Federal benefits cuts are looming — here’s how Colorado is trying to protect families with children

By: Stephen Roll, Jenn Finders, Leah Hamilton

Outlets: Colorado Newsline

Published: March 17, 2026

Words: 1,273

Last Updated: 4 days, 2 hours ago

This commentary was originally published by The Conversation.

Childhood poverty in the U.S. fell to its lowest level in history in 2021. The fall was largely due to the expanded child tax credit and other COVID-19 pandemic supports that put cash directly in the hands of parents and lifted millions of children out of poverty.

Once these safety net changes expired at the end of 2021, childhood poverty rebounded, surging …

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