Children Of The Recession

Topics: Special Report

(AP)

CBS News and USA Today have launched a week-long series "Children of the Recession," which looks at the impact on children from the nation's economic woes. Complete coverage for the series is at the Children of the Recession page.

A new CBS News poll poll found nearly four-in-ten parents say the recession is affecting the lives of their children. Nearly one-third of parents say the recession has had a lot of impact on their family. And at some point over the past six months, 60 percent of parents have had to tell their kids they might not have as much money to spend as they used to. Two-thirds of parents believe children lacking health insurance is a very serious problem.

Throughout the week, both CBS News and USA Today will cover the story independently, cross branding each other's efforts. Coverage will include interviews with Dr. Irwin Redlener, president and co-founder of The Children's Health Fund, whose work was an inspiration for CBS News to create "CBS Reports: Children of the Recession."

"CBS Reports: Children of the Recession' is a major initiative for CBS News, and USA Today is a great partner during this week of comprehensive, cross-platform coverage," said CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus. "USA Today's involvement with 'Children of the Recession' will help us raise the profile of this nationally significant issue throughout the country."

In a piece for USA Today, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric wrote on how the nation's tiniest victims need help, too.

Tonight on the Evening News, Couric looks at a program in Chicago that provides temporary care for children when parents are overwhelmed by economic or other programs. Here's a lineup for the rest of this week's series.

Tuesday, May 19
The Early Show: Kids in the ER
The Evening News: The psychological impact

Wednesday, May 20
The Early Show: Talking to kids about economy
The Evening News: Abuse and neglect

Thursday, May 21
The Early Show: Child abuse
The Evening News: Homeless kids

Friday, May 22
The Early Show: School for the homeless

Sunday, May 24
Sunday Morning: 5 kids, 5 stories, 5 films about the recession
Face The Nation: Psychiatrist Alvin Pouissant, an expert in race relations and co-author of " Raising Black Children"

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by hkeith0 October 2, 2009 10:03 AM EDT: you should view this video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkLwOcLE-b8&feature=autofb I went to high school with this guy. His mother left and he had to find his father, who's home is LESS THAN safe or clean.; Reply to this comment


by bonbon818 July 28, 2009 5:47 AM EDT: My son TREVON was featured on the May18th broadcast of The Series Children of the Recession. He was being cared for by the organization SAFE FAMILIES in Chicago. Katie COuric spoke with Trevon in the video interview. Recently Safe Families discovered that I am a GAY woman in a same-sex relationship with my partner. We are planning on getting married in October. Safe Families, a so called CHRISTIAN organization, turned its back on us and Trevon and immediately kicked him out of the program and sent him back to me when I could not adequately care for him.
I want Katie Couric and everyone else to know what her report did to my family. Instaed of helping us, you caused my family to be ripped apart by a homophobic organization called SAFE FAMILIES. They do not care about my son or my family. I am disabled and sick and and facing having to now put Trevon into the hands of the state, thus ripping apart my family possibly forever. Thsi report did NOT help my son Trevon. He has been devestated and Safe Families denys they are a homophobic organization of Christians. What a load of bunk. We need help Katie and no one wants to step in. I'm sorry that Trevon was a part of this report because it only did more damage to him and myself and my fiance. Che'le Grazier; Reply to this comment


by MSU_Alum May 27, 2009 9:16 PM EDT: My nephew is five years old and just started Pre-Kindergarden in Michigan. I called one day and asked him why he wasn't at school even though I knew they only went every other day. He told me he was down sized and he got laid off. It was funny at first, but frankly I never would have imagined at that age even possessing those words in my vocabulary. It really made me think about the impact the "New Economy" is having on him even at five. So many children are facing new realities and it makes me wonder what will happen to them and what their contribution to our society will be due to these harsh new realities.; Reply to this comment


by jefyjef May 19, 2009 7:18 PM EDT: Not to diminish this story, but there has always been a certain percentage of the population that have struggled with these problems (food, shelter.etc.) Only now that this recession is affecting more people and this percentage has creeped into the middle class is it a story worthy of news status. At what point does this become news and who decides? Is it worse to have had a home and lost it than to never have had one as in the homeless?; Reply to this comment


by dmaz101 May 19, 2009 12:32 PM EDT: Kudos to you for reporting on this important issue. This is the real story that is, and should be, affecting all of our lives. Thank you for not following in the footsteps of the others who are fixated on who lied, when they lied, blah-blah-blah...; Reply to this comment