“Research has shown that growing up in chronic poverty contributes directly to stress at a level that can affect children’s health, brain development and social and emotional well-being — a response known as ‘toxic stress,’ ” says the Casey report.

Unfortunately, African-American children in Wisconsin have been living in economically stressed situations for decades. A study from the 1980s by the WCCF showed that 60 percent of black children under age 5 in Wisconsin were living in households under the poverty line, the highest percentage in the U.S.

“It’s not a new issue … but that doesn’t make it any less important,” says Bob Jacobson, communications director for the Madison-based nonprofit.

Jacobson says that reports like Casey's and the WCCF’s report on Dane County all make the case that the roots of the racial divide run deep, but he says there are proven strategies that can make a difference. They include early, high-quality education, access to health care and meaningful employment opportunities.

“We now have the data and we know what works, but we need to have more of a dialog to foster greater collaboration among the various groups,” he says.