Rich-poor gulf widening as more kids under 6 live in poverty

from North Jersey Media Group

By LAURA FASBACH

The number of New Jersey's young children living in poverty increased over the first half of this decade, signifying a growing divide between the state's poorest and wealthiest families, a new report shows.

Other grim numbers emerged in the New Jersey Kids Count, a statistical portrait of the state of the state's children released Wednesday: More single mothers are living below the federal poverty line, many young children still lack health insurance, and thousands of low-income families are paying more than 30 percent of their income for housing.

"Our very youngest children are most at risk when their developmental needs are the greatest," said Cecilia Zalkind, executive director of the Association for Children of New Jersey, which publishes the report each year. This year's report focused on children under the age of 6.

The state did make some gains in areas of education, child welfare and juvenile justice.

Enrollment in pre-K climbed to 49,636 in 2005, a 32 percent increase from 2001. That was good news to Zalkind and other children's advocates who maintain early childhood education creates a strong foundation for a child's future success.

"This is an investment that works," Zalkind said. "But these high-quality programs are currently only available to children in districts that receive state aid, leaving thousands of children whose parents cannot afford to pay tuition at private preschools."

Zalkind said she is encouraged that state lawmakers have promised to expand full-day kindergarten programs throughout the state, but added there is more funding needed to increase pre-K opportunities for all children.

In 2005, some 93,000 children under age 6 were growing up in poor families, a 35 percent increase from 2001. At the same time, 13 percent of all New Jersey children under age 6 were living in families earning below the federal poverty line -- $19,000 for a family of four. Nearly 40 percent of single mothers born in the United States were raising young children in poverty while about half of all foreign-born single mothers of young children lived in poverty.

Zalkind said one reason for this jump could be the lack of affordable, quality day care, explaining that some single mothers, for example, could forgo working if they cannot afford quality day care.

Sandy Richards, director of child care for Children's Aid and Family Services in Paramus, said the need for subsidized day care is crucial to help poor families get a leg up, especially in wealthy areas like Bergen County.

The not-for-profit agency provides 84 spots for children from Bergen County's working poor. The slots are coveted, with a waiting list of 30 to 40 children, Richards said.

"Too many people are fooled by the statistics that they think most families can financially make it in Bergen County," Richards said. "It is very hard for a mother and child or a father and child to have an income level of $22,000 and be able to make it in Bergen County."

Jennifer Velez, acting commissioner for the Department of Human Services, said the recent Kids Count was sobering, particularly data that show 234,000 children in 2005 were uninsured, up 9 percent since 2001.

Velez pointed out that last year Governor Corzine pledged to enroll 50,000 additional children in FamilyCare, which provides health insurance for low-income families.

So far, Velez said, just more than half of that goal has been reached. Her department has been working on marketing FamilyCare to those who need it by working with the Education Department, the Motor Vehicles Commission and the Department of Agriculture to inform the public.

How N.J. kids are faring

Gained ground:

• Low-income fourth-graders increased their passing rates on state math tests.

• Pre-K enrollment climbed 32 percent from 2001 to 2005.

• Low-income households earning federal tax credits up 33 percent since 2001.

• Juvenile arrests dropped 7 percent from 2001 to 2005; admissions to juvenile detention dropped 20 percent.

Lost ground:

• Uninsured young children rose 14 percent from 2001 to 2005.

• 79 percent of low-income families paid more than 30 percent of income on housing in 2005.

• Children of immigrants are almost twice as likely to live in poverty.

• Fewer eligible children are receiving free or reduced-priced school lunch since 2001.