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Embedding 529 college savings accounts in pediatric care: a pilot innovation

S. Tummala, W. Zhong, L. Marcil
Acad Pediatr

One in six children in the United States live in poverty. Poverty increases children's risk for poor health and developmental delays.2 Economic distress disproportionately affects people of color. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, median Black family wealth was one-tenth of that of Whites. Pandemic-related unemployment has deepened this inequity; 9% of the top fifth of income earners in the U.S. lost their jobs compared to 35% of the bottom fifth (majority Black and Latinx).

Education is a key protective factor against poverty, racial disparities, and poverty-related health problems. We must empower low-income families of color with education-related resources to increase health equity.

Tummala S, Zhong W, Marcil L. Embedding 529 college savings accounts in pediatric care: a pilot innovation. Acad Pediatr. 2021 Sep 4:S1876-2859(21)00440-X. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2021.08.020. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34492376.

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Publication year
Resource type
Peer Reviewed Research
Outcomes
Process
Population
Children and Youth
Social Determinant of Health
Economic Security
Education/Literacy
Study design
Other Study Design
Keywords