Gestor bibliográfico Crisis y Salud

The past several years have been financially difficult for many families not only in the United States but also worldwide. Most often, the focus of attention during these turbulent and trying economic times has been directed to the barometers that reflect the economic “health” of the nation and our world. These barometers include tracking the filings for unemployment insurance, the monthly payrolls, and the indices of manufacturing and nonmanufacturing activities. One of the unfortunate consequences of the economic downturn is the effect that it has upon children. Times of national economic hardship intensify and exacerbate the struggles that poor and low-income families have. Approximately 15 million children, amounting to 21% of our nation's children, live in poverty (National Center for Children in Poverty, 2012). One of every five children in the United States is a member of a poor family. Nearly half of these children live in extreme poverty. Forty-four percent of children (31.9 million) live in low-income families (Addy & Wight, 2012).