Know about Their Well-Being?
Amy Billing, Jennifer Ehrle Macomber, Katherine Kortenkamp
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Children living with relatives fare worse than children living with their parents on most measures of behavioral, emotional, and physical well-being. However, many children living with relatives live in poverty, which also may contribute to their poor well-being. Children in low-income relative care fare worse than low-income children living with their parents in terms of engagement in school; they are more likely to be suspended or expelled from school, and more likely to have a limiting condition, which includes any physical, learning, or mental health condition. However, children in low-income relative care and those in low-income parent care have comparable levels of behavioral and emotional problems, activity involvement, and are equally likely to skip school.
Research and Evidence Family and Financial Well-Being Tax and Income Supports
Expertise Families Social Safety Net Early Childhood Child Welfare
Tags Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Economic well-being Child welfare Children and youth