Isabel V. Sawhill October 10, 2012

Challenges Facing Today’s ChildrenGrantmakers for Children, Youth & Families 2012 Annual ConferenceIsabel V. SawhillOctober 10, 2012

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Today’s Children Face Unprecedented Challenges• Nuclear proliferation

and a global war on terror

• Global warming • Fragmented families• A mountain of debt• The need to care for an

aging population

Source: “Calvin and Hobbes” by Bill Watterson

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A comparison of children in the U.S. with children in other rich countries:• Overall child well-being: 18 out of

21• The U.S. ranks poorly on all 5 measures:

» Health and safety: 21 out of 21

» Family/peer relationships: 20 out of 21» Behavior and risks: 20 out

of 21» Material well-being: 17 out of 21» Education: 12 out

of 21

Source: UNICEF Report Card No. 7, Child Well-Being in Rich Countries, 2007.

How are Children Doing?

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A Vision for America’s Children• Everyone should

have a shot at the American Dream

• Less advantaged children need special help

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This Vision Resonates with Public

Opportunity:“Our society should do what is necessary to

make sure that everyone has an equal opportunity”

Inequality:“Do you, yourself, think

of America as divided into haves and have-nots, or

don’t you think of America that way?”

Poverty:“It is the responsibility of the government to take care of people who can’t take care of themselves.”

Source: The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press Poll Database, 2009.

Disagree

Agree

No

Yes, Divided

Disagree

Agree

36%

59%

58%

38%

12%

86%

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Chances of Reaching the Middle Class by Middle Age Vary

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Benchmarks for Success

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Percent Succeeding at Each Life Stage by Family’s Income Quintile at Birth

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Pathways to the Middle Class

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Likelihood of Reaching Middle Class by Number of Successful Life Stages

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Recommendations• Need BOTH better policy and

more individual responsibility• Funding should be tied to

evidence of effectiveness• Better education from pre-K to 12• More access to college or

technical training• Stronger starts for more children