The Together Trust has published a report exploring links between poverty and children entering care in the UK. It looks at research on poverty and the care system, examining how factors such as abuse, neglect, deprivation, education, race, health, and welfare policies are intertwined. Report findings have helped bring clarity to some of the pressing questions surrounding the care system and the impact of poverty on children. Key Findings show:
- Reframing Poverty: Poverty must be acknowledged as a primary driver behind children entering care, not just a contextual factor.
- Support Systems: Local Authorities (LAs) need better resources to address housing, food insecurity, and economic needs. These are crucial to reducing the number of children entering care.
- Abolishing Harmful Policies: The research highlights the negative impact of punitive policies like the two-child limit and benefits cap, calling for their removal to prevent further child poverty.
- Cost-of-Living Crisis: Long-term solutions must be implemented to address the rising costs of living, which are pushing more families into poverty.