GeorgiaKIDS COUNT2007 BriefingInformation Embargoed

Until July 25, 20073:00 a.m.

• A national and state-by-state effort funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

• Tracks the status of child well-being in the U.S. through reporting current and credible data.

• Ranks states using 10 key indicators.

KIDS COUNT

• Seeks to enrich local, state, and national discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all children.

• Publishes an annual Data Book, issues annual state rankings of child well-being.

• Interactive database atwww.gafcp.org/kidscount

KIDS COUNT

• Measures how children and families are faring in the state.

• Includes national, state, and county-level data, as well as Census data by legislative districts.

• Represents the largest compilation of the most current and reliable available data from a variety of sources in Georgia.

2007 Georgia KIDS COUNT

• County, state, and national data online– www.gafcp.org/kidscount

• County profiles, available September • 10% Improvement in Key Indicators• Snapshots of Georgia’s Children• Children in Georgia: By the Numbers• Workshops at October conference

2007 Georgia KIDS COUNT

National Ranking for 2007 is 41st

On the 10 national indicators, Georgia ranked 41st

Child deaths, teen deaths, teen births, high- school dropouts, teens not attending school and not working, children in single-parent families

Infant mortality

Low birthweight; children in poverty; children in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment

Georgia Is In the Bottom 10 States on Six Indicators Infant mortality: 42nd

Low birthweight: 43rd

Teen birth rate: 43rd

Children in single-parent families: 43rd

Teens not attending school and not working: 45th

High-school dropouts: 47th

Other National Rankings

Children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 26th

Teen death rate: 28th

Child death rate: 29th

Percent of children in poverty: 36th

2007 Georgia Trends

Child Population: Diversity Increased

• Georgia is growing and becoming more diverse– The child population increased 8% from 2000

to 2005 (2.2 million to 2.3 million)• White children increased 2%• Black children increased 8%• Asian children increased 28%• Multiracial children increased 28%• Hispanic/Latino children increased 58%• Children in immigrant families increased 47%

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

2000 2005

Child Population (2000, 2005)

White Black Hispanic Asian More than one race American Indian

nu

mb

er

2007 Trends: Child Health

More than one in four infants born without a healthy start in 2005.

Infant mortality rates have remained higher than national averages for the past 10 years.

Teen birth rate continues to improve but Georgia remains among the eight worst states in the nation.

Starting at birth, Georgia’s children do not fare well…

Infant Mortality (per 1,000)

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

9.5

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

US mean Georgia

42nd national rank 2007

Per

1,0

00

percent

Low Birthweight (percent)

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

9.5

10

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

US mean Georgia

percent

43rd national rank 2007

Teen Births (ages 15-19, per 1,000)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Georgia US mean

Per

1,0

00

43rd national rank 2007

Teen Births (ages 15-19, by Race)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Georgia white black Hispanic

Per

1,0

00

Outcomes for Georgia CountiesTEEN BIRTHS (Ages 15-19, Rate per 1,000, 2005)

Worst

Wayne 108.2

Murray 110.7

Ben Hill 110.9

Quitman 123.5

Candler 125.4

Best

Oconee 14.3

Fayette 16.5

Harris 24.0

Columbia 24.1

Chattahoochee 24.5

Note: 3 counties had less than 5 teen births.

2007 Trends: Safety

2007 Trends: Child Safety

• The child death rate has improved. Yet disparities exist for black children as compared to white children.

• The overall teen death rate increased from 2004 to 2005 but the violent death rate improved.

• Child neglect continues to be the dominant type of child maltreatment.

• In 2006, 76% of children entering foster care were reunified with families or placed with a relative within one year.

Child Deaths (ages 1-14, per 100,000)

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

US mean Georgia

Per

100

,000

29th national rank 2007

Teen Deaths (ages 15-19, per 100,000)

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

US mean Georgia

Per

100

,000

28th national rank 2007

2007 Trends: Education

2007 Trends: Education

Nearly one-fourth of children born in Georgia have mothers with less than 12 years of education.

For Hispanic infants, 60% are born to mothers with low educational attainment.

Indicators of school success show considerable disparities for Hispanic, black, economically disadvantaged, and migrant students.

High School Dropouts (ages 16-19, percent)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Georgia US mean

percent

47th national rank 2007

High School Graduation By Race/Ethnicity: 2002-2006

40

60

80

100

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Asian Black Hispanic White Multiracial Georgia

Georgia

percent

Outcomes for Georgia SchoolsHIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION (Percent, 2004-2005)

Worst

Chattooga 50.8

McIntosh 47.4

Dooly 44.3

Talbot 38.1

Stewart 34.0

Best

Commerce City 94.7

Trion City 91.8

Fayette 91.0

Buford City 88.8

Calhoun City 88.1

Note: 5 counties do not have high schools. Data for city and county school systems.

2007 Trends: Economic Security

Child poverty continues to be widespread and more children live in poverty now than five years ago, 20% compared to 18%.

Nine percent of Georgia children live in extreme poverty compared to eight percent nationally (income below 50% of poverty level).

42% of Georgia children live in low-income families compared to 40% nationally (income below 200% of poverty level for 2005).

Half of Georgia school-age students qualify for free or reduced school meals, an increase from 48% in 2004-2005.

Child Poverty (percent)

0

5

10

15

20

25

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Georgia US mean

percent

36th national rank 2007

2007 National Essay: Foster Care

• Lifelong Family Connections: Supporting Permanence for Children in Foster Care

• Georgia has many initiatives to support foster children

• Partnering with the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta on efforts to promote the work and supports needed for foster youth

Improving Indicators in Georgia

What would it take to make a 10% improvement in key indicators?

• 295 fewer children in poverty per county

• One infant death prevented per county

• 10 fewer teen births per county

• 31 fewer high-school dropouts per county

Next Steps: Framing, Engaging

• So what? Georgia has been in bottom ten of national rankings for almost 17 years.

• Economic well-being of Georgia at odds with well-being of children and families.

• Partnerships to focus attention on disparities and work together to find solutions.

Family Connection Partnership

For more information contact:William Valladares, Communications Coordinator

235 Peachtree Street, Suite 1600 Atlanta, GA 30303Phone: 404-527-7394Fax: 404-527-7443E-mail: william@gafcp.orgWeb site: www.gafcp.org