A report by Children’s HealthWatch shows that access to benefits such as nutrition, housing and utility support programs makes a significant difference in a child’s lifelong development and learning.  Compared to children in low-income families receiving no benefits, children in households receiving benefits were more likely to meet the criteria for being a “well” child, less likely to have been hospitalized since birth and less likely to be at risk for developmental delays. See the full report at: http://www.childrenshealthwatch.org/upload/resource/multiplehardships_report_jun10.pdf