WBIW.com / Local: High Percentage Of Children Living In Poverty

The study from the Annie E. Casey Foundation showed poverty rates among all children have grown since 2008, when the rate was 18%; the rate increased to 22% by 2013.

The report, which was compiled in the latest Kids Count Data Book, added that the problem of poverty among children was most severe in the South and Southwest part of the country.

In last year’s report, Iowa ranked third in the nation overall, so the state’s fourth-place showing this year represents a slight drop.

New Jersey ranks 8 overall in the annual score card produced by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The report says poverty has also become more concentrated, and wide gaps remain in the living standards of many children of color compared to other children.

“The national averages belie the stark reality that millions of children, particularly African Americans, Latinos, and American Indians live on the precipice of poverty”.

Children’s Trust Chief Executive Officer Sue Williams says access to health care and substance abuse prevention are paying off.

Until Mississippi can get more children out of poverty with employment for their parents, the educational development will likely stay behind, too.

“This should be a time of growing prosperity for Kansas children and families, but instead we are mostly stagnant”, said Shannon Cotsoradis, president and CEO, Kansas Action for Children.

McCarthy likened child poverty to a “particularly pernicious form of cancer, ” and he prescribed a cocktail of economic policies and fixes to tackle it. “Policymakers can help improve outcomes for children in Michigan by ensuring that their parents have the tools and support they need to raise healthy, educated and skilled children for Michigan’s future”.

Michigan was ranked 33 in the nation for child well-being, that is one spot down from a year ago.

“That they can go to good schools, you can live in neighborhoods with resources”, Recasner said.

Republican legislators have big plans for tax relief heading into the 2016 legislative session.

“Education is clearly an economic-development issue”, Southward said.

His call comes after the release of a new child welfare index ranking Minnesota No. 1 for child well-being.

She remains optimistic but says she hopes the data doesn’t give a false sense that the work is now done.