The Department of Education published this report on the concentration of enrollment in free school lunch programs by race and ethnicity. Among the findings, researchers found that 41 percent of 4th graders were eligible for the program in 2005, and larger percentages of minority populations were eligible for the program.

This research report, from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, discusses measurement and data gathering strategies to measure efforts to alleviate homelessness. While there is a recent charge to end chronic homelessness in local communities, this article provides baseline information for comparison purposes. As of January 2005, it is estimated that 744,313 people experienced homelessness -- 56% of whom residing in shelters and transitional housing, and 44% unsheltered.

From the National Poverty Center, researchers in this working paper review the trends surrounding concentrated poverty in rural areas. In the 1990s, the rural (nonmetro) poverty rates decreased faster than metro rates and the percentage of the rural population living in extremely poor counties decreased by over 40 percent. However, it was found that children residing in rural areas, especially minority children, experience poverty rates above the national averages.

This paper, from the National Poverty Center, analyzes current housing policy with relation to the recent trends of the low income population becoming decentralized. Authors seek to investigate if this strategy equates to increased economic efficiency by reviewing data from large metropolitan areas across the country.

From the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, this paper provides an overview of methamphetamine, as social workers are seeing an increasing number of children and families affected by meth. Authors present the most current research on methamphetamine, its effects on families, and treatment options available.

This report from the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) outlines best practices in policy regarding children's mental health and offers views on the status of family and youth support and advocacy systems. Authors conclude by highlighting selected innovative interventions.

A National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) publication entitled "Broke But Not Deadbeat: Reconnecting Low-Income Fathers and Children" addresses the circumstances faced by low-income fathers who are not able to meet their required child support payments, the implications and consequences for the children, and the opportunities available through the TANF, Welfare-to-Work, and Workforce Investment Act to assist this population.

This report provides information on why fathers matter, the role of non-resident fathers, strategies for involving non-resident fathers, and resources on fathers and families.

As the crime of human trafficking increases in prevalence, magnitude, and scope, trafficking victims who apply for TANF may emerge as a new Hard to Serve/Multi Barrier population for TANF administrators. This study offers a critical resource by assessing the needs of domestic service providers who are working with trafficking victims. Conducted for the National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, the research team, led by Dr. Heather J. Clawson, completed a national sample of 98 interviews with domestic service providers.

The number of children with immigrant parents have tripled in the last 35 years. Additionally, a large number of low income children reside in immigrant families. While low-income immigrant families with children are mostly working families, low-skilled jobs result in high poverty and hardship rates for these children. This article provides additional insight into these increasing statistics.