Data Report Paints Bleak Picture of the ‘State of America’s Children’
The Washington D.C.-based Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) recently released a report, The State of America’s Children 2011, which illuminates striking differences between the U.S. and other industrialized countries in terms of child health and well being. In addition, the report presents state-level data for a variety of important indicators related to poverty, family structure, nutrition, juvenile justice, and gun violence.
According to the report, the U.S. ranks first in gross domestic product (GDP), first in the number of billionaires, and first in military technology. However, the U.S. ranks 30th in infant mortality, 31st in math scores, and last in teen birth rates.
Despite having the highest GDP in the world, the Census Bureau estimates that one in every five children in America is living in poverty. The numbers are the same here in California – 20% of children lived in families with incomes below the federal poverty level, according to 2009 data. In addition, more than half of California students are poor enough to qualify for free or reduced price school meals.
Read more about the report or download the PDF version at http://www.childrensdefense.org/child-research-data-publications/data/state-of-americas-children-2011-report.html.
Posted by Jordan Handcox
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