We're
failing our children
July 22, 2006
A national report card
on the health and welfare of children is packed with disturbing
evidence that Kentucky, and to a lesser extent Ohio, isn't doing
enough to care for its youngest and most helpless citizens.
In fact we should be
ashamed of what the latest Kids Count assessment from the Annie E.
Casey Foundation in Baltimore tells us.
Kentucky ranks 42nd in
the nation, the same as last year, on the collective measure of 10
indicators that include things like mortality rates, poverty and
teen dropout rates. Ohio ranks 26th, up from 29th.
But neither state can be
proud.
Ohio actually had poorer
outcomes in a year's time in six of the categories, while Kentucky
got worse in four areas and showed no improvement in two. For
example:
25 percent of
Kentucky children under 18 were living in poverty in 2004, compared
to 18 percent nationwide and 18 percent in Ohio. In Kentucky, the
number of kids in poverty is actually 14 percent higher than in
2000.
10 percent
of Kentucky teens were high school dropouts, compared to 8 percent
nationally. Kentucky was one of only nine states that didn't show
improvement in this category in the period from 2000 to 2004.
7.7 of every
1,000 children in Ohio died in 2003, up 1 percent from 2000 and
above the U.S. average of 6.9.
The share of
Ohio teens not enrolled in school and not
working increased by 14 percent between 2000 and 2004.
There are some
positives, of course. Both states' teen birth rate and teen death
rate improved, and Kentucky's infant mortality rate improved.
But clearly much more
can and should be done.
The Kids Count survey is
an attempt to measure how well we lay the foundation for children to
succeed. It's based on the premise that the circumstances and
conditions under which a baby is born and raised have a direct
impact on that baby's health and potential.
With each public
discussion, our state leaders are realizing more and more that
progress starts at the bottom. High-paying jobs and a high-tech
workforce require talented college graduates. Success in college
requires a solid high school and grade school education. Schools
can't teach unless kids arrive at school ready to learn, which
requires decent pre-school and all-day kindergarten programs. And
kids are behind even then unless they begin their lives in good
health, in a stable home life devoid of the pressures posed by
poverty, teen moms and dangerous conditions.
Unfortunately, leaders
in both state keep finding themselves distracted by issues that have
more to do with politics and advancement than progress.
We owe it to our kids,
and our future, to do better.
Publication
date: 07-22-2006
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