Economic conditions for the state’s poorest children have worsened according to the latest Kansas KIDS COUNT data. The data, released today by Kansas Action for Children and The Annie E. Casey Foundation, shows more children slipping further into poverty.
“As more working families struggle to make ends meet, more children are relying on free and reduced school lunches and more children are growing up without health coverage,” said Shannon Cotsoradis, president of KAC.
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Among the economic factors revealed in the new Kansas KIDS COUNT data:
- Roughly 45 percent of Kansas school children are participating in the free and reduced lunch program.
- 40 percent of Kansas kids are growing up in low-income (23.08%) or poverty-stricken (17.33%) households.
- Fewer Kansans are able to afford the stability of home ownership.
- More Kansas children continue to join the ranks of the uninsured, with one in 10 Kansas kids currently uninsured.
“It’s no secret that Kansas families are feeling the pain of the economy,” said Cotsoradis. “But, we’re fortunate. Legislators have done some tremendous work over the past decade to prevent some of the long-term effects that often go hand-in-hand with poverty. I’m talking about things like quality early childhood programs and affordable health coverage, which give parents a chance to keep their families healthy and strong even when times are tough. Those resources will remain critical this coming year if we want Kansas families to stay afloat during these difficult economic times.”
In addition to the data, this year’s KIDS COUNT report includes an analysis of how challenges and opportunities may differ for Kansas children based on whether they live in a rural or urban community. Despite economic challenges that can be more prevalent in rural communities, the data shows that children in rural Kansas continue to achieve on par academically with their peers in urban areas.
“That speaks volumes to the Legislature’s long-standing commitment to children, and it underscores how important the new administration’s promise to prioritize children in poverty really is,” said Cotsoradis. “We know when children – regardless of where they live – grow up with the resources they need, they are far less likely to continue the trend toward poverty.”