FALL 2010
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
Dear Friends,
All of us have been affected by the recent downturn in our economy. However, children and youth in our country have been particularly adversely affected. In its annual report on child well-being published in June 2010, the Foundation for Child Development concluded, "The Great Recession has been particularly hard on children and youth, as state and local government budgets continue to be cut, resulting in significant reductions in educational, health, and other programs that support children and youth, particularly those at risk. Today children under 18 are the single largest group in America living in poverty.”
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Beating the Odds: Overcoming Social Disparities in EducationIt's a widely recognized, pervasive problem: students from different socioeconomic backgrounds have very different educational outcomes. Those from affluent areas by and large score much better on standardized tests, get better grades, are likelier to attend college and go on to higher-paying jobs than those...
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Rx for Social Disparities in HealthWhile it's no secret that growing up in poverty can have a profound influence on a child's quality of life, pinpointing remedies for the problem can be difficult. From the womb to the classroom and beyond, research at the School of Education and Social Policy and Northwestern University is exploring ways to overcome...
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SESP Helps Steer Northwestern as an Engine for Social MobilityRosey Martinez, one of 13 children in a Chicago immigrant family, remembers when she was in fifth grade and an older sister asked her about college. "It's not for me!" she quickly retorted, echoing her friends. Now, however, she is a SESP senior and a campus leader at Northwestern. She explains, "My family helped me..."
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