National Center for Children in Poverty

Addressing the Challenge

Poverty is the single biggest threat to children’s healthy development.

And while direct services, such as meals or after-school programs, are essential to meeting immediate needs, policies that have large-scale, long-term impact are also required.

That’s where the National Center for Children in Poverty — NCCP — comes in.

NCCP conducts research and translates the findings into actionable recommendations that advocates and policymakers use to improve the lives and futures of low-income children and their families. We delve into issues that contribute to child poverty and make sure our ideas reach those in a position to make meaningful change that reduces the number of families experiencing hardship.

Founded in 1989 as a division of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, NCCP is a nonpartisan, public interest research organization.

NCCP: A Catalyst for Change

NCCP’s work leads to smarter policy choices in affordable housing, paid family leave, early childhood education, physical and mental health, immigration, and public benefits, among others.

Our Analyses Deepen Understanding of Poverty

• Rigorous original research
• Program and policy evaluation
• Data and study syntheses

Our Resources Stimulate Advocacy Efforts

• Research for practical applications and policy solutions
• Unique interactive tools:
• 50-State Policy Tracker
• Basic Needs Budget Calculator
• 50-State Demographics Data Generator
• 50-State Early Childhood Policy Profiles
• Family Resource Simulator
• Young Child Risk Calculator
• Child Care & Early Education
• Research Connections Online Library

Our Findings Drive Policy Change

• Easily accessible research
• Innovative, research-informed interventions
• Peer sharing in learning communities across the country
• Online discussions that raise awareness of poverty topics
• Technical assistance to identify evidence-based programs and practices that improve the lives of families in need

Our state-by-state data provide up-to-date information about low-income and poor children as well as policies that affect them.