The share of children in the U.S. living in poverty has soared, according to new data recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

In this episode, OCPP Policy Analyst Tyler Mac Innis explains what’s behind the surge in child poverty. We also discuss how the federal government measures poverty in a way that significantly understates the number of families having trouble making ends meet.

In the second half of the show, we explore a better measure of economic insecurity developed by the United Way. We talk with Jim Cooper, President and CEO of United Way of the Pacific Northwest, about the Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) Index, and what this measure of economic insecurity tells us about the current reality facing Oregon families.