[New York] Dutchess tops state in poverty

from the Daily Freeman

THERE are fewer Dutchess County children living in poverty than three years ago, but the percentage of female-headed households with children living in poverty is still greater than the New York state average; and the number of Dutchess County children receiving free lunches is up.

In addition, while the reported incidents of drug use in schools has decreased, violent crime has seen a slight increase, as have incidences of personal intimidation and sexual offense.

The Dutchess County Children's Services Council's third "Status Report of Children, Youth and Families in Dutchess County," released Thursday, reveals a community that is responding to the needs of its children, but that still has much to do.

"What we're really excited about with this, is that it's a conversation piece," said Judy Schneyer, director of the Children's Services Council. "It's a snapshot, it doesn't really give us answers. It gives us a starting point of where we're going,"

The Children's Services Council focused on four key areas of life to evaluate the needs of the county's children, youth and families: family life, safety and security, health, and education. The report reflects data available through 2004.

The report shows that the county has made significant improvements to a number of services since the 2003 report was issued.

For instance, there are currently no children on the Dutchess County Department of Social Services childcare subsidy waiting list; a change from the past, when dozens of families waited, sometimes for months, to get subsidized day care.

Additionally, the number of youths between the ages of 7 and 16 issued tickets for juvenile delinquency decreased, as did the percentage of births to adolescent females.

There was also a decrease in the number of hospitalizations for asthma and diabetes, and the number of Lyme disease cases are down.

But the number of youths hospitalized for self-inflicted wounds increased, as did the prevalence of AIDS and gonorrhea.

Schneyer said she doesn't yet know what the statistics mean.

"You need to look at the specifics of what was measured, and what it includes. We haven't done this, and the Children's Services will begin to do that. While one of these factors might not look good or, might look good, when you start to analyze it, it might not be how it looks," she said.

The Children's Services Council, a public/private partnership that serves as an ongoing forum for countywide discussions aimed at improving the well-being of children, comprises 40 member organizations, agencies, businesses, and individuals.

Schneyer said each component organization will analyze the information as it pertains to their particular agency to determine whether it should refocus its attentions on other issues.

"We'll be looking at it from all of our perspectives and talking about what we think the issues and the priorities are," she said.

Schneyer said that discussion will begin within the Children's Services Council over the next several months.