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

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.