Socio-economic status refers to a person's position within society, and is determined by family income, level of education, wealth and place of residence. Low socio-economic status has been linked to weakened educational outcomes, behavioural problems and lifelong health impacts, which may appear in childhood and persist over a lifetime, or appear only later in life.

The Low Income Cut-Offs (LICO) is a measurement used to determine the poverty line by comparing the percentages of total income families of the same size and geographic region spend on necessities like food, clothing and shelter. In Canada, the poverty rate for children aged 0-14 from recent immigrant families is 48%, compared to 18% for all children.* Newcomer children are less likely to have their basic needs met, especially in the early years of settlement.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, every child has the right to "a standard of living adequate for her/his physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development."** We need to work together to create supportive programming that aims to ensure this right and to provide equal opportunities for the growth and development of all children in British Columbia.

* Source: 2009 Child Poverty report card from First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition

** Source: Article 27, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child