Children & Youth

Believe it or not, a 2017 Report released by the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) ranks the United States as having the second highest child poverty rate among 35 industrialized countries, despite being the wealthiest nation. The effects associated with growing up in poverty include higher likelihood of poor education, poor health, and criminal convictions. According to the same CDF report, these effects of child poverty cost the country about $500 billion a year. Investing only a fraction of this cost proactively, can relieve child poverty and prevent these drastic lifelong consequences for millions of children. The CDF report finds that $77 billion, only 2% of the federal budget, if channeled into specific programs over time, could reduce child poverty by 60%, lifting 6.6 million children out of poverty.

$77 billion, only 2% of the federal budget, if channeled into specific programs over time, could reduce child poverty by 60%, lifting 6.6 million children out of poverty.

The math makes sense and the good programs supporting health, education, and rights of children make an impact. As an example, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has helped lower the percent of uninsured children from 14% when it was passed in 1997 to just 4.5% in 2015, according to a Washington Post report.

However, investment in these programs yields delayed gratification, resulting in a lack of political will. Lately, the government has been unable to prioritize spending on children in need leading to lapse in funding of programs such as CHIP and placing millions of children in jeopardy of losing their health insurance. Children are the future, and if not the government, it is our duty to step in and protect them.

Gift Hope works closely with several local and national charities to ensure that children, especially from the poorer neighborhoods and inner city are encouraged, educated, supported, and protected. In addition, we work closely with organizations that provide support and hope to children suffering from life threatening diseases. At Gift Hope, children’s education, social support, and health are the utmost priority.