NCJ Number
153845
Date Published
1994
Length
154 pages
Annotation
This second annual "Kids Count" in Missouri report continues to examine the well-being of the State's 1.3 million children.
Abstract
Some hopeful signs in the findings are that the infant mortality rate is steadily declining; the percent of births that are to single teens decreased; and the percentage of births to poorly educated mothers decreased slightly. There has been no progress or slight deterioration in other areas. The high school completion rate remained stable; one-quarter of Missouri youth will not graduate from high school. The percentage of low-birthweight infants increased slightly, and the rate of law violation referrals to juvenile courts increased. Some discouraging findings are that the percentage of low-income children enrolled in free or reduced lunch programs increased by 11 percent. Although statewide poverty census data are not available, national poverty estimates for 1993 showed a child poverty rate of 23 percent. Both the substantiated instances of child abuse or neglect and the out-of-home placement entry rates increased by more than 15 percent. The teen violent death rate increased by 11 percent, and homicide is the leading cause of death for 15- to 19-year-old males. This report presents for the first time minority data for many of the 11 outcome measures. Minority children face risks two to three times those of white children for every available measure. Recommendations are offered for how to address the problems revealed in the findings. Appended raw data for outcome measures and key facts; data notes, sources, and references; and 1993 recommendations