Report says Southeast does poorly in caring for children

from Inside Nova

By AMY DOMINELLO,

WASHINGTON - States in the Southeast rank among the country’s worst on key indicators for children’s well-being, according to the Every Child Matters Education Fund, a Washington-based non-profit group.

The report looked at issues such as infant and childhood mortality, health care, poverty levels and rates of teenage pregnancy, incarceration and abuse.

Six Southeastern states ranked in the bottom 15. Louisiana ranked the nation’s worst, with Mississippi next. South Carolina also placed low at 45th in the nation. Alabama, Florida and Georgia were ranked 40th through 38th.

Several Midwest and Southwest states also ranked poorly.

In comparison, states in the Northeast led the country. Vermont was No. 1 for children, followed by Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

According to the report, when compared to children in the top 10 states, children in the bottom 10 are:

- 70 percent more likely to die before their first birthday than children in the top 10 states;

- Twice as likely to die before the age of 14, to live in poverty and be incarcerated as teenagers;

- Three times as likely to be uninsured;

- Seven times as likely to die from abuse.

To close the gap, the report recommended that federal and state governments target investments over the next decade.

“As Americans, we need to ask ourselves: Does every child in the U.S. deserve an equal opportunity to be healthy and survive to adulthood?” said Michael R. Petit, the report’s author and founder of Every Child Matters.

The organization hopes to use the report as a springboard for discussion about child welfare and education during this year’s election.

The group also hopes closing the gap between the states will be a priority for the next presidential administration. Petit said President Bush’s proposed budget “makes significant cutbacks in the federal government’s investments in children and families.”

Contact Amy Dominello at 202-662-7671 or adominello@mediageneral.com

Selected rankings among the 50 sates

Louisiana 50

Mississippi 49

South Carolina 45

Alabama 40

Florida 39

Georgia 38

Tennessee 36

North Carolina 34

Kentucky 33

Ohio 26

Virginia 24

Rhode Island 4

http://www.everychildmatters.org/