Journalist Claudia Rowe delivers annual Poverty Studies Distinguished Lecture

May 14, 2026

“There are no middle-class or affluent kids in foster care,” award-winning journalist Claudia Rowe told a capacity crowd in Geddes Hall’s Andrews Auditorium. “Virtually every child in the system was growing up in poverty before they were taken into care. Abuse and neglect certainly happen in families of every income level, but foster care is the child welfare system for the poor.”

Delivering the annual Poverty Studies Distinguished Lecture at the Institute for Social Concerns, Rowe presented a chilling analysis of the “long shadow” cast by the American foster care system. Drawing on 35 years of reporting at the intersection of youth and government policy—research central to her recent book Wards of the State—Rowe described the system as what she called a foster-to-prison pipeline. She cited empirical data showing that 59 percent of foster youth experience incarceration by their mid-twenties, a rate that severely outpaces their likelihood of graduating college.

*Connie Snyder Mick, professor of the practice at the institute, introduces Rowe*

“Claudia models the interdisciplinary and intersectional approach to poverty we seek to instill in our students,” said Connie Snyder Mick, professor of the practice and co-director of the Justice & Society Minor. “Her work demonstrates that poverty is not an isolated problem but one that converges with every major issue of justice in our society—including the foster care system and the courts.”

Rowe’s lecture bridged the gap between deep investigative research and public policy, showcasing the power of public scholarship. While the data paints a daunting picture of institutional failure, Rowe described how qualitative evidence and lived experiences point toward innovative solutions. She underscored the transformative potential of interventions by individuals—such as institutional advocates who provide the consistent stability and practical resources that vulnerable youth need to navigate systemic barriers and achieve higher education.

“What I found to be the most powerful intervention in changing a child’s trajectory is connection.”

– Claudia Rowe, award-winning journalist

“There is no magic bullet,” Rowe shared with the audience. “But for me, what I found to be the most powerful intervention in changing a child’s trajectory is connection.”

*Rowe signs copies of her book at a reception following the lecture*

The lecture highlighted the institute’s unique role as a convener of both campus scholars and the wider civic community. The audience included numerous regional foster care advocates, social service practitioners, and other community partners who engage with these issues on the ground daily. Following the formal address, a lively discussion with these community partners ensued. Audience members and local practitioners shared insights from their own institutional contexts, asking Rowe how the structural findings of her book apply nationally.

Rowe expressed appreciation to the institute for providing a collaborative academic setting to present her research. “And after talking with students there,” she said, “I feel a few shoots of hope!”

All photos by Jennifer Mayo for the University of Notre Dame.