Fact Sheet Which federal spending and tax programs provide the most support for children?
Julia B. Isaacs, Heather Hahn, Cary Lou
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This fact sheet highlights selected findings from Kids’ Share 2017. Most federal support for children doesn’t come from classic children’s programs like Head Start, but from Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and tax credits—programs more often associated with adults. Knowing which programs spend the most on children can inform debates on budget, tax, and appropriations legislation, where policymakers must make difficult trade-offs.

Research Areas Economic mobility and inequality Families Social safety net Taxes and budgets Children and youth
Tags Economic well-being State programs, budgets Federal budget and economy Kids in context Families with low incomes Children's budget
Policy Centers Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population
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