Our Work for Children in the United States of America
In rural communities across the country, children from a wide range of backgrounds often struggle to access early education, nutritious food and the other resources they need to thrive.
Save the Children works with local partners throughout rural America to ensure children have a healthy, strong foundation to succeed as learners and in life. We bring decades of experience and expertise to delivering scalable solutions to the unique challenges rural children face.
Through partnerships, programs, innovation and advocacy, we provide educational support, child care and mental health resources, and so much more.
Save the Children's Rural Child Well-Being Dashboards Reveal the Stark Disparities for Children in Rural America
According to this new analysis, kids living in rural America are more likely to live in poverty, be food insecure and need public assistance than their non-rural peers. Living in rural America also has advantages. Community connections—which can be leveraged to find childcare and employment—are, for example, stronger in rural communities.
Explore the lives of rural America’s children and families with Save the Children’s Rural Child Well-being Dashboards. We tell their story from many angles, translating complex data into clear, visual insights.
- In California, a family sits together and enjoys a snack provided by Save the Children's mobile feeding unit.
- In 39 states, rural children are more likely to grow up in poverty than non-rural kids. Rural families are nearly 20% more likely to receive public assistance than non-rural families.
- Rural children are more likely to face food insecurity, with 43% eligible for free and reduced-price meals.
- Over 1 in 20 households in rural America don’t have a private vehicle. Rural households are more vulnerable to natural disasters.
- Rural Vermont, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Hampshire are also among the healthiest environments ((most walkable, lowest exposure to pollutants, etc.) in the United States for children.
Learn More About Our Programs in the U.S.
Advocate for Children in the U.S.
Advocate for children in the United States by joining our political advocacy arm — Save the Children Advocacy Network's — efforts to send a message to Congress. Tell Congress: Improving the Child Tax Credit (CTC) could change children's futures. It'd help low-income families afford necessities like food and housing, benefiting more than 1 in 5 kids.
How to Help Children in the United States of America
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