Child Poverty

.   “School funding is a mix of federal, state, and local funding sources distributed through complex and ever-changing formulas, making it all too easy for elected leaders to use half-truths and lies to slash education budgets and divert taxpayer dollars from public schools. Pro-public education advocates can’t allow that to happen.” – National Education Association (NEA) | School Funding: Learn the Facts and How to Use Them     As public schools begin to wind down for summer, now read more…

Supporters of Promise the Children would like to think that our country values all families and children, no matter what country they call home. During the holiday season, an image that is often in our minds is that of the birth of Jesus. It is during this time of year that The Three Kings are said to have followed the star of Bethlehem to visit The Holy Family. Perhaps the Magi came from nearby areas now known as Iraq, Iran read more…

Download Brochure Our Purpose The purpose of Promise the Children is to help our volunteers advocate for and with young people. We give special priority to initiatives that promote the wellbeing of low-income children and youth. Our Work Promise the Children’s main activities include: Researching policy issues and educating our members about legislative campaigns.  Communicating with legislators through visits, phone calls, letters, emails and petitions from our volunteer advocates. Leading workshops, discussions and trainings at community centers and churches.  Building read more…

When Zero Tolerance Policies were instituted in public schools, the use of suspensions as a disciplinary measure increased. These zero tolerance policies were designed by school districts to increase school safety and were unusually strict. In one instance, an elementary school child was expelled from school because she had a small plastic knife in her lunch box. In another, a 12-year old was handcuffed, arrested, and detained at a New York City Police Department for writing on her desk. The read more…

With summer just around the corner, many children happily anticipate the end of the school year. However, the end of the school year can cause serious problems for lower income children. Schools often provide free or reduced cost breakfast and lunch to children in need. Without schools providing essential meals, children are at risk of going hungry. Despite the three-month break from school, children can still receive meals through programs hosted by organizations and local outreach programs. The YMCA has read more…

On any given evening, nearly 554,000 Americans are homeless. This figure includes individuals, families and youth across all parts of the United States. It includes men, women and children of all backgrounds and walks of life. You may know some people who experience or are at risk of homelessness.. The current Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson recently proposed raising rent for low-income Americans that receive federal housing subsidies. These far-reaching changes would triple rent for the poorest read more…

Today we have fewer unskilled jobs for the increase in our population, and our minimum wage is far from a living wage. Most jobs for unskilled workers are also part-time and very few offer regular hours. As a result, millions of adults, children and young people experience homelessness each year. In addition, child care vouchers, which subsidize licensed and safe child care while eligible parents are at work, can have wait lists in the thousands. Child care vouchers also require read more…

The refundable taxes paid by the Additional Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit are essential for our nation’s working parents earning low wages.  All of our parents must be able to pay for the healthy start that our children need. Huge subsidies exist for large businesses, yet many of these businesses pay salaries that are not a living wage. This is why refundable taxes are essential. The Child Tax Credit (CTC) was enacted in 1997 with bipartisan support. This read more…

Our lowest paid laborers, and their children, depend on the food stamp subsidy to avoid starvation. These laborers include some teachers, meal service employees, nurses’ aides, maintenance workers and more. Without food stamps, they will starve. The current administration wants to overhaul the food stamp program, and the legislation proposed may kick even more people off benefits than previously believed. Call or write your Congressmen and Congresswomen today to let them know your opinion. In 1964, Democrats and Republicans worked read more…

The gap between minimum wages and the cost of living is covered by government subsidies. These subsidies include food stamps, school meals, housing vouchers, Medicaid, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and more. Without these subsidies, our laborers and their children would face starvation, homelessness and poor health—and many children could experience abuse and neglect in unlicensed childcare settings while their parents are working. Minimum wages are paid to unskilled and some skilled laborers. Many states use the federal minimum read more…