Children in Mississippi and Louisiana are facing alarming challenges due to being shortchanged, ignored, and neglected by their political leadership.
The well-being of children in these states has been consistently ranked among the lowest in the nation. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2024 KIDS COUNT analysis, Mississippi ranks 49th and Louisiana ranks 48th, highlighting the severe challenges children in these states face. To be placed at the very bottom of the state rankings, these states have among the worst outcomes when it comes to child poverty, child hunger, educational outcomes, and inadequate access to health care in the country.
Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book
Policy Failures by the States’ Governors
Instead of improving public policies for children, some politicians in Mississippi and Louisiana are – through both action and inaction – enacting harmful legislation or blocking progress for children.
As an example of a policy that would be helpful to children, Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) passed an important bipartisan federal bill to modernize the nation’s outdated summer meals program for children. This new law allows states to reach more food-insecure children by offering non-congregate meal options, such as grab-and-go or home delivery, and by authorizing a nationwide summer electronic benefit (EBT) program to eligible children. Over two-thirds of the states have taken up this new federal option to cut child hunger.
But despite high child poverty and child hunger, Mississippi is opting out of the federal summer meals program because Gov. Tate Reeves (R-MS) argues it expands the “welfare state.”
Denying low-income children summer meals is occurring on the heels of a major scandal in which the State diverted an estimated $77 million in federal dollars that were supposed to help low-income children and families to, among other things, build a volleyball court at Mississippi State, pay for speeches, and to a company to develop a concussion drug.
Meanwhile, in Louisiana, Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA) initially chose what has been described as “cruelty” over food for children and also opted out of the summer food program. Fortunately, in recent weeks, it appears that Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) and the Louisiana legislature have pushed him to reverse his decision.
But even when taking a step forward, the Pelican State is taking many steps backward by spending millions to put adolescents in adult prisons while cutting public school teacher pay and reducing the number of early childhood education slots.
Mississippi and Louisiana leadership should do better by their kids than racing to the bottom.
Sen. Hyde-Smith and Rep. Higgins Decide to Make Child Poverty Worse
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the three states with the highest levels of child poverty in the United States are Mississippi (26.4%), West Virginia (25.0%), and Louisiana (24.6%).
Rather than introducing legislation that would reduce child poverty in their respective states, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-LA) and Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) have introduced S. 3798/H.R. 7991, which would increase child poverty. Their bill would create a new “penalty” by denying the Child Tax Credit to a subset of U.S. citizen children based on the immigration status of their parents or caregivers.
Harming children should never be a policy goal.
Instead, the Child Tax Credit’s focus should be clear from its name: CHILD. The credit has proven to be a critical lifeline for millions of low- and middle-income children and their families by helping to reduce child poverty and support household expenses. The expanded Child Tax Credit, implemented temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, proved particularly effective, lifting nearly 3 million children out of poverty nationwide.
The improved Child Tax Credit also disproportionately helped children in Mississippi and Louisiana. According to an analysis by the Niskanen Center, the improved Child Tax Credit had the 2nd and 3rd highest “net benefit per capita” in Mississippi and Louisiana, respectively.
Unfortunately, the improved Child Tax Credit expired at the close of 2021 and caused child poverty to rise substantially (from 5.2% to 12.4% nationally). Due to its significant impact on Mississippi’s and Louisiana’s children, one would hope Sen. Hyde-Smith and Rep. Higgins were introducing bills to restore the improved Child Tax Credit. Instead, they are introducing bills to roll back the Child Tax Credit and to increase child poverty.
The evidence is clear: child poverty and the lack of investment in the future of children negatively impact every aspect of their lives, including their health, education, nutrition, housing, and rates of child abuse and juvenile justice. We should strive to do everything in our power to improve our children's lives rather than impose additional barriers and limit their lifetime opportunities.
Furthermore, the research overwhelmingly shows that investing in our nation’s children has an enormous return on investment (ROI). Social sciences research consistently demonstrates that investing in children, particularly in support of the most disadvantaged kids, ranks highest among all types of investments that the government can make.
It is in nobody’s interest – certainly not the children in Mississippi, Louisiana, or anywhere else in this country – to make child poverty even worse. Unfortunately, that is what the Hyde-Smith and Higgins bill would do.
Furthermore, we should not treat certain classes of children as second-class citizens and subject them to penalties and economic hardship because of the status or circumstances of their parents. Again, that is what S. 3798/H.R. 7991 would do.
Denying the Child Tax Credit to children based on a parent’s immigration status punishes kids for circumstances beyond their control. These U.S. citizen children would lose out on crucial financial support that could help with basic needs such as food, clothing, and educational supplies.
The potential harm of S. 3798/H.R. 7991 extends beyond immediate financial hardships. Research consistently shows that childhood poverty negatively affects health, educational attainment, and economic productivity. Children who grow up in poverty are more likely to experience chronic health conditions, have lower academic performance, and face limited job opportunities as adults. Consequently, the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has found that child poverty costs society up to $1.1 trillion a year and that cutting child poverty through an improved Child Tax Credit would positively impact just about every aspect of the lives of children.
By increasing child poverty rates, the Hyde-Smith and Higgins bill would set back the prospects of an entire generation. Kids are about one-quarter of the population but represent all of our future. Consequently, it is in all of our interests to avoid debilitating children with poverty, as it limits their options, opportunities, and ability to be successful.
