Group: Fighting child poverty a constant battle

from The Central Maine Morning Sentinel

By SUSAN M. COVER

AUGUSTA -- In Kennebec County, one out of every eight children lives in poverty.

What does that mean?

If you're one of those children, it means your sore throat won't get treated as quickly, day care is less professional, and your peers know you're different. For a family of four, it means less than $18,000 a year in income.

It means it's harder to get out of the bed in the morning because chances are, things won't go your way, said Elinor Goldberg, president of the Maine Children's Alliance, an Augusta-based organization that lobbies for policies to help children, teens and families.

"A day in the life of a poor kid is tough," she said. "It's not getting the quality of care you deserve in a country where there's plenty to go around."

For the 13th year, Goldberg's organization has published a report that details state and county-level information about the lives of children.

The book shows that Kennebec County is average in a number of categories -- from children in poverty, to the number of children receiving a subsidized school lunch to the median household income.

It stands out, in a good way, in one area.

In 2005, 92 percent of Kennebec County students graduated from high school, second only to Aroostook County.

DOMESTIC ASSAULTS

In another area, Kennebec County is notable for the rate of domestic assaults reported to police. It's higher than the state average, and has been growing steadily since 1998, according to the children's alliance.

That doesn't necessarily mean there's more abuse, said Kate Faragher Houghton, community educator for the Family Violence Project, which serves Kennebec and Somerset counties.

"Generally, we don't make an assumption that an increase in the number of reports means an increase in the number of assaults," she said.

The group, which runs a 24-hour crisis hot line (1-877-890-7788) and provides other services, helped 1,634 people in 2006, which is higher than in recent years. Faragher Houghton said she believes a coordinated community response that involves doctors, clergy, law enforcement, friends and co-workers is helping more people get the services they need.

And though the public sometimes assumes that poverty plays a role in domestic violence, studies show that it doesn't, she said.

"We know it happens in every type of family," she said.

THE POVERTY PROBLEM

The problem of child poverty is statewide and vexes politicians who've tried to provide programs to pay for needed services. Most people are working, with unemployment at 5 percent in Kennebec County in 2005.

It's frustrating that more progress hasn't been made, said Senate President Beth Edmonds, D-Freeport.

"The rate of child poverty in Maine remains stubbornly high, despite many years of prosperity in the nation and a good economy here in Maine," she said.

Edmonds said children's issues need to become a higher priority at the Statehouse. A librarian, Edmonds said she is mindful of her responsibility to help children live better lives.

"We can tell ourselves this isn't as bad as it is in other states, and that's true," she said. "But none of us can take comfort in the fact that too many of our children don't get adequate nutrition; may not have a warm, safe place to live; and don't start school with the advantages of many of their peers."

Nationally, the percentage of children living in poverty is 18 percent. In Maine, it's 14 percent and in Kennebec County, it's 15 percent.

Among New England states, New Hampshire has the fewest children in poverty and Rhode Island has the most, according to the census bureau.

Children who grow up in poverty can and do succeed, Goldberg said. Maine stands out nationally for its efforts to provide health care for poor children, with 92 percent of them getting coverage.

That still leaves 21,000 children without health insurance.

Aside from basic health concerns, there's also the stigma of being poor. In school, clothing can set students apart.

"There's a certain amount of class consciousness in society," Goldberg said. "They tend to be more shunned."

To try to address some of the issues surrounding poverty, particularly as it affects children under 5, several House Democrats are sponsoring 29 bills this legislative session. Some seek to cut taxes, others allow for more generous tax breaks, and others strive to improve child care.

Maine's Congressional delegation, led by Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe, continues to fight for more money to help Maine families pay for child care, Goldberg said. The welfare reform of the 1990s added work requirements, but there's never been enough money to help working parents pay for quality child care, she said.

Families in poverty qualify for federal earned income tax credits and the state provides a similar tax break. The combination of encouraging work while providing tax breaks is most effective in helping people get out of poverty, Goldberg said.

GOOD NEWS

The number of children being arrested has dropped by 8 percent, according to the report.

"Our kids are more law-abiding than they were 10 years ago, not less abiding," said House Speaker Glenn Cummings, D-Portland. "That goes against the major stereotypes of what we think about our teenagers."

Susan Cover -- 623-1056