In recent years, the United States has experienced reductions in public health resources at all levels and continuing changes to the health system. These factors make it increasingly important that state and local decision-makers are proficient identifying and implementing high-impact, cost-effective approaches to address the drivers of poor health and high costs. To better support partners and decision-makers in these efforts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the Health Impact in Five Years (HI-5) Initiative. The HI-5 Initiative shifts the focus beyond traditional clinical approaches to health and explores social and environmental approaches that improve population health and health equity. With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the CDC Foundation is examining the role of public health in two of the HI-5 interventions. 

One effective policy intervention for some working families is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITCs help eligible families in several ways—from putting money back in the pockets of working people, to reducing food insecurity, to boosting savings and helping people accumulate other assets, to freeing up money for childcare expenses, medical care and healthy food.

It’s important for public health practitioners to understand the benefits of EITCs. EITCs help low-to-moderate-income working people keep more of the money they earn by reducing the taxes they owe. EITCs are one of fourteen interventions that address the social determinants of health in the HI-5 Initiative. 

The CDC Foundation recently published its Earned Income Tax Credit Public Health Action Guide for public health care professionals. This guide includes information on EITCs, how EITCs keep more families and children above the poverty line and their link with positive health outcomes, especially among mothers and children. The CDC Foundation's goal for this guide is to educate public health practitioners on the benefits of EITCs and provide them with the data to inform families, partners, advocates and legislators.