Psychologists Speak Out on the Recession's Toll on Children
The cover story of the September 2010 issue of Monitor on Psychology (a publication of the American Psychological Association) calls on psychologists to raise awareness of what is happening to children as a result of the recession. Titled, “The Recession’s Toll on Children,” the article quotes psychologist Ruby Takanishi, Ph.D. saying, “Research shows that children who slip into poverty, even for a short time, suffer long-term setbacks even when their families regain their economic footing.”
She concludes by saying, “Investment during the first decade of life is crucial for the country’s well-being, as well as for individual potential,” she says. “In the United States, education is the only possibility for escaping from poverty. Thus, the recession’s impact on declining availability of prekindergarten programs is very damaging for children in poverty.”
