Executive Summary: New Poll Finds Georgia’s Families Are Struggling
In the fall of 2023, GEEARS commissioned Hart Research Associates to conduct a poll of Georgia parents with children ages birth to five years old. The findings revealed that Georgia’s families with young children face overwhelming challenges, with more than four in 10 reporting that their overall economic situation, stress levels, and ability to pay weekly and monthly bills have grown more challenging over the last few years. Financial difficulties disproportionately affect mothers, parents in lower-income or single-adult households, and those in small towns or rural areas.
The majority of families feel underserved by the state government and want policymakers to prioritize issues affecting parents’ day-to-day lives, such as access to food, diapers, high-quality child care, paid parental leave, and consistent healthcare coverage. Support for such policies is robust and bipartisan.