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From GeorgiaPoliticalDigest.com
Do Kids Count In Georgia? Do Kids Count In Georgia? by Pat Willis On Tuesday the Annie E. Casey Foundation released its annual Kids Count report on child well being in the United States. Based on ten measures of children’s health, education, economic and family status, Georgia ranked 44th out of 50 states. This shouldn’t be news to many as the state has been ranked no higher than last year’s 39th since Kids Count began reporting results in 1990. Yet these heartbreaking numbers haven’t compelled us to undertake any dramatic change. Shame on us. When today’s eleventh graders were born in 1990, we knew then that results from our programs and investments were well below the rest of the country. When they were in fourth grade, we were reminded again that our children were less healthy, less educated and endured greater poverty than other children. Now at graduation age, they have a higher chance of dropping out. So how can we adults really say that kids count in our state? Georgia’s growth and prosperity is at stake. It’s time for getting serious about giving them the best chance we can of being safe, healthy, educated, responsible and employable. First, let’s set challenging but realistic objectives. Voices for Georgia’s children has set four goals for 2015: Reducing child abuse and neglect from 19/1000 to 14/1000; increasing the percentage of children with health insurance from 87% to 96%; increasing the percentage of fourth graders reading at basic levels from 59% to 72%; decreasing the percentage of 16-19 year olds not working and not in school from 11% to 8%. Incremental, yet significant. State government and local communities can set their own objectives. Second, let’s effectively utilize Georgia’s existing resources for helping kids. Enormous resources are invested through hundreds of programs delivered by scores of agencies under every department of state government. Cities and school districts compound the numbers and churches and non profits rally to support all of them. If each of these of operations would gather their peer agencies to set goals, plan, deliver, and evaluate results for children and youth, we would have more than a fighting chance to improve their lives. Third, let’s think big. Ranking best in the South for how we take care of our kids would still leave Georgia in the bottom third of the nation, so why not aim to be the best state for kids? We’re currently in the upper ranks from a fiscal standpoint when GDP (10th) and median household income (23rd) are taken into account. Georgia is ranked 11th for the number of Fortune 500 companies based here. It has the world’s busiest airport, hosted the Olympics, reclaimed the King papers, and brought the ocean to the edge of Centennial Olympic Park. Sure, we have challenges. But we have the resources and talent. Another political season is upon us; a season for big ideas, promises to the people, passion for Georgia. If kids really do count, we should see campaign platforms that set goals and strategies to pull our children out of the cellar of the nation. Ask the candidates, ask the incumbents and ask yourself: do kids really count in Georgia? About Voices for Children Atlanta-based Voices is a network member of the national organization Voices for America’s Children. |
