Utah releases annual report on intergenerational poverty
Key findings support statewide efforts to help families in the cycle of poverty
By Nate McDonald
The Utah Intergenerational Welfare Reform Commission released the state’s Seventh Annual Report on Intergenerational Poverty, Welfare Dependency and the Use of Public Assistance. The report highlights data from multiple state agencies serving families in the cycle of poverty and shares activities supporting early childhood development, education, family economic stability, and health.
“We need to ensure all our families have access to opportunity, especially those in a cycle of living in poverty,” said Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox. “Using data, we are able to better serve adults and children experiencing intergenerational poverty and evaluate successes from improvements made to existing support systems.”
Intergenerational poverty is defined as poverty in which two or more successive generations of a family continue in the cycle of poverty. In 2017, 40,122 adults and 59,059 children experienced intergenerational poverty in Utah.
Key findings of improvements for these individuals include improved graduation rates, improved access to quality early learning programs, and an increase of young adults enrolling in post-secondary education. Areas that could use improvement include health, such as increasing the usage of behavioral health services among children and young adults.
“It’s promising to see positive increases in the overall well being of families in the cycle of poverty,” said Jon Pierpont, executive director of the Department of Workforce Services. “This data helps government agencies, local officials, and other organizations prioritize funding to continue to ensure there are intergenerational pathways to opportunity for Utah families.”
For more information and to view the report, visit intergenerationalpoverty.utah.gov.
