“Unfortunately, many Americans live on the outskirts of hope – some because of their poverty, and some because of their color, and all too many because of both. Our task is to help replace their despair with opportunity. It will not be a short or easy struggle, no single weapon or…...
College Savings Issue Brief
Postsecondary education and training is now more important than ever for individual success and societal progress. Investments in higher education provide significant returns in employment levels, financial earnings, tax revenues, health, upward mobility, and overall well-being. Current projections indicate that demand for educated workers in Nebraska is projected to…...
The First 8 Years Policy Report
Yesterday, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released a new policy report “The First Eight Years: giving kids a foundation for lifetime success.” This report highlights the importance of investing in young children during crucial brain development stages to set them up for success later in life. It has been shown…...
Hearing Looks at Nebraska Spending on Low-Income Families
On Friday, the Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing to look at how Nebraska is spending funds under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program. TANF is a federal block grant program to provide short-term help to families in need. The four federally-established goals of TANF…...
SNAP Benefits to be Cut November 1st
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP or food stamps, serves as an important buffer against the increasing prevalence of child hunger. Under the SNAP program, funds are provided to purchase food and the benefit amount is determined by a number of variables including income, family size and…...
Children and the Government Shutdown: Spotlight on WIC
The federal government shutdown is now entering the second week. While furloughed workers and the larger economy continue to feel the immediate impact, Nebraskans wait to see when and if the shutdown will impact programs for lower income children. In particular, the Women Infants and Children (WIC) Program is at…...
Child poverty down, but racial disparities persist
Last week data-nerds all over the country (including those here at Voices for Children), had a field day as the U.S. Census Bureau released their 2012 (1-year) estimates of poverty from the American Community Survey (ACS). Overall, the child poverty rate in Nebraska decreased slightly — from 18.1% in 2011 down…...
New poverty data shows child poverty down slightly in Nebraska
Today, the U.S. Census Bureau released new statistics from the American Community Survey that provide state and local data on Poverty and Health Insurance. Earlier this week, the Census Bureau released national data showing that the poverty rate nationally remained essentially unchanged while there was a decline in the number…...
