PERRY COUNTY SIXTH BEST PLACE FOR CHILDREN IN MISSOURI

Perry and Cape Girardeau counties are among the top 25 counties in Missouri regarding the welfare of children while the Bootheel counties of Pemiscot, Mississippi and Dunklin remain among the worst for children for another year.

Such were the findings of the annual Kids Count Missouri report recently released by Citizens for Missouri's Children, a St. Louis-based advocacy group.

The group documents the status of children across the state by examining infant deaths, babies born to teen-age mothers, annual high school dropout rates and seven other factors that affect the quality of life and safety of children.

The report is based on findings from a similar national report.

"The good news is that most of the indicators do show improvement," said Ruth Ehresman of Citizens for Missouri Children. "They show positive trends, so I think that's good news and should be recognized."

Ehresman pointed to statewide improvements in infant and child mortality rates, violent deaths to teens ages 15 to 19, high school dropouts and births to teens as indicators that programs such as alternative education and Parents as Teachers are working.

"Across the state we have made efforts to ensure kids get a good start in life," she said. "The intent is that we raise awareness about what's happening to kids, what kids' lives are about, and hopefully that will move people to take action."

As in past reports, poverty is identified as the biggest factor in determining the well-being of children. That's why Dunklin, Mississippi and Pemiscot counties where in 1995 45.6, 49.1 and 64.8 percent of children lived in poverty, respectively fare so poorly annually in the rankings.

"I think there's definitely a correlation," Ehresman said. "I think if you don't see people around you succeed, it's very hard to believe in yourself."

The level of poverty is demonstrated in each of the three counties receiving the worst rankings.

In Dunklin County, which has ranked 112 of 115 for the past five years, the average annual salary is $19,276, and the county posted rates well above state averages for births to teens and to mothers without a high school diploma.

In Mississippi County, which has held steady at 113 for five years, the average salary was $17, 651. The county's teen birth rate, at 104.5 per 1,000 teens, was more than twice the state rate of 51.1 per 1,000.

Pemiscot County, which finishes next-to-last annually in the rankings, had an average salary of only $17,531. The county also had a teen birthrate, at 108.6, that was more than twice the state average.

Conversely, two counties in upper Southeast Missouri posted very well in the report. Perry County, where the average salary is $21,142, jumped from 16th to sixth in the rankings, and Cape Girardeau County posted its best finish yet at No. 15 of 115 counties. The county has an average salary of $22,207. Some 13 percent of Cape Girardeau County children live in poverty.

"There's something especially pervasive about areas of concentrated poverty," Ehresman said. "The effects of poverty seem to be eased when poor families are interspersed with median income families."

Despite the dismal ratings for the lower Bootheel counties, Ehresman said each had shown improvements in at least half of the areas being measured.

"These counties still rank at the bottom, but their progress should be recognized," she said.

Ehresman said she hopes state legislators and local organizations will use the data to improve programs for families statewide. Citizens for Missouri's Children will push legislators to use revenue from this year's settlement with tobacco manufacturers -- an anticipated $6.7 billion over the next 25 years -- to fund social programs.

"We do not make a large investment in those types of prevention and intervention programs for children," Ehresman said. "This would be a good opportunity to provide a positive legacy for Missouri children."