Transcript Document

Michael Fix, Randy Capps
Immigration Studies Program
The Urban Institute
The Health and Well-Being of
Young Children of Immigrants
Policies for Children in Immigrant Families
Washington, D.C. -- The Brookings Institution
December 2004
Demographic Impacts
Immigrants are ...
• 1 in 9 U.S. Residents
• 1 in 2 New Workers
Children of Immigrants are ...
• 1 in 5 Children
• 1 in 4 Low-Income Children
• Almost 1 in 4 Children under 6
Parents of Young Children of
Immigrants Arrived Recently
• 51% of parents of kids under 6 arrived
within the last ten years.
• 20% arrived within the last 5 years.
• Many parents are ineligible for public
benefits.
(2002 March Current Population Survey)
Most Children of Immigrants Are
Citizens in Mixed Status Families
• 16% of all children under 6 live in
“mixed status” families, compared to
11% of all children ages 6 to 17.
• 93% of children of immigrants under age
6 are citizens (versus 77% ages 6 to 17).
• 81% of children of immigrants under age
6 have a noncitizen parent.
• 29% have an undocumented parent.
(2002 March Current Population Survey)
Poverty is Widespread among Young
Children of Immigrants (under age 6)
• 56% live in families with incomes under
200% of poverty
• Children of immigrants are 29% of all
low income young children
• 63% of young foreign-born children live
in families with income under 200% of
poverty
(2002 March Current Population Survey)
Most Low Income Immigrant
Kids in Two Parent Families
Family structure for children under 6 with family
incomes below 200 percent of federal poverty level
Single-parent families
79%
Two parent families
50%
50%
21%
Children of Natives
Children of Immigrants
(2002 March Current Population Survey)
Young Children of Immigrants in TwoParent Families More Likely to be Poor
Children under six in
single-parent families
75%
65%
Children under six in
two-parent families
Income 100-200% poverty level
Income below 100% poverty level
Los Angel
27%
36%
50%
26%
38%
39%
28%
19%
22%
7%
Children of
natives
Children of
immigrants
Children of
natives
Children of
immigrants
(2002 National Survey of America’s Families)
Immigrant Families: Share with a
Second Non-Working Parent Is Higher
Share of children in families with one parent
working, second parent not working
Ages 0 to 5
Ages 6 to 17
41%
32%
24%
18%
Children of Natives
Children of Immigrants
(2002 March Current Population Survey)
Immigrant Families with Two
Workers: Higher Poverty Rates
Children under six with
two parents, one works
Children under six with
two parents, both work
61%
Income 100-200% poverty level
Los Angel
40%
35%
24%
28%
26%
12%
Children of
natives
Income below 100% poverty level
Children of
immigrants
11%
10%
19%
1%
5%
Children of
natives
Children of
immigrants
(2002 National Survey of America’s Families)
Hardship Rates Higher for LowIncome Children of Immigrants
Share of children under 6 in families with incomes below 200% of poverty
56%
One or more foodrelated problems
49%
Two or more
food-related
problems*
Living in crowded
housing (over 2
per bedroom)
Paying more than
half income on
housing
39%
37%
46%
17%
25%
19%
Children of Immigrants
Children of Natives
* The difference between children of immigrants and children of natives
is not statistically significant at p = 0.05.
(2002 National Survey of America’s Families)
Low-Income Children of Immigrants
Use Fewer Public Benefits
Share of children under 6 in families with incomes below 200% of poverty
Temporary
Assistance for
Needy Families
7%
17%
Children of Immigrants
Food Stamps
(During Previous
Year)
20%
Children of Natives
41%
19%
Housing
Assistance*
32%
(2002 National Survey of America’s Families)
Share Uninsured is Falling but
Higher for Children of Immigrants
Share of all children under 6 without health insurance
1999
2002
18%
14%
9%
6%
Children of Natives
Children of Immigrants*
* The difference for children of immigrants between 1999 and 2002
is not statistically significant at p = 0.05.
(1999, 2002 National Survey of America’s Families)
Declines in FS, TANF; Medicaid Increases
53%
Share of Families with Children under 18 below 200% of Poverty
Participating in Program
46%
45%
39%
46%
51%
43%
35%
28%
23%
22%
19%
29%
18%
12%
LPR Alien Families
8%
9%
1994
1999
TANF
Citizen Families
6%
2002
1994
1999
2002
Food Stamps
1994
1999
2002
Medicaid
(March1995, 2000, & 2003 Current Population Survey)
Children of Immigrants Less Likely
to Be in Child Care
Child care
arrangement
Children of
natives 0-5
Children of
immigrants 0-5
Parental care/ no
regular arrangement
34.4%
52.8%
Non-parental
Center-based
Relative-provided
Home of a non-relative
Nanny/babysitter
65.6%
26.0%
25.5%
9.2%
4.9%
47.2%
17.0%
20.4%
6.9%
2.9%
(2002 National Survey of America’s Families)
Low-income Children of Immigrants
Less Likely to Be in Center-Based Care
Share of children under age 6 in center-based child care
All low-income
children
11%
18%
Children of Immigrants
Children of Natives
Low-income
children with
working
parents*
15%
23%
* Parents work at least 20 hours per week on average.
(2002 National Survey of America’s Families)
Children with Less Educated Immigrant
Parents in Center-Based Care Less Often
Share of children under age 6 in center-based child care
At least one parent
4-year college
degree
27%
33%
At least one parent
high school, neither
parent 4-year
college
Both parents less
than high school
degree
14%
23%
Children of Immigrants
5%
12%
Children of Natives
(2002 National Survey of America’s Families)
Over Half of Immigrant Parents
Have Limited English Skills
Share of all children under 6 with at least one parent
who is limited English proficient*
66%
58%
2%
Foreign-born children of immigrants
U.S.-born children of immigrants
Children of Natives
* Speaks a language other than English, and speaks English less than “very well.”
(2000 Census, 1 percent sample)
For more information,
contact:
Randy Capps
Immigration Studies Program
Population Studies Center
Urban Institute
Michael Fix, Vice President
Migration Policy Institute
(after 1/10/05)
[email protected]; (202) 261-5302
[email protected]; (202) 266-1945