For Immediate Release
October 20, 2025
Contact:
Mikell Frey
mfrey@mlpp.org
(517) 414-0497
New Supplemental Poverty Measure data snapshot from the Annie E. Casey Foundation underscores why supportive policy measures are critical for child well-being
Child poverty fell to 7% in Michigan in 2021 due in large part to temporary federal support during the pandemic; it has since risen to 10% as of 2024
LANSING, MICHIGAN — A new data snapshot on the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation today demonstrates clearly that policy choices have a direct impact on child poverty, with supportive policies helping child poverty rates to decline and reduced support causing poverty to climb back up. The report, Measuring Access to Opportunity in the United States: A 10-Year Update, analyzes child poverty rates in all 50 states.
Here in Michigan, historic progress was made in 2021 when child poverty fell to 7% due in large part to federal support during the pandemic, but it has since risen to 10% as of 2024 as some temporary interventions like the expanded Child Tax Credit and higher monthly food assistance payments expired. This mirrors national setbacks seen since the pandemic. While Michigan’s poverty rate is below the national average of 13%, the increase in child poverty in the state has undoubtedly strained budgets at a time when costs are on the rise, making it harder for families to make ends meet.
“The Supplemental Poverty Measure gives us the clearest picture of how children in our state are faring because it accounts for the support that plays a major role in the economic conditions of families. Pandemic-era support made a huge difference for children not just in Michigan but across the country,” said Michigan League for Public Policy President and CEO Monique Stanton. “By factoring in everyday costs like child care, housing and medical expenses as well as the resources families receive to make ends meet, including SNAP, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, refundable tax credits and housing subsidies, we get a true measure of hardship and progress for families raising children and clear direction on where policy efforts should be focused.”
Michigan’s SPM trends provide direct evidence that state and federal policy decisions make a measurable difference in supporting kids. In 2023, Michigan strengthened its own social safety net by expanding the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit to 30%, bringing meaningful relief to working families. However, the end of the expanded federal Child Tax Credit after 2021 is directly reflected in Michigan’s SPM rise from 7% to 10%, proving how powerful refundable credits are in preventing hardship. Without refundable tax credits, Michigan’s child poverty rate would be 16%. Without SNAP, it would be 13%. And without housing subsidies or Social Security, it would be 12%.
It’s also notable that without any supportive interventions, Michigan’s child poverty would have climbed to 24% in 2024, which is more than double the current rate. And, nationally, child poverty nearly tripled between 2021 and 2024 as temporary credits and pandemic-era support expired — a pattern Michigan is now beginning to reflect.
“Michigan’s Supplemental Poverty Measure data shows the real harm that children have faced and can face when social safety net support is withdrawn,” said Kids Count in Michigan Policy Director Anne Kuhnen. “This is about more than just data. It’s about demonstrating the immediate and long-term consequences of not supporting our children, including increased stress levels, limited access to basic needs, and significant harm to their development and overall well-being. It all contributes to worse outcomes for our youngest residents and has costly economic impacts as well.”
“Poverty poses a serious threat to children’s development and long-term well-being, with far-reaching consequences for our economy,” said Leslie Boissiere, vice president of external affairs at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. “The data unequivocally show that public programs directly help our nation’s children. By investing in children’s well-being — through both public policy and employment practices that provide family-sustaining wages — we can enable more children to thrive and contribute as they become adults.”
It’s also important to note that national SPM data shows that poverty is not experienced among children equally, with children of color being the first to lose ground when support is taken away. There was an alarming increase in child poverty among children of color in the country from 2021 to 2024, with the poverty rate for Black and Latino children climbing the highest, from 8% to 23% and 8% to 21% respectively. Child poverty rates also increased significantly for American Indian and Alaska Native (7% to 15%), Asian and Pacific Islander (6% to 10%), and multiracial children (5% to 14%) in that same time frame. These steep and concerning increases underscore the need for supportive policy measures that protect families and children who are already facing systemic barriers, including racism and economic exclusion, so that they are not left behind.
Researchers estimate child poverty costs the United States up to $1 trillion annually in lost productivity, lower lifetime earnings and higher spending on health care, crime and public programs. Communities with high poverty rates bear the costs of higher spending on health care and increased crime, while schools have fewer resources and worse outcomes than wealthier districts.
The data from Measuring Access to Opportunity demonstrate that:
- Millions of children are kept out of poverty by supportive public policies; without them, child poverty would nearly double. Policymakers must prioritize policies and investments that empower all families to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
- Government data must remain available to accurately measure the effects of public programs on reducing poverty.
- Policymakers should ensure the continued availability of high-quality data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey and other surveys.
The 2025 Measuring Access to Opportunity in the United States: A 10-Year Update report is available at http://www.aecf.org.
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ABOUT THE ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION
The Annie E. Casey Foundation creates a brighter future for the nation’s young people by developing solutions to strengthen families, build paths to economic opportunity and transform struggling communities into safer and healthier places to live, work and grow. For more information, visit www.aecf.org. KIDS COUNT is a registered trademark of the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
ABOUT THE MICHIGAN LEAGUE FOR PUBLIC POLICY
The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on opportunity for all. Its mission is to advance economic security, racial equity, health and well-being for all people in Michigan through policy change. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way. The League also serves as Michigan’s Kids Count organization.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
