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Georgia 2005 KIDS COUNT Key Findings
Georgia
ranks 39th in the nation,
according to the 2005 KIDS COUNT Data Book--a state-by-state study
on the well-being of America's children published by the Annie E.
Casey Foundation. The positive news is that overall trends for child
and family well-being are improving. Yet in many communities across
the state, children are lagging behind. The 2005 Georgia KIDS COUNT
highlights gaps and disparities for children based on race and ethnicity,
income, and place of residence. Children of color, children in rural
communities, and children who live in low-income families face numerous
challenges to their health and well-being.
Georgia
has tracked 36 indicators over time, and of those indicators: 19
showed improvement, five showed little change, and 12 worsened compared
to the previous year. This report highlights key disparities in
child health and safety, educational achievement, and family economic
security.
Health
and Safety.
Black children have a higher infant mortality rate, and are more
likely to be born at lower birthweights and to mothers who report
having less prenatal care than white mothers. The birth rate of
Hispanic teen mothers, ages 15-19, is almost three times higher
than the overall state rate for 2003. More than one-fifth of all
mothers and more than half of Hispanic mothers have less than a
high school education. Child safety data shows mixed results. The
number of abuse events has decreased but neglect has increased.
White male teens are twice as likely to die from motor vehicle accidents
compared to other teens. The rate of deaths by homicide for black
males is five times higher than for white males.
Education.
Students who are migrant, black, Hispanic, economically disadvantaged,
or have limited English proficiency lag behind in the 4th and 8th
grade CRCT, as well as the High School Graduation Test. High school
graduation rates slightly improved over the past two years to 65
percent. Yet, nearly half of students considered economically disadvantaged
and more than half of Hispanic students do not graduate high school
on time.
Economic
Security. Poverty continues to plague many Georgia families.
Nearly 1 in 5 children in Georgia lived in poverty in 2002. The
majority of poor families with children included a working member.
Of the low-income families in Georgia, 59 percent of children have
at least one parent who is employed full-time/year-round and only
17 percent of children have parents who are unemployed.
Patterns
of Disparities. An index of children at risk compiled from three
indicators (child poverty, high school graduation, and teen births)
shows startling geographic patterns for Georgia. Georgia is worse
than the national average in these indicators and most counties
in the state are worse than the Georgia or national average. Only
16 counties out of 159 were more than 10% better than the state
high school graduation rate. Only 39 counties were more than 10%
better than the state teen birth rate; 49 counties were more than
10% better than the state child poverty rate. When all three indicators
are grouped, only nine counties are more than 10% better than
the state average on all three indicators.
Georgia
must acknowledge the widespread inequities in outcomes for children.
To address these issues, we must develop comprehensive strategies,
creative approaches, innovative funding, and state/community partnerships
that can help Georgians ensure that all children grow up healthy
and safe, achieve academically, and live in economically secure
families.
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