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A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows that childhood poverty in Kansas is lower than official numbers suggest when public assistance programs are included. The study uses the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which looks at family income alongside housing costs, medical expenses, child care, and benefits like SNAP and the Earned Income Tax Credit.

According to the SPM, about 9% of Kansas children live in poverty, compared with 13% under the official poverty measure. Without public programs, an additional 72,000 children would be in poverty, pushing the SPM rate to 20%. The report also shows a rising trend: 6% of children were in poverty from 2019-2021, increasing to 9% in 2022-2024.

Experts say targeted policies could reverse this trend. A proposed state child tax credit would give up to $600 per child for families earning under $25,000. Nationally, the federal credit has helped more than 1.5 million children. The findings emphasize that supporting children and families has a direct impact on reducing poverty and improving futures.