Children and Families
Save up, not spend down: Eliminating the asset test for families in Medicaid and TANF
October 6, 2011 -- It's time to eliminate the asset test for Medicaid and TANF. Right now low-income West Virginians are required to spend down their assets like retirement accounts before they can qualify for financial assistance like Medicaid. Families are depleting resources that could help in the long-term so they can qualify for short-term assistance. Many other states don't do this, and West Virginia could save administrative costs and help its low-income families by following their lead. Read
“Magic” Money a Mere Illusion: Refund Anticipation Loans & the Earned Income Tax Credit in West Virginia
August 25, 2009 -- Working West Virginians with modest incomes lost nearly $13 million of their 2006 federal income tax refunds to tax preparers who promised them “fast cash." Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) provide high-interest credit or cash advances to tax filers based on their expected refunds and are marketed to those who need money quickly during tax season. | Read More
Random Drug Testing of Public Assistance Recipients Ill-Advised
July 27, 2009 -- Read
Rising Unemployment Increases Poverty, Especially Among Children
May 11, 2009 -- The national recession that officially began more than a year ago (Dec. 2007) is finally taking its toll on West Virginia. | Read
Boosting West Virginia’s Potential: Greater investments needed in early childhood
February 2009 --The West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy proposes key actions to strengthen early childhood programs | Read PDF
Losing Ground in Child Care Assistance
January, 2009 -- Parents have an increasingly difficult time finding child care as the state’s child care providers are hard-pressed to keep their doors open and provide the quality of care important for the developing child. | Read PDF
Investing in Early Childhood Care and Education: What States Are Spending
November, 2008 -- If West Virginia wants to be competitive with neighboring states and have the educated workforce necessary to compete for 21st century jobs, it must invest more in child care. | Read PDF
Twenty Percent of W. Va. Families with Children Benefit from Proposal to Expand Child Tax Credit
September, 2008 -- Reducing the threshold for the refundable CTC will provide much needed assistance to the families that need it the most and help reduce child poverty. Read
West Virginia Child Care Salaries Rank 47th Lowest in the Nation
September, 2008 -- Child care workers in West Virginia earn the lowest salaries in a seven state region and $3,310 less than the national average. | Read PDF
Birth to Three: a Priority for West Virginians
May, 2008 -- Funding need to be increased for this program that identifies infants and toddlers with developmental delays or significant risk factors | Read