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State ranks high for kids: survey
Wisconsin 13th in health, well-being of its children
BY ANNA KWIDZINSKA akwidzinska@kenoshanews.com
Wisconsin ranks 13th in the nation when it comes to children’s well-being, according to the 2006 Kids Count Data Book. The national survey, released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, evaluates states on 10 indicator categories of children’s health, well-being, and potential to succeed.
Although Wisconsin saw fewer teen pregnancies and more health-care coverage than national averages, the results show an increasing number of Wisconsin children live in households at or below poverty level, said Charity Eleson, executive director for the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families.
Between 2000 and 2004, the number of children living in poverty has increased by 17 percent, according to the survey. The number of children ages 16-19 who have dropped out of high school, or who are not attending school and not working, also has risen by 17 percent in that time.
Eleson attributes this to an erosion of Wisconsin’s economic stability that has deteriorated family conditions since 2000.
Parents who have felt recession firsthand may not be able to get back into the job market because they lack the skills required for open positions. Therefore, she places high importance on improving job skills among the unemployed.
But in Kenosha, Walworth and Racine counties, the issue is not so much job procurement as it is job retention, said Adelene Greene, director of Kenosha County Workforce Development.
At least half the jobs in the market require either moderate or short-term on-the-job training, Greene said. The difficulties arise when employees have no means of reliable transportation or lack knowledge of teamwork.
Childhood development
The 2006 Kids Count snapshot focuses on early childhood development and care.
Eleson said the early years are critical for children. In fact, she said, about 85 percent of a child’s brain is formed by age 3. The environment children are introduced to during that time can deeply affect their future.
Oftentimes, children in lowincome households are not read to as much or interacted with as much, Eleson said. A high-quality early care and education program can change this environment.
The Early Head Start Program at the Kenosha Achievement Center aims to do just that, said Chris Weyker, director of program services.
“The earlier kids start, the better their chance for success,” she said.
Weyker said the year-round, federally funded, income-based program caters to eligible pregnant women and families with kids up to age 3.
It provides in-home parent education on child care and helps move families toward selfsufficiency by connecting them to employment and education resources.
“It uses what our families have in their homes, not special toys or other resources that low-income families do not have,” Weyker said.
Areas for improvement
Eleson said the survey works two-fold: to determine how states stack up to the nation and to assess areas of internal improvement.
Some of Wisconsin’s lower teen pregnancy statistics can be attributed to the Family Planning Waiver of 2003, she said. Under this benefit, females ages 15-44 living in poverty may be able to receive certain contraceptive and medical assistance for free.
Although state figures show teen pregnancy is down, the most recent numbers in Kenosha suggest it may be increasing locally, said Gary Brown, executive director of Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services Inc.
This may be just a fluke, he said, but the reason behind this rise is growing complacency about contraceptives among teens, he said. Teens have been shown to be sexually active at levels similar to past years but their use of contraceptives has varied.
Brown also said Kenosha has a higher divorce rate than some of its neighbors. This situation may negatively affect local children, who often end up living at poverty levels or getting pregnant too soon.
Eleson said the 2006 findings will be shared with state legislators to develop plans for improvements.
“We know how to do it,” Eleson said. “It’s just a question of our will.” |
