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Objective. Variations in childhood poverty are primarily responsive to changes in family structure and economic conditions. Some research also suggests that federal and state programs may help alleviate poverty among children. This research incorporates measures of family characteristics, economic conditions, and policy variables in estimating changes in childhood poverty among the U.S. states. Methods. The research design is a pooled time series for all 50 states for the years 1987–1996. Results. Economic and family circumstances indeed are the major forces affecting children in poverty among the states. The unemployment rate for females, the percentage births to unmarried mothers, and the percentage of single‐parent families are especially useful estimators. Public policies are important as well: the state or federal minimum wage, Aid to Families with Dependent Children/food stamp payments, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and two measures of state child support effort. Conclusions. Although at times controversial, actions by the states and federal government can help reduce childhood poverty among U.S. states.

To our knowledge … this analysis provides the fi rst macro-level test of state policies and programs intended to promote healthy marriages. Th e central question addressed by this article is the eff ect of state-level marriage initiatives on divorce and childhood poverty rates. State divorce rates have been problematic for researchers because of variation across states in the way they are compiled. Th is research takes a diff erent approach, measuring instead the prevalence of divorce rather than the number of divorces granted in a given state or year. Th e authors use this indicator, derived from Current Population Survey data, as an outcome measure in a test of marriage initiatives, and as an independent variable in a childhood poverty analysis. Th e quasi-experimental design employs time-series and cross-section regression analysis. Results show a signifi cant negative eff ect from marriage initiatives on divorce prevalence, and a signifi cant positive association between divorce prevalence and childhood poverty rates.