The report ranks the 50 states using 16 indicators of child well-being under the general categories of economic well-being, in which New Mexico is ranked 48th; education, the state ranked 49th; health, New Mexico is 48th; and family and community, the state is 49th.
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Despite the economic recovery, the 2015 KIDS COUNT Data Book finds almost one in four Ohio children continues to live below the poverty line.
The top five states in the survey were Minnesota, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Iowa and Vermont. The lowest-ranking were Arizona, Nevada, Louisiana, New Mexico and Mississippi. It’s the sixth straight year Ohio has ranked in the middle range among states. But the bright spots weren’t enough to offset a picture that many children have been left behind amid the nation’s economic recovery. “The data shows that there are way too many kids living in families with income that has stagnated”.
But the national child poverty rate increased even more, from 18 percent to 22 percent, in that period. That’s up from 24 percent in 2008.
Patrick McCarthy, president and CEO of the Casey Foundation, said that though the nation has seen an increase in employment in recent years, numerous jobs are low-wage and can not fully support families.
New Mexico Voices for Children also is opposed to the state Human Services Department’s proposed work rule changes for people who participate in SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“Of alarm to us, and we saw this, was that we have fewer children attending pre-school, and fewer 4th graders reading at grade proficiency this is alarming”, she added.
“They’re more likely to fall down the economic ladder, less likely to be employed and more likely to get in trouble”, McCarthy said. “Preschool is a long-term investment”.
In the area of health, Tennessee is tied with 15 other states for the lowest percentage of teens who abuse alcohol or drugs.
The Casey report says that California children without health insurance dropped from 11 percent in 2008 to 7 percent in 2013.
The Buckeye State is stuck in the middle in terms of the well-being of its children, ranking 23rd nationally in the annual KIDS COUNT Data Book released today. Instead, he focused on the broader regional patterns: New England and Midwestern states generally occupy the top 10 while the South and Southwest struggle in the bottom rankings.
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Laura Speer, associate director for policy reform and advocacy for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, said more policies should be put in place to help children living in poverty, particularly children who are members of minority groups and are disproportionately affected.
