COVID-19 Ripple Effect

The Impact of COVID-19 on Children in New York State

Part 1: Death of Parent or Caregiver

Suzanne Brundage, Director, Children's Health Initiative

Kristina Ramos-Callan, Program Manager

September 2020

United Hospital Fund

1
Overview
The magnitude of COVID-19’s impact is like nothing we’ve seen before. A new analysis of the pandemic’s
effect on households with children under age 18 in New York State has estimated severe, long-lasting, and
racially disparate repercussions on children who lost a parent or guardian or who entered poverty or are near
poverty as a result of the pandemic. The analysis, conducted by United Hospital Fund and Boston Consulting
Group, estimates that between March and July 2020, 4,200 children experienced a parental death; and
325,000 children have been pushed into or near poverty as a result of the pandemic’s economic downturn.

This analysis is broken out in two parts. This report contains the findings from Part 1, which highlights the
impacts of parental death on New York’s children. Part 2, included in a separate document, addresses COVID-
19’s poverty-related effects and broader economic implications.

Losing a parent or caregiver during childhood is a particularly acute adversity, one that raises a child’s risk of
experiencing a range of poor outcomes over their lifetime, including poorer mental and physical health. These
children and their families will require ongoing support and investment to ensure that the next generation
won’t remain victims of this current COVID-19 pandemic. Given the magnitude of the challenge for state and
local authorities, federal support will be crucial.

We hope this analysis will provide policymakers and community leaders with data to support the development
of these necessary strategies and policies. Please contact Catherine Arnst, Director of Public Information at
UHF, with any questions or comments: [email protected] or (212) 494-0733.

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Key Takeaways from Part 1
4,200 of New York State’s approximately 4 million children experienced a parental or
caregiver death due to COVID-19.
• Parental and caregiver deaths from COVID-19 occurred at a rate of 1 per 1,000 children.
• 57% of these deaths were in three New York City counties: Bronx, Kings (Brooklyn), and Queens.

Black and Hispanic children experienced parental/caregiver deaths from COVID-19 at twice
the rate of Asian and white Children.
• There are wide racial/ethnic disparities in the rate of parental/caregiver deaths from COVID-19
due to vast structural inequities that led to communities of color disproportionately being
exposed to the virus.
• Black and Hispanic children were disproportionately burdened, with 1 per 600 Black children
and 1 per 700 Hispanic children affected, compared to 1 per 1,400 Asian children and 1 per
1,500 white children.

The consequences of losing a parent or caregiver to COVID-19 can be severe and long-lasting.
• Up to 23% of children who lost a parent or caregiver due to COVID-19 may be at risk of entry
into foster or kinship care. Some children who are already in kinship care, due to the opioid
epidemic for example, may be disproportionately affected.
• Approximately 50% of children who lost a caregiver due to COVID-19 may enter poverty.
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 2020

~4,200 children ~1 in 1,000

United Hospital Fund and BCG partnered in 2019 to
have suffered the loss of children
a parent or caregiver across New York, on
quantify the “opioid ripple effect" nationally and at
average, lost a parent
a state level, estimating the number of children or caregiver due to
affected and the associated societal cost. COVID-19 between
March and July 2020
Following the COVID-19 pandemic and its
devastating impact across New York State since
NYS
early March, the teams came together again to
assess the “ripple effect of COVID-19 on households COVID
Ripple
with children”.

This analysis contains two parts. Part 1, included in

the following slides, assesses the number of
Effect
children who have lost a parent or caregiver to
COVID-19. ~1 in 600 ~ 57% of
Black/African- children who lost a
American parent or caregiver live
in the Bronx, Brooklyn, or
children Queens
in New York lost a parent 4
or caregiver
Part 1 Objective:
Estimate How Many Children in NYS Lost a Parent or Caregiver
to COVID-19

We examine
this data in
three ways:

1| Racial/ethnic disparities

2| Most affected counties

and NYC zip codes

3| Potential consequences
from these losses
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Context

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The COVID-19 pandemic is like nothing we have seen before and is
disproportionately affecting people of color and low-income communities

“The last time I spoke to my mom on the phone, she said, ‘If anything happens to me, just take
care of your sister, OK?’” Mr. Barrera said. “I had to be the responsible one for my sister.”

