Description
Book SynopsisThis book examines the impact of inequality on children’s health and education, and offers tools to help practitioners address that impact across economic, sociological, and psychological domains. All children deserve the best possible future. But in this era of increasing economic and social inequality, more and more children are being denied their fair chance at life. Chapters examine a wide range of studies including exposure to stress and its biological consequences; the impact of federal programs offering access to nutrition for mothers and children; the impact of parental decision-making and child support systems; the effects of poverty on child care and quality of education, parental engagement with schools, parent-child interactions, friendship networks, and more.
The book concludes with commentaries from leading scholars about the state of the field, and efforts to help mitigate the effects of inequality for children in the U.S. and through
Trade ReviewWhat a welcome contribution to the world of basic and applied developmental psychology research! …This invaluable resource covers a lot of ground, beginning with a review of important biological issues such as stress; continuing through evaluation of various programs focused on children's well-being; examining intertwined systems of education, parenting, and social support; and ending with commentary on the current state of affairs and future directions…. Highly recommended. * Choice *
Table of ContentsContributors
Introduction. What Does it Take to Improve Equality of Opportunity for Children?
Part 1. Health Chapter 1. Reducing Stress Disparities: Pathways to Equity through the Study of Stress Biology
Chapter 2. Does the WIC Program Promote Equality of Opportunity in Early Life?
Chapter 3. How Do Early Life Health Experiences Affect Future Generations’ Equality of Opportunity?
Part 2. Family Chapter 4. Behavioral Insights and Parental Decision-Making
Chapter 5. ‘Whatever They Need’: Helping Poor Children through In-Kind Support
Part 3. Neighborhoods & Schools Chapter 6. Promoting Equality of Opportunity by Investing Early: Recommendations for Longitudinal Research
Chapter 7. Does School Spending Matter? The New Literature on an Old Question
Chapter 8. How Parents and Children Adapt to New Neighborhoods: Considerations for Future Housing Mobility Programs
Part 4. Multidisciplinary Commentary Chapter 9: Core Concepts from the Bioecological Model of Human Development
Chapter 10: Education and Equality of Opportunity
Chapter 11: Multigenerational Influences on Child Development
Conclusion
