Data indicate link between income, health outcomes among children.

"In almost every state, children in the poorest and least-educated households suffer the worst health outcomes," according to a report compiled by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The data indicate that "16 percent of children ages 17 and younger are in less than optimal health based on their parents' reports -- this rate varies widely across states from a high of 22.8 percent in Texas, to a low of 6.9 percent in Vermont." Comment: There is nothing new about a link between poverty and reduced health status. This has been well documented for over 50 years. What is new is the difference among children living in poverty by state.” Further the report starts out “lf parents want their children to grow up to live long, healthy lives” which gets to the crux of the issue that too many children grow up with two parents to care from them. This burden is much worse for low income children.