This discussion with national and local experts highlighted research on the long-lasting impacts of poverty on a child’s development, as well as promising findings on anti-poverty programs that can help break the cycle. A growing body of evidence confirms that living in deep poverty has long-lasting negative effects on child development. Yet in some areas of the District more than one in four children lives below half the poverty line, less than $10,000 for a family of three. And decisions DC elected officials will make this year about the TANF cash assistance programs will have critical implications for the future economic stability of DC’s children.