What does this score mean?

A score of 100 represents racial equity, meaning there are no racial disparities in the outcomes between black and white populations. The lower the Equity Score, the greater the disparity.

For Child Poverty, a score of 100 – a score reflecting racial equity – would mean black and white children are equally likely to live in households with incomes below the poverty line. It is important to note that for this indicator, equity is not our only goal; we also want to improve outcomes for all.

WHAT DOES THIS ANALYSIS MEAN?

In the St. Louis region, black children are far more likely than white children to live at or below the federal poverty line. These disparities differ across each county due to differences between their racial demographics and due to different rates of poverty overall.

In the City of St. Louis, black children are nearly four times as likely to live in poverty (44%) when compared to white children (11.8%). For St. Charles County, the disparity is greater than four times (15.3% of black children and 3.6% of white children); for St. Louis County, the disparity is greater than five times (18% of black children and 3.5% of white children); and for St. Clair County, the disparity between black and white Child Poverty is greater than three times (34.6% of black children and 10.1% of white children).

If the rate of child poverty in the region were equitable, there would be approximately:

• 11,644 fewer black children living in poverty in the City of St. Louis,
• 439 fewer black children living in poverty in St. Charles County,
• 5,184 fewer black children living in poverty in St. Clair County, and
• 9,124 fewer black children living in poverty in St. Louis County.

Why Does Child Poverty Matter?

“The effects of poverty on children and youth have been extensively documented. We know that poverty has a particularly adverse effect on academic success, especially during early childhood. Chronic poverty contributes to toxic stress that takes a toll on parents and children. Poverty is not a mere inconvenience that children need the moral strength to overcome. Children who live in poverty are more likely to experience illness, difficulty getting along with peers, emotional problems, exposure to violence, risk of injury, and involvement with the juvenile justice system. They are more likely to drop out of high school, less likely to complete college, and more likely to die sooner.”

WHICH CALLS TO ACTION FROM THE FERGUSON COMMISSION’s REPORT ARE LINKED WITH THIS INDICATOR?

Calls to action designed to reduce child poverty include:

• Create Universal Child Development Accounts
• Review the Missouri Family Support Division
• Raise the Minimum Wage
• Implement Earned Income and Child Tax Credits
• Build a Poverty-to-Professional Model for Youth-Serving Organizations
• Prioritize Tax Incentives for Youth-Serving Job Programs

Questions for Further Investigation:

• Why is there a racial disparity in Child Poverty?
• What can St. Louis do to reduce racial disparities in Child Poverty?
• What initiatives are currently underway to reduce racial disparities in Child Poverty?

Child Poverty Data