Economic and Concrete Supports

Many communities are preventing child welfare involvement by investing in concrete and economic supports (i.e., making sure families have money and other basic things they need). Economic support strategies can be direct, such as monthly payments to families, or indirect, like tax or wage changes. By addressing the poverty that drives many families of color into child welfare systems, these approaches can help address the disproportionate involvement of families of color in these systems, while saving taxpayer money and allowing all families to meet their children’s needs and thrive.