1. 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

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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)

5. 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)

6. 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)

7. 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)

8. 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)

9. 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)

10. 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 = 0.05. Share of children under 6 in families with incomes below 200% of poverty

11. 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

12. 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 = 0.05. Share of all children under 6 without health insurance

13. 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)

14. 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)

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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.”

18. 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) rcapps@ui.urban.org; (202) 261-5302 mfix@migrationpolicy.org; (202) 266-1945