New Data Show Stark Racial and Ethnic Differences in Young People’s Healthy Development

Urban Institute reports that young people’s healthy development is critical to the country’s social and economic future. But not all children have equal opportunities to thrive. Because of discriminatory, institutionalized policies and practices, children of color are more likely to face unique challenges, such as loss of family income, learning loss, and housing instability, than white children. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these challenges. New data from the Social Genome Model (SGM)—a tool that identifies developmental and social mobility patterns from birth through adulthood—illustrate this problem. They show Black and Latinx young people are much less likely to be on track for healthy development than white peers, resulting in markedly different levels of well-being as young adults. The data underscore the need for policies and programs that break down the structural economic and social forces that create these inequitable outcomes. #covid-19 #racialequity #education