For the Campaign for Action we recently wrote about childhood poverty.

Nearly 12 million children—16 percent of U.S. children—are poor, and the percentage is much higher for minority children. The stress of poverty, the exposure to violence and the lack of consistent health care are some pathways by which poverty causes illness. These stressors create behavioral and physical changes that last through adulthood.

That’s why Deputy Surgeon General and Chief Nurse Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Sylvia Trent-Adams, PhD, RN called childhood poverty a leading cause of adult disability and illness, or a “public health crisis.”

The good news is that programs are in place to strengthen the protective factors against childhood poverty. Nurse home-visiting programs, group prenatal care, high-quality early childhood education, and classes that improve parent-child bonding are some proven strategies to help give every child the healthiest possible beginning.

Learn more about programs to ameliorate the effects of childhood poverty.