from Oregon LiveOregon and Washington ranked top nationally for the fewest babies born with a low birth weight of 5.5 pounds or less.Babies with low birth weights are more likely to die in the first year or suffer disabilities. Oregon and Washington's low birth weight score: 6.1 percent of all births. Far below the national average of 8.2 percent.Oregon's overall ranking in the annual Kids Count state-by-state comparison remained the same as last year: No. 17. Washington ranked No. 11 overall; up from No. 13 in 2007.Kids Count is a project sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to measure issues affecting children's well-being. Other highlights from the 2008 data book released Thursday:• Children without health insurance (2005). Oregon: 11 percent. Washington: 7 percent. U.S....
from the Wichita EagleA new report ranks Kansas 18th in the nation for childhood well-being, down from previous years.BY SUZANNE PEREZ TOBIASMore children living in poverty or without health insurance and a higher percentage of low-birth-weight babies contributed to a lower ranking for Kansas in a new state-by-state study of children's well-being.The Kids Count Data Book, released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, shows that Kansas declined on five of 10 measures that reflect childhood well-being.The state ranks 18th in the nation -- down from 16th last year and 12th in 2006.According to the study:• The number of Kansas children living in poverty increased from 12 percent in 2000 to 16 percent in 2006.• In 2005, roughly 46,000 Kansas children -- about 7 percent -- were...
from the Detroit Free Press BY L.L. BRASIERMore Michigan children are living in poverty, and more of the state's kids are incarcerated for nonviolent crimes than most other states.That news is part of today's KIDS COUNT report, an annual state-by-state survey of the well-being of children ages 10 to 15 measuring things such as poverty, education, birth rates, death rates and pregnancies. There was good news too, though. Fewer teens are dying, and fewer are having babies than the national average.Michigan again placed 27th nationwide for its overall treatment of children.Among the most alarming trends: Michigan continues to incarcerate kids at a much higher rate than the national average and often for nonviolent crimes.There are 137 children per 100,000 in some sort of state facility or...
from the Atlanta Journal Constitution Report on kids: Rate of underweight babies at highest mark in 40 years, and more children live in poverty.The percentage of underweight babies born in the United States has increased to its highest rate in 40 years, with Georgia ranking seventh from the bottom in delivering healthy infants, according to a new report that also documents a recent rise in the number of children living in poverty.The data on low birth weights is troubling because such babies —- those born at less than 5.5 pounds —- are at greater risk of dying in infancy or experiencing long-term disabilities.The findings are being released today in the annual Kids Count report on the health and well-being of America's youth, which measures the states in 10 categories.The number of...
from the Indianapolis Star Experts cite job losses as factor in 29% riseBy Jeremy HerbThe number of children living in poverty in Indiana rose nearly 29 percent from 2000 to 2006, an increase nearly five times the national rate, according to a new ranking of child welfare.As a result, Indiana's child poverty level for the first time matched the national rate of 18 percent in 2006, the Annie E. Casey Foundation reported in its Kids Count report released today.Local advocates said the numbers aren't surprising in light of job losses in Indiana. They also said some of the taxpayer-funded help that low-income families receive is being scaled back as more Hoosier children slip into poverty."When needs go up in times of economic downturns, that's when state budgets tighten and services are...
from USA TodayBy Angela Haupt, USA TODAYFewer teenagers in the USA are giving birth each year, and the high school dropout rate is steadily declining. But the percentage of babies born with a low birth weight is greater than ever, and more children are living in poverty and single-parent families.These findings from a study late last month suggest that indicators of well-being have improved for the nation's teenagers but worsened for babies, says Laura Beavers of the Baltimore-based Annie E. Casey Foundation.In July, the group released its annual Kids Count Databook report, which offers a state-by-state analysis of children's health, well-being and education trends."We're seeing some slight improvements, especially for teens," Beavers says. "But we're also seeing worrisome conditions for...
from The New York Post By JENNIFER FERMINOuly 26, 2007 -- One in 10 kids in the state live in extreme poverty, slightly higher than the national rate of 8 percent, according to a study released yesterday."The child-poverty rate didn't improve even though the economy supposedly got better," said Laura Beavers, one of the authors of the 2007 Kids Count study."It's the most widely unequal as it's ever been. People are working, but they're not making a lot of money."One bright spot for New York was a decline in high-school dropout rates since 2000, the last year the survey was conducted.The number of kids quitting the books dropped by 33 percent.The state ranked 18th in the nation in the survey, which measures indicators like family income, high- school dropout numbers and low birth rates.The...
from WZZMMichigan's poor economy is being blamed for a rise child safety issues including healthcare and child abuse. The findings are from the most recent Kids Count in Michigan report which states among other issues, that two of every five children in Michigan live in poverty.In the city of Grand Rapids, there are 45,000 kids under the age of five; nearly 13% of them are living in families with a federal poverty income of just over $20,000 a year. Despite that fact, Candace Crowling with Kent County's Child and Family Resource Council says there are some positive statistics coming out of this latest statewide report, "I would be happy if any time we took action we asked ourselves is this good for children? And I think kids count gives us an opportunity to take that pause and do...