Raising children in poverty in the richest nation. Factors that may encourage the adoption of Dutch inspired Youth and Family Centers

Abstract

Despite the vast wealth of the United States, it retains one of the highest child poverty rates of advanced nations. Guided by the family stress model illustrating how early exposure to adversity and toxic stress can have detrimental outcomes for child development, assessing what social supports can ease stresses of raising children in poverty can help to promote happier healthier children. Incorporting Sen’s capability approach, the resource of Youth and Family Centers in the Netherlands is discussed for its feasibility in an American context.