Report on Child Poverty in Indiana - July 2007

Is there a Public Will to Address this Neglect?

The Indianapolis Star presented highlights of the new Child Poverty report released by the Indiana Youth Institute on July 25th.

"We are moving in the wrong direction, and we need to find a way to turn that around," said Bill Stanczykiewicz, president of the Institute. "Poverty crushes hope. Poverty crushes aspirations. And kids stop trying because they don't see the adults around them with good jobs, educations and opportunities."

I encourage Indiana to look at the role of economic and tax policy. Last session the legislature had an opportunity to give assistance to low income working parents through a child care tax credit - but that bill did not even receive a hearing. What is the message being sent to parents struggling to go to work and give quality care to their preschoolers?

Let me say that I understand and support the major improvements being made in the city and state. I will certainly enjoy the new sports' stadium and I will enjoy the comforts of our new airport and certainly the exquisite museums. I understand the importance of schools building expanded physical fitness facilities and libraries and other up-scale projects.

But at the same time, we need to look into the lives and faces of children living in poverty to realize that we are supporting a society that is ignoring the greatest risk factor of all and that is poverty. Family poverty is relentlessly correlated with high rates of school age childbearing, school failure, violent crime, abuse and neglect and child fatalities. Low income is an important risk factor in itself and so is relative poverty - having significantly less income than the norm, especially in a society that places such a high value on economic success.

If you missed the Star highlights - just take a minute to look at these statistics on How Indiana Stacks Up!

Where we are slipping

• Percentage of low birth-weight babies increased 9 percent, from 7.4 percent to 8.1 percent. The national average is 8.1 percent.

• Percentage of children living in families where no parent has full-time, year -round employment increased 19 percent, from 27 percent to 32 percent. The national average is 34 percent.

• According to Census data, in 2005 there were 311,655 children younger than 6 whose parents had jobs. However, Institute data show there were only 138,269 lots available for children in licensed child care.
  

• According to this month's Licensing Report from FSSA, there has been a decrease in available licensed care since 2005 to 98,135.
  

• Percentage of children in single parent families rose 3 percent, from 29 percent to 30 percent. The national average is 32 percent.

• The infant mortality rate increased from 7.8 deaths to 8 for every 1,000 live births. The national average is 6.8

So let's continue building a beautiful city and state - but let's stop for a moment and consider the findings in this report. Let's look at the future for the state. That future resides in our children.

I would encourage you to access the full Kids Count report funded by Annie E. Casey Foundation through the Indiana Youth Institute. For more information, call the Star Reporter Tim Evans at 317-444-6204.

I suggest you read the following excellent response to the Star coverage as prepared by Jennifer Pope-Baker of the Women's Fund of Central Indiana.

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Carole Stein