Infants and Toddlers: Dramatic Increases in Numbers Living in Poverty
(Letter Report, 04/07/94, GAO/HEHS-94-74).

During the 1980s, the number of poor infants and toddlers increased by
26 percent, with 20 percent of all children under age two living in
poverty by 1990, a trend that poses serious challenges to
federally-funded early childhood programs.  Cities and rural areas have
been disproportionately affected.  More than 45 percent of all infants
and toddlers in some cities and urban areas were living in poverty by
1990.  Poor infants and toddlers were more likely to live with families
that (1) spoke little English, (2) were headed by single parents, (3)
had limited education, and (4) had unemployed parents.  Federal early
childhood program generally reached only a small percentage of these
children.  For example, the Head Start program now serves only about one
percent of all poor infants and toddlers.  In light of the proven
benefits of such early childhood programs as the Women, Infants, and
Children and the Childhood Immunization programs, federal and state
governments may wish to reexamine their efforts to serve infants and
toddlers. The reauthorization of Head Start provides an opportunity for
including more infants and children in the program.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  HEHS-94-74
     TITLE:  Infants and Toddlers: Dramatic Increases in Numbers Living 
             in Poverty
      DATE:  04/07/94
   SUBJECT:  Children
             Disadvantaged persons
             Educational programs
             Minorities
             Child care programs
             Compensatory education
             Public assistance programs
             Health care programs
             Eligibility criteria
             Demographic data
IDENTIFIER:  Head Start Program
             Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and 
             Children
             CDC Childhood Immunization Program
             Medicaid Program
             Child Care and Development Block Grant
             New Hampshire
             Louisiana
             Kentucky
             South Dakota
             Texas
             Alabama
             California
             Colorado
             Connecticut
             Georgia
             Illinois
             Missouri
             Nebraska
             New Mexico
             North Dakota
             Tennessee
             West Virginia
             Wisconsin
             WIC
             
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