Welfare Watch – August 22, 2011 – Kids Count 2011 Report Released

Annie E. Casey’s annual Kids Count 2011 was recently updated and released, continuing to track child well-being indicators nationally and in each state.  Georgia has been stuck in 42^nd place for the measures of child wellbeing.  The following link shows that Georgia,while staying even relative to other states, fared more poorly with itself in most indicators.  Georgia’s numbers for children in poverty (22%),  living in single parent households (37%), and living in households where no parent has a full time or year round job (32%) does not bode well for the future of Georgia’s competiveness or to the future strength of its families. 

Disturbingly, the teen death rate (73 per 100k), teen birth rate (5.2%), and low birth babies (9.6%) are much too high. 

The recession has taken a toll on Georgia’s families.  In a time when government is cutting back in services to children and families, they are in need of more.