According to GAO's analysis of data in the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey (CPS), on average, low-wage workers worked fewer hours per week, were more highly concentrated in a few industries and occupations, and had lower educational attainment than workers earning hourly wages above $16 in each year GAO reviewed—1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2016. Their percentage of the U.S. workforce also stayed relatively constant over time. About 40 percent of the U.S. workforce ages 25 to 64 earned hourly wages of $16 or less (in constant 2016 dollars) over the period 1995 through 2016. The combination of low wages and few hours worked compounded the income disadvantage of low-wage workers and likely contributed to their potential eligibility for federal social safety net programs.

About 20 percent of families with a worker earning up to the federal minimum wage (currently $7.25 per hour), 13 percent of families with a worker earning above federal minimum wage to $12.00 per hour, and 5 percent of families with a worker earning $12.01 to $16 per hour were in poverty in each year GAO reviewed (see figure).The extent of poverty varied considerably by the type of family in which a worker lived. For example, single-parent families earning the federal minimum wage or below comprised a higher percentage of families in poverty. In contrast, married families with no children comprised the lowest percentage of families in poverty, and generally had family incomes at or above the poverty line.

This infographic from MDRC describes the behavioral principles applied in the Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency (BIAS) project. The goal of the BIAS project was to use insights from behavioral science to improve human services programs that serve low-income families. Each letter in the SIMPLER acronym corresponds to a behavioral concept, and the infographic provides a definition for each concept and an example of how one of the BIAS sites applied it.

This study assessed the relationship between the stage of breast cancer diagnosis and the area-level poverty in which the women lived when mammography screening was offered at no cost (author abstract). The conclusions showed that women who had more access to free screenings mitigated the stage of breast cancer at diagnosis.

This resource highlights six strategies and practical steps faith-based organizations can take when helping their communities prevent and heal from the effects of the opioid crisis. These strategies include opening doors and offering space for recovery programs and support groups, as well as increasing awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging compassion through understanding of the condition. Additionally, building and restoring community capacity and the presence of faith-based organizations at the table are key. Getting ahead of the problem is especially important, as prescription opioid exposure remains a path to heroin use. The resource also encourages connecting and collaborating between community organizations and utilizing federal resources.

This National Consortium of Breast Centers resource provides a list of websites and organizations that provide breast cancer information and resources. The list includes the name, contact information, and a short summary of each organization. This resource also provides information on how to access free breast cancer screenings for those with financial constraints.

This trial analyzed the Teen Options to Prevent Pregnancy (TOPP) program developed by OhioHealth to reduce rapid repeat pregnancy and promote healthy birth spacing for adolescent mothers. The random controlled trials examined the initial training of nurse educators and the discussion of both contraceptive and non-contraceptive topics with new mothers. The study found that the TOPP program reduced the rate at which mothers experience rapid repeat pregnancies and births at a statistically significant level.

This interactive map from the Centers for Disease Control, National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program allows users to find resources for getting free or low-cost breast and cervical cancer screenings. Users can search by state or American Indian/Alaska Native Organization to find local hotlines for affordable screenings, information about state screening programs, and state-specific cancer statistics.

Low-income families and people of color often struggle to find safe neighborhoods to live in due to high housing costs and discrimination. These challenges lead to economically segregated neighborhoods that suffer from neglect, inadequate services, and high levels of crime, which prevents residents from moving out of poverty. This report from the US Partnership on Mobility from Poverty summarizes the research on the four ways that neighborhoods can negatively impact the lives of their residents: the availability and quality of services, crime and violence, the role of social networks, and access to employment.

On Tuesday, October 10, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) hosted an event on the state of safety-net programs under the Trump administration to include the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The discussion was moderated by AEI’s Robert Doar with a panel of Wade Horn, the former assistant secretary for the Administration for Children and Families; Robert Rector from the Heritage Foundation; and Ron Haskins from the Brookings Institution.

This Abt Associates report details evaluation results from Family Self-Sufficiency programs in Lynn and Cambridge, Massachusetts. In these programs, Compass Working Capital partnered with local public housing agencies to provide case management and an escrow savings account to help participants achieve their financial goals. The researchers compared the change in earnings, welfare income, credit scores, and debt over time between program participants and a matched comparison group. Participants experienced an average gain of $6,305 in household income between 2010 and 2016 and a decline of $496 in annual welfare income. Credit scores also increased an average of 23 points for participants, and their total debt decreased by an average of $764.