Data shows that children from families with annual incomes below $15,000 were over 22 times more likely to experience maltreatment than children from families whose income exceeded $30,000. While poverty presents serious challenges to parents that impede their ability to adequately provide for their children, many states and counties have developed strategies to address this root cause of family instability by providing concrete supports to help to lift families out of poverty.
Poverty is the largest risk factor for entry into the foster care system.