Only weeks later, Ms. Arizaga [his mother] died of COVID-19.

He Is 16 and His Mother Died of Covid-19. What Happens To Him Now?; August 13th, 2020; The New York Times

Twenty-one in-service members of “I started breaking down almost immediately. I held

the United Federation of Teachers — his hand, and with my mask on, I kissed him on the
out of 69 who died — leave 32 forehead, and I sort of just had my last words with
surviving children 18 or under. him,” Tobias said.
‘A Bad Dream’: New York Children Who’ve Lost Parents
to COVID-19 Face Hardships Beyond Grief. Shortly after, Tobias’s father died. One month later,
July 6, 2020; The City
on June 30, his mother died, as well.

Queens Teen Loses Both Parents to COVID-19 in One Month;

Source: The City, NY Times, Spectrum News NY1 July 21st, 2020; Spectrum News NY1

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Findings

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 -4,200 children lost a parent or guardian to COVID-19

~4,200 COVID-19's impact on children is centered in

and around NYC
children, Number of children losing a

57% of parent/caregiver by county

Rochester

whom live in Buffalo Syracuse

Albany

the Bronx,
Brooklyn, or 100+ children
1 to 5 children
5-100 children
0 children

Queens
1. Age and gender demographic breakdowns of NY's COVID-19 deaths were used to estimate the number of deaths occurring among parents of children under age 18 or grandparents providing kinship
care; the data was further modified by probability of living in a single or two-parent household and the average number of children per household type. Estimates were developed for each NY county
and each NYC zip code. COVID-19 death data includes probable and confirmed COVID-19 deaths. Due to unavailability of probable COVID-19 death data outside of NYC, the number of probable deaths
occurring outside NYC is estimated based on the NYC ratio of confirmed to probable deaths. The data was last updated on 8/03/2020.
4,200 children in New York having lost a parent or
caregiver to COVID-19 translates to 1 in 1,000 NY
children
Number of children in NYS suffering the death of a parent or guardian
due to COVID-19 (March-July)1 compared to common causes of death Total children in
over same time period in 2018 New York2

2.4x

~4,200
~4M
~1,500 ~1,750
~200 ~1,050

Motor Vehicle Drug-Related Heart Disease Cancer (all) COVID Up to 1 in 600 for
Black/African-
Accidents Deaths American
children
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1. CDC WONDER online database. Applying percent of parents/grandparents by age group and number of children to total deaths in 5-month
period of 2018; 2. 2018 American Community Survey
 People of color are at greater risk of exposure. They are
more likely to live in multigenerational housing, use
public transit, and work in high-contact occupations.

Racial and ethnic disparities are pronounced, with people

of color more likely to die due to COVID-19 compared to
white people when looking at age-adjusted COVID-19
deaths.

COVID-19 has
disproportionately
affected people and Long-standing health and social inequities contributed to
communities of color the increased COVID-19 infection risk faced by communities
of color.
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1 in 600 Black/ African American children in New
York have lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19

Number of Black/ African American children in NYS suffering the Total Black/ African
death of a parent or guardian due to COVID-19 (March-July)1
American children in
compared to common causes of death over same time period in 2018
New York2

4.3x
~1020
~0.6M
~230 ~240
~20 ~160

Motor Vehicle Drug-Related Heart Disease Cancer (all) COVID

Accidents Deaths

United Hospital Fund 12

1. CDC WONDER online database. Applying percent of parents/grandparents by age group and number of children to total deaths in 5-month
period of 2018; 2. 2018 American Community Survey
1 in 700 Hispanic children in New York have lost a
parent or caregiver to COVID-19

Number of Hispanic children in NYS suffering the death of a parent or

guardian due to COVID-19 (March-July)1 compared to common causes Total Hispanic children
of death over same time period in 2018 in New York2

6.4x
~1150
~0.8M
~30 ~180 ~130 ~160
Motor Vehicle Drug-Related Heart Disease Cancer (all) COVID
Accidents Deaths

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1. CDC WONDER online database. Applying percent of parents/grandparents by age group and number of children to total deaths in 5-month
period of 2018; 2. 2018 American Community Survey
1 in 1,400 Asian children in New York have lost a
parent or caregiver to COVID-19