Moreover, like all of us, children have fundamental human rights protected by the Constitution, and we believe these bills violate the Constitution’s equal protection clause. Instead of penalizing children based on their parents’ immigration status (again, an issue beyond their control), policymakers should focus on inclusive measures that uplift all children and provide them with equal opportunities to succeed.
An Opportunity Agenda for Children
Addressing the pressing issues faced by children in Mississippi, Louisiana, and across this country requires a “Whole Child” and multifaceted approach that prioritizes their well-being across various dimensions. While it would be great if state leaders in the Deep South and elsewhere would prioritize kids in their policymaking, children can’t wait.
As has been the case in the past, whether it was changes derived from Brown vs. Board of Education, the Child Tax Credit, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Head Start, Title I education funding, and early childhood investments, it is clear that federal action is often necessary to spur improvements for children.
Here are some key solutions and recommendations for policymakers to consider at both the federal and state levels:
1. Expand and Strengthen the Child Tax Credit
Make the Expanded CTC Permanent: The temporary expansion of the CTC in 2021 had a profound impact on reducing child poverty. Making this expansion permanent, including full refundability, would provide sustained support for low-income families. However, at the very least, Sens. Hyde-Smith, Roger Wicker (R-MS), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and John Kennedy (R-LA) should follow the lead of many of their House counterparts, who voted 357-70 in favor of H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, as it would cut child poverty by up to 500,000 across the country.
Remove "Baby and Child Penalties": Reform the Child Tax Credit, as H.R. 7024 does to some extent, to eliminate penalties that disproportionately affect low-income families, ensuring all children, regardless of the income of their parents or their life circumstances, receive the full benefit.
2. Invest in Early Childhood Education and Care
Increase Funding for Early Childhood Programs: High-quality early childhood education is critical for cognitive and social development. States should allocate more funds to expand access to programs, such as Head Start and pre-kindergarten.
Support Child Care Subsidies: Ensuring that low-income families have access to affordable, high-quality child care can help parents maintain employment and provide a stable environment for their children.
3. Improve Access to Health Care
Expand Medicaid and CHIP: Expanding Medicaid and CHIP in states like Mississippi and Louisiana would ensure more children have access to essential health services. For example, Mississippi only covers its children in CHIP to 200% of poverty, while neighboring Alabama has expanded coverage to 312% of poverty. Expanding Medicaid and CHIP should include expansions for prenatal and postnatal care, which is crucial for reducing maternal and infant mortality rates. Furthermore, after 27 years of success, CHIP should be made permanent to protect the health coverage of millions of children.
Increase Funding for Public Health and Community-Based Programs: Investing in community and school-based health programs can help address issues such as childhood obesity, mental health, and preventive care, improving overall child health outcomes.
4. Enhance Educational Opportunities
Increase School Funding: Adequate funding for K-12 education is essential to provide resources for teachers, update curricula, and maintain school facilities. States should prioritize equitable funding to ensure all children receive a quality education.
Support After-School and Summer Programs: These programs provide critical support for children, offering safe environments for learning and development beyond regular school hours.
5. Strengthen Social Safety Nets
Enhance Food Assistance Programs: Programs like SNAP and school meal programs are vital for combating child hunger. Increasing funding and reducing barriers to access can help ensure that no child goes hungry.
Support Housing Stability: Investing in affordable housing and providing rental assistance can help families achieve stability, reducing the stress and disruption that housing insecurity causes for children.
6. Advocate for Child-Friendly Legislation
Agree to be Champions for Children: Since 2006, First Focus Campaign for Children has adopted a Legislative Scorecard to assess “who’s for kids and who’s just kidding.” Despite their kids faring the poorest, year after year, lawmakers from the South have performed the lowest as a region. Policymakers across the South should “commit to kids” and strive to be “Champions for Children,” just as Governor Ronnie Musgrove (D-MS) did years ago when he expanded CHIP coverage, improved educational programs, and took many other actions in support of Mississippi’s kids.
Implement a "Children's Impact Test": Policymakers should adopt a test to evaluate how proposed legislation and rules will impact children (e.g., never again should money for low-income children be diverted to build volleyball courts and pay for speeches of famous, wealthy people). A child impact focus would ensure that all new laws and rules are assessed for their potential benefits or harms to children.
Promote Bipartisan Support for Improving Child Well-Being: Encouraging bipartisan cooperation on issues affecting children can lead to more effective and sustainable policy solutions. Federal and state officials should agree to adopt goals and targets to reduce child poverty and improve child well-being, and report to the public on the progress or lack thereof in reaching these goals.
7. Engage the Community and Build Awareness
Increase Public Awareness: Advocacy groups and community organizations should work to raise awareness about the challenges faced by children in Mississippi, Louisiana, and across the country, mobilizing public support for necessary policy changes.
Foster Community Involvement: Local communities should be engaged in developing and implementing solutions, ensuring that policies are responsive to the specific needs and circumstances of the children they aim to help.
By implementing these recommendations, federal and state policymakers in Mississippi and Louisiana can begin to address the systemic issues that have long plagued their children. Prioritizing the well-being of children is not only a moral imperative but also an investment in our nation's future prosperity and stability.
If you would like to help ensure that children and their needs, concerns, and best interests are no longer ignored by policymakers, please join First Focus Campaign for Children as an “Ambassador for Children” or become a paid subscriber to help us continue our work. We do not have dedicated financial support for this work and rely on readers like yourself to support it. Thank you for your consideration.