COVID-19 Ripple Effect: The Impact of COVID-19 on Children in New York State

Authors: Suzanne C. Brundage, Kristina Ramos-Callan 

The associated press release can be found here.

A new analysis estimates that COVID-19 has led to severe, long-lasting, and racially disparate repercussions on children under age 18 in New York State. These include children who have lost a parent or guardian or who have entered poverty or are near poverty as a result of the pandemic.

Conducted by United Hospital Fund and Boston Consulting Group, the analysis estimates that between March and July 2020, 4,200 children experienced a parental death; and 325,000 children have been pushed into or near poverty as a result of the pandemic’s economic downturn.

This analysis is broken out in two parts, which can be downloaded on this page. Part 1 highlights the impacts of parental death on New York’s children. Part 2 addresses COVID-19’s poverty-related effects and broader economic implications. Also available for download on this page is a look at county-specific data in New York State, as well as a literature review.