TABLE 2.

A National Agenda to Reduce Childhood Poverty and Alleviate Its Effects

Action	Example
Make a commitment to address child poverty	• Major political parties/leaders recognize child poverty as an important national issue
Set goals to reduce childhood poverty	• Emulate actions of the United Kingdom; set goal of reducing childhood poverty by one-half in 10 y20–33
Expand existing benefits, cash transfers, and tax breaks that are now reducing childhood poverty levels13,18,33	• Expand Earned Income Tax Credit; Child Tax Credit; Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program; housing subsidies; energy assistance; Women, Infants, and Children program; school lunch programs
	• Support continued expansion of Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program; keep children’s coverage strong during health care reform efforts
	• Expand financial support for and availability of high-quality child care, especially for working families
Invest in Early Childhood Programs to improve early childhood cognitive and social–emotional development and reduce toxic stress14–32	• Expand high-quality preschool for poor children
	• Implement evidence-based home visiting programs for all newborns in poor families through the ACA or other funding mechanisms
	• Disseminate evidence-based interventions in primary care pediatrics