Exploring policies to reduce poverty and child abuse

In a recent study, researchers conducted a scoping review of previous studies to explore the effects of policy changes on child poverty rates. The study conducted an empirical analysis to estimate the relationship between child poverty rates and child maltreatment reporting (CMR) rates using national county-level data.

Findings highlight the significant impact of policy changes on child maltreatment, focusing on key policies such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Care Tax Credit Child and Dependent Care Assistance Program (CDCTC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), Child Benefit, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Housing Voucher. Of these, the study identifies the most influential policies, such as a family allowance and a fully refundable child tax credit, demonstrating substantial indirect effects but also higher costs.

Research highlights that despite the potential costs of implementing certain policies, the benefits of reducing rates of child maltreatment outweigh the associated expenses. The indirect effects of policy changes, mediated by child poverty rates, present a promising strategy for combating child maltreatment.

The study is published in the journal Children and Youth Services Review.