Poverty is more than an economic issue—it's a developmental crisis requiring effective, innovative solutions.
Across the United States, millions of young children face the devastating effects of poverty, which shapes their brains, behavior, and future opportunities. Backed by cutting-edge research and featuring the leading voices in developmental psychology, neuroscience, education, and policy, this groundbreaking volume uncovers the real impact of poverty on early development—and how we can change the trajectory.
In this book, readers will explore:
- How poverty reshapes brain development and school readiness;
- The unique challenges of rural poverty and immigrant families;
- The intersection of race and poverty—and what it means for young children; and
- Evidence-based solutions, including early intervention, education, and policy strategies.
Knowledge fuels change. This book arms professionals, policymakers, and educators with the critical insights they need to create better futures for all children.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. Introduction: Poverty Is a Developmental Hazard
Ann M. Mastergeorge and Melissa A. Barnett
Part I. The Multisystemic Nature of Poverty
Chapter 2. The Economic Contexts of Early Childhood: Why Not All Poverty Is the Same
Ross A. Thompson
Chapter 3. Poverty and School Readiness in Early Childhood: Impacts on Cognitive, Socioemotional, and Physical Development
Caitlin Lombardi and Vanessa Esquivel
Chapter 4. Poverty and the Social Determinants of Health: Impacts and Avenues for Intervention
Maureen M. Black
Chapter 5. Neurobiology and Toxic Stress: How the Adverse Experience of Poverty Impacts Early Development
Elex Simbeck, Genevieve Patterson, Pilyoung Kim, and Sarah Enos Watamura
Chapter 6. The Role of Quality Early Care and Education for Children Experiencing Poverty
Jennifer A. Mortensen and Katherine W. Paschall
Chapter 7. Contexts for Early Development in Two-Generation Studies
Catherine C. Ayoub and Christina F. Mondi
Chapter 8. The Impact of Poverty on Brain Development
Sonya V. Troller-Renfree, Maya L. Rosen, Haleigh M. Brown, Hannah W. Hafner, & Josué Rico-Picó
Part II. Poverty and Special Populations
Chapter 9. The Impact of Rural Poverty on Early Development
W. Roger Mills-Koonce, Cathi B. Propper, Margaret M. Swingler, and Lynne Vernon-Feagans
Chapter 10. The Impact of Environmental Stress on Early Development in U.S. Immigrant Families
Maggie Gillen, Dhruti Sheth, and Sandra Barrueco
Chapter 11. Double Jeopardy: The Intersection of Race and Poverty in the Lives of Young Children
Brenda Jones Harden, Alysa Herrera Taylor, and Melissa Duchene-Kelly
Part III. Linking Research With Policy to Address Child Poverty
Chapter 12. Prevention Science and Policy: Understanding the Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Implications
Sarah Hatch and Stephanie Jones
Chapter 13. Key Themes and Future Directions
Melissa A. Barnett and Ann M. Mastergeorge
About the Author :
Ann M. Mastergeorge, PhD, is the Rockwell Endowed Professor in Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Health and Human Sciences, as well as associate vice provost in outreach and engagement. She has expertise in early developmental trajectories, health disparities, the impact of poverty on developmental outcomes, and prevention and early intervention strategies for young children at developmental risk. She has published numerous papers in substantive areas related to early social communication, the impacts of environmental and biological factors on early brain development and school readiness, and the impact of parenting on developmental outcomes for young children.
Melissa A. Barnett, PhD, is a professor in human development and family science and the Norton Endowed Chair in Fathers, Parenting, and Families at the University of Arizona. She is the director of the Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth, and Families, which applies research to support child and family resilience. Her research examines how contextual risks and assets influence caregiver-child relationships, multigenerational well-being, and early childhood development, with a focus on poverty. The ultimate goal of this work is to inform practices and policies to promote health and well-being among young children and their caregivers.
