Michael Fix, Randy Capps Immigration Studies Program The Urban Institute The Health and Well-Being of Young Children of Immigrants The Health and Well-Being of Young Children of Immigrants Policies for Children in Immigrant Families Washington, D.C. -- The Brookings Institution December 2004

Children of Immigrants are... 1 in 5 Children 1 in 4 Low-Income Children Almost 1 in 4 Children under 6 Demographic Impacts Immigrants are... 1 in 9 U.S. Residents 1 in 2 New Workers

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 % 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 (2002 March Current Population Survey)

Young Children of Immigrants in Two- Parent Families More Likely to be Poor Children under six in two-parent families Children under six in single-parent families (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 (2002 March Current Population Survey)

Immigrant Families with Two Workers: Higher Poverty Rates Children under six with two parents, both work Children under six with two parents, one works (2002 National Survey of America’s Families)

Hardship Rates Higher for Low- Income Children of Immigrants (2002 National Survey of America’s Families) * The difference between children of immigrants and children of natives is not statistically significant at p = Share of children under 6 in families with incomes below 200% of poverty

Low-Income Children of Immigrants Use Fewer Public Benefits (2002 National Survey of America’s Families) Share of children under 6 in families with incomes below 200% of poverty

Share Uninsured is Falling but Higher for Children of Immigrants (1999, 2002 National Survey of America’s Families) * The difference for children of immigrants between 1999 and 2002 is not statistically significant at p = Share of all children under 6 without health insurance

Share of Families with Children under 18 below 200% of Poverty Participating in Program TANFMedicaid Food Stamps Declines in FS, TANF; Medicaid Increases (March1995, 2000, & 2003 Current Population Survey)

Child care Children of Children of arrangement natives 0-5 immigrants 0-5 Parental care/ no regular arrangement 34.4% 52.8% Non-parental 65.6% 47.2% Center-based 26.0% 17.0% Relative-provided 25.5% 20.4% Home of a non-relative 9.2% 6.9% Nanny/babysitter 4.9% 2.9% Children of Immigrants Less Likely to Be in Child Care (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 (2002 National Survey of America’s Families) * Parents work at least 20 hours per week on average.

Children with Less Educated Immigrant Parents in Center-Based Care Less Often (2002 National Survey of America’s Families) Share of children under age 6 in center-based child care

Share of all children under 6 with at least one parent who is limited English proficient* (2000 Census, 1 percent sample) Over Half of Immigrant Parents Have Limited English Skills * Speaks a language other than English, and speaks English less than “very well.”

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) Randy Capps Immigration Studies Program Population Studies Center Urban Institute Michael Fix, Vice President Migration Policy Institute (after 1/10/05) (202) (202)