March 4, 2021
Economic relief policies can reduce reports of child neglect
A team of University of Washington researchers from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance and the School of Public Health have found how anti-poverty policies can lead to a reduction in cases of child neglect.
The researchers examined the relationship between Earned Income Tax Credit benefits and the number of child abuse and neglect cases over a 14-year period. Their findings show a 10% increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit led to a 9% decrease in the annual number of child abuse reports made to welfare agencies over a 14-year period.
Theirs is the first study to analyze the relationship between Earned Income Tax Credit and child neglect. These findings highlight the impact of social and economic policies on health outcomes.