Section Three: Researching a Key Question in the Field

My research question for the semester was: What are the essential areas to consider when researching and analyzing welfare benefit policies, including child benefit policies, and how has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced these policies?

I chose this research question because I am interested in understanding how welfare benefit policies can effectively support vulnerable populations, particularly children, during times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. I also want to explore how the pandemic has impacted these policies, and whether any changes made during the pandemic can be maintained and improved upon in the long term.

During my interview with Matt Bruenig, he shared insights on successful welfare policies in the US and abroad, particularly those that support families with young children. He also mentioned the child tax credit as an incredible development in the policy world that significantly cut child poverty. These insights inspired me to further investigate the impact of child benefit policies and how they can be optimized to better support families, particularly during times of crisis like the pandemic.

In my running annotated bibliography for the semester, I have included several sources that discuss the impact of COVID-19 on children and welfare benefit policies. One source I found particularly useful is an article by White-Cummings (2021) that provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of COVID-19 on children, including their physical health, mental health, and education. Another source by Campbell and Carnevale (2022) proposes a child-inclusive ethical framework for pandemic policymaking, highlighting the need for policies that prioritize children’s health and wellbeing. Additionally, Krisberg’s (2021) article discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled a rise in child hunger, emphasizing the urgent need for effective welfare policies to support vulnerable children and families.

A further list of sources that guided my research this semester:

1. Morris, M. D., & Mezey, S. G. (2021). Protecting vulnerable children during COVID-19 and beyond. Pediatrics, 147(6), e2021050697. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-050697

This article explores the challenges faced by vulnerable children during the COVID-19 pandemic and proposes strategies for protecting their health and wellbeing. The authors argue that child welfare policies need to prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable children, including those from low-income families, children with disabilities, and children in foster care.

2. Daza, M. T. (2021). A comparative analysis of child benefits in Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Social Security Review, 74(4), 147-166. https://doi.org/10.1111/issr.12271

This article compares child benefit policies in different countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and analyzes how these policies have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The author argues that child benefit policies are crucial for addressing child poverty and improving child welfare, especially during times of crisis.

3. Huddleston, T., & Nieuwenhuis, R. (2021). Family policies in the EU: Public support, child poverty and social exclusion. Social Policy & Administration, 55(2), 236-251. https://doi.org/10.1111/spol.12625

This article examines the impact of family policies on child poverty and social exclusion in the European Union (EU). The authors argue that effective family policies, including child benefit policies, are essential for reducing child poverty and promoting social inclusion. They also highlight the importance of public support for these policies and the need for policy coordination across different EU member states.

4. Bruenig, M. (2021). Child poverty in America. People’s Policy Project. https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2021/05/03/child-poverty-in-america/

In this policy brief, Matt Bruenig discusses the issue of child poverty in the United States and proposes policy solutions for addressing this problem. He argues that child benefit policies, such as cash transfers and universal child allowances, are effective ways to reduce child poverty and improve child welfare.

References:

Campbell, S., & Carnevale, F. A. (2022). Children as an afterthought during COVID-19: defining a child-inclusive ethical framework for pandemic policymaking. BMC Medical Ethics, 23(1), NA.

Krisberg, K. (2021). COVID-19 pandemic fueling rise in child hunger: Malnutrition, wasting risks rise among youth around world. The Nation’s Health, 51(2), 21.

White-Cummings, C. (2021, October 1). COVID-19 and children. CQ researcher, 31, 1-19.

Daza, M. T. (2021). A comparative analysis of child benefits in Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Social Security Review, 74(4), 147-166. https://doi.org/10.1111/issr.12271

Huddleston, T., & Nieuwenhuis, R. (2021). Family policies in the EU: Public support, child poverty and social exclusion. Social Policy & Administration, 55(2), 236-251. https://doi.org/10.1111/spol.12625

Morris, M. D., & Mezey, S. G. (2021). Protecting vulnerable children during COVID-19 and beyond. Pediatrics, 147(6), e2021050697. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-050697

Bruenig, M. (2021). Child poverty in America. People’s Policy Project. https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2021/05/03/child-poverty-in-america/