DENVER – Colorado has real power to reduce child poverty through public policy and programs, and new research shows current investments lift tens of thousands of children out of poverty, according to Proof It Works, a new brief released today by the Colorado Children’s Campaign as part of the Kids in Focus series.
Using the new Colorado Poverty Measure, funded by Gary Community Ventures and built by Columbia University’s Center on Poverty and Social Policy, researchers found that state and federal investments make a significant difference for families and children: The largest effects come from the Family Affordability Tax Credit, which lifted 22,500 kids out of poverty in 2024; housing assistance, which lifted 15,800 kids out of poverty; and food assistance, or SNAP, which lifted 11,600 kids out of poverty. At the same time, necessary expenses like child care and medical costs push thousands of children into poverty.
“When Colorado invests in families through the Family Affordability Tax Credit, food assistance, and help with housing, fewer kids grow up in poverty,” said Maya Gould, Vice President of Research at the Colorado Children’s Campaign. “This data illustrates the power of policy decisions to change children’s lives.”
But that support isn’t reaching every child. When these investments are taken into account, economic hardship remains concentrated among some groups of children: One in four Black children experience poverty (25%), compared with one in twenty white children (5%). A bigger share of children in rural regions like the San Luis Valley (13%) experience poverty than in other parts of the state.
The report also highlights what is at risk. Proposed federal cuts, together with state fiscal limits like TABOR, mean fewer children could benefit from these programs in coming years.
“Colorado has worked hard to strengthen its safety net, and those efforts are paying off. By accounting for both the resources families have and the costs they face, the Colorado Poverty Measure helps us understand what’s working, where gaps remain, and how different policy choices could reduce poverty,” said Jill Hawley, Chief Impact Officer at Gary Community Ventures. “Our hope is that policymakers use this evidence to protect that progress and go further, so more Colorado children and families have what they need to thrive.”
Proof It Works calls on Colorado’s leaders to prioritize and protect proven investments like the Family Affordability Tax Credit, SNAP, and housing assistance, and to make sure they reach the children who need them most.
“We know which programs are working, and we also know which kids are still being left out,” said Sarah Barnes, Senior Vice President of Policy at the Colorado Children’s Campaign. “Keeping these investments in place, and making sure they reach the families who need them most, is well within the state’s power.”
Proof It Works is part of Kids in Focus, the Colorado Children’s Campaign’s annual research brief series. Each brief brings together the best available data and research on issues affecting Colorado kids and families, identifies evidence-based solutions, and provides a path forward for policymakers and community leaders.
Release Information: Please contact Vice President of Communications Jackie Zubrzycki at Jackie@ColoradoKids.org for more information, a copy of the brief, or to arrange an interview.
About the Colorado Children’s Campaign: At the Colorado Children’s Campaign, we use data and research to identify what kids across our state need most, then advocate for policies that strengthen their well‑being and help them thrive. Our focus is the whole child, working across Early Childhood, K‑12 Education, Health, and Economic Security for the greatest long‑term impact. For more information, please visit ColoradoKids.org.