Using AI to Unlock Opportunities for Family Support: A New Horizon in Child Welfare

The newly released data by the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) paints a troubling picture of skyrocketing child poverty rates in the United States. According to the Census Bureau, the child poverty rate more than doubled from 5.2 percent in 2021 to 12.4 percent in 2022. This alarming increase highlights systemic failings and policy decisions that have rolled back vital economic support programs, such as the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC), which was a lifeline for millions of families.

For us at Mosaic ParentHub, this data is both alarming and motivating. Our mission has always been to protect children by empowering families with resources. We strongly believe that the best way to safeguard children is to support their primary caregivers: their families. My understanding of the challenges families face isn’t just theoretical; it’s personal. The struggles of navigating a life impacted by substance abuse and an 8 year stint in foster care have shaped me into a change-maker for the very systems I had to navigate.

The expiration of the CTC has had a crippling impact on families, particularly those of color who have historically been marginalized and face the most significant hurdles in accessing economic support. As CSSP’s research highlights, families are going through immediate hardships, from taking second jobs to incurring credit card debts. It’s a snowball effect that begins with the adults and eventually takes a toll on the children, their education, and their futures.

At Mosaic ParentHub, we see the transformative potential of technology, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, in addressing these pressing issues. We are committed to using these advanced technologies to develop intelligent, user-friendly platforms that connect vulnerable families to vital resources effortlessly. For us, it’s not just about creating a list of resources; it’s about making those resources accessible, eliminating red tape, and removing the administrative hurdles that often deter the most vulnerable among us from getting the help they desperately need.

While policy changes are critical and necessary for addressing the root causes of child poverty, we also believe that technology can provide immediate, scalable relief. Our work aims to be a bridge between families and the resources they need, serving as a beacon of support while policies catch up to people’s lived realities.

We’re living in a digital age, and it’s high time we leverage this to uplift our communities. As the CSSP puts it: child poverty is a policy choice. We choose to use technology to fight it.