Number of Asian children in NYS suffering the death of a parent or

guardian due to COVID-19 (March-July)1 compared to common causes Total Asian children in
of death over same time period in 2018 New York2

~250 3x
~0.3M
~82
~10 ~60
~20
Motor Vehicle Drug-Related Heart Disease Cancer (all) COVID
Accidents Deaths

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1. CDC WONDER online database. Applying percent of parents/grandparents by age group and number of children to total deaths in 5-month
period of 2018; 2. 2018 American Community Survey
1 in 1,500 white children in New York have lost a
parent or caregiver to COVID-19

Number of white children in NYS suffering the death of a parent or

guardian due to COVID-19 (March-July)1 compared to common causes Total white children in
of death over same time period in 2018 New York2

1.3x

~1080
~1240
~1570
~2.3M
~670
~120

Motor Vehicle Drug-Related Heart Disease Cancer (all) COVID

Accidents Deaths

United Hospital Fund 15

1. CDC WONDER online database. Applying percent of parents/grandparents by age group and number of children to total deaths in 5-month
period of 2018; 2. 2018 American Community Survey
 COVID-19's impact on children is centered in and around NYC
Number of children losing a parent/caregiver by county
Other NYC metro
area counties

Bronx ~600

Nassau ~380
Highest outside of
NYC Metro Area Rochester
Manhattan ~360
Buffalo Syracuse
Erie
~90 Suffolk ~290
Albany

Westchester ~220

Staten Island ~120

100+ children 5-100 children Highest Number

1 to 5 children 0 children Brooklyn Queens

~890 ~890
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Figures as of end of July 2020
Heavily affected zip codes are more likely to have overcrowded housing and
high levels of poverty

Number of children losing a Percent of overcrowded rental Number of people living below
parent/caregiver housing1 Federal Poverty Level

30+ 1-9 25%+ 7-9% 42k+ 13-19k

20-29 0 Children 16-24% 3-6% 28-41k 4-12k
10-19 No data 10-15% No data 20-27k No data

1. Overcrowded rental housing defined as occupied rental housing units with more than one person per room; this data is not limited to households with
children. United Hospital Fund 17
Source: Citizens Committee for Children
 Up to ~23% of children (~960) might have lost
sole guardian / parent1
 Risk of entry into foster or kinship care

Majority of children will suffer prolonged

Children financial hardship, and many (~50%) could
experiencing the enter poverty as a result
loss of a parent or
caregiver might There are serious, long-term mental health
suffer severe implications, potentially leading to depression,
consequences over anxiety, and other mental health illnesses
their lifetimes
Children already harmed by the opioid
epidemic and living with grandparents might
be disproportionately affected by COVID-19
deaths
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1. Pew Research Center, 23% excludes children with only 1 parent who live in an "extended family household" with other adults such as
grandparents.
PROPRIETARY – NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION
Legal Context

The situation surrounding COVID-19 is dynamic and rapidly evolving on a daily basis.

This presentation is not intended to:

(i) constitute medical or safety advice, nor be a substitute for the same; nor
(ii) be seen as a formal endorsement or recommendation of a particular response.

As such you are advised to make your own assessment as to the appropriate course of action to
take; use this presentation as guidance. Please carefully consider local laws and guidance in
your area, particularly the most recent advice issued by your local (and national) health
authorities, before making any decision.

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COVID-19 Ripple Effect
The Impact of COVID-19 on Children in New York State | Team

BCG Team UHF Contact

Christophe Durand Managing Director and Partner (UHF Board Member) Catherine Arnst Director, Public Information

Leonardo Fascione Project Leader [email protected]

(212) 494– 0733
Edoardo Cavallazzi Consultant

Daniel Urke Associate

UHF Team
Anthony Shih UHF President UHF works to build a more effective health care system for every
New Yorker. An independent, nonprofit organization, we analyze
Chad Shearer Senior Vice President for Policy and Program public policy to inform decision-makers, find common ground
among diverse stakeholders, and develop and support innovative
Suzanne Brundage Director, Children’s Health Initiative programs that improve the quality, accessibility, affordability, and
experience of patient care. To learn more, visit www.uhfnyc.org or
follow us on Twitter at @UnitedHospFund.
Kristina Ramos-Callan Program Manager

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