Carol Forsloff -Every year since 1997 the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics has published a report on the well-being of children and families. This year the report shows there has been progress in some areas and problems in others, relative to culture and the economy.
There are 40 indicators examined annually on a website containing statistics on children. These statistics can be used for decision-making at all levels.
So just what does 2010 reveal?
This year's report shows that health insurance coverage rates for children increased, the percentage of preterm births declined for the second straight year, average 8th-grade mathematics scores reached an all-time high, teen smoking was at its lowest since data collection began, and the adolescent birth rate declined after a 2-year increase. However, the percentage of children whose parents had secure employment was the lowest since 1996, and the percentage living in poverty was the highest since 1998. The percentage of children in food-insecure households was the highest since monitoring began. The Brief concludes with a summary table displaying recent changes in all 40 indicators.
These statistics reflect what the economists have said about more and more people falling into poverty, specifically children, but the good news about the adolescent birth rate dropping is revealing as well, for whatever reason teens are not having babies at the rate they did previously, reflecting how during difficult economic times when birth rates drop.
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