Poverty rates decreased in recent years in Canada and the United States, with 2021 rates falling to 8.1% and 11.6%, respectively.1,2  However, rates have since fluctuated; US child poverty more than doubled from 2021 to 2022, with the supplemental poverty measure, which is adjusted to account for government benefits, rising from 5.2% to 12.2%. Many families endure financial vulnerability, with approximately 1 in 3 Americans and 1 in 4 Canadians unable to pay for an unexpected $400 emergency and 60% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck.4–6  Financial vulnerability is not equitably distributed; systemic racism and historical and persistent discrimination result in significantly higher rates of poverty for children who may be underrepresented minorities or immigrants. According to the 2022 US census data, 20% of Latino children, 18% of Black children, 12% of children of 2 or more races, and 10% of Asian and...

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