REPORT SAYS CHILDREN IN MISSOURI ARE WORSE OFF

There is a small measure of good news for children in the second "Kids Count of Missouri" report, but overall children are faring worse than they did between 1990 and 1993.

The report, a four-year collaborative effort of Citizens for Missouri's Children and more than 40 public and private organizations, is designed to call attention to the well-being of Missouri children.

The latest report indicates the state's infant mortality rate is down 24.3 percent since 1986, and the percent of births to single teen-agers has decreased 21.9 percent since 1990. Births to poorly educated mothers also have decreased slightly.

"But, overall children are faring worse," said Steve Lewis, who helped prepare the 1994 report.

"In five of the 11 measures used to assess the well-being of children, there were some disheartening findings."

Lewis said some of the deteriorated measures related to children's safety in the home and in the community.

The statewide measures show instances of child abuse or neglect have increased 15.1 percent since 1990. Out-of-home place rates have increased 15.4 percent since 1990, teen violent deaths have increased 11 percent, and more children aren't graduating from high school.

"These are not good statistics," Lewis said. "By issuing this report, we hope to bring awareness to what is happening to our youth."

Many families and children are vulnerable to poor health, safety and education because of their economic conditions, Lewis said.

Public policy impacts the well-being of every aspect of children's lives, from education to medical care, he said.

Beth Griffin, executive director of Citizens for Missouri's Children, called the report "a compass," adding: "It tells us where we need to invest our energies and resources to improve the lives of our children."

The report made recommendations for legislators, city and school officials and other community decision-makers.

In the report, counties are ranked from one to 115 from the best place for children to the worst.

Osage County is ranked No. 1 and St. Louis City, considered a county for the report, is ranked No. 115.

St. Louis County ranked 44 and Jackson County, which includes Kansas City, ranked 71.

"A high ranking in the state doesn't mean the well-being of its children is assured," Griffin said.

Missouri only ranked 34th in the 1994 national Kids Count Data Book.

"A lot of factors are involved in determining these ratings," Lewis said.

The factors include the adult unemployment rate and median income, child populations and percentages of total population, minority children and children in one-parent families.

"Minority children face risks two to three times those of Caucasian children in almost every category," Lewis said.

"And, in St. Louis City, which is ranked at the bottom of the list, more than 63 percent of the children are in the minority," he said.

Income is another big factor. And, the median household income in St. Louis City is $21,557.

Another big factor is that only 52 percent of the freshmen who enter high school graduate.

In comparison with statistics in Osage County, where the median income is $27,434, and less than 1 percent of children are minorities. The graduation rate of freshmen who enter high school is 90.1 percent, well above the overall state average of 76.9.

Copies of the Kids Count in Missouri are distributed free to legislators and a number of other officials. The report is available for $10, plus shipping, by writing Citizens for Missouri's Children, 2717 Sutton Ave., St. Louis, Mo., 63143.

Kids Count Data

Children in state: 1.4 million.

Percent of population: 25.8

Percent minority children: 14.7

Children in poverty: 17.4 percent

One-parent families: 19.5 percent.

Percent working women: 64.5

Students enrolled for free lunches: 33.3 percent.

Mothers without high school degree: 20.2 percent.

Low birth weight infants: 6.9 percent.

Infant mortality rate per 1,000: 6.9.

Death rate, ages 1-14 per 100,000. 33.5.

Child abuse per 1,000: 13.7.

Out-of-home placement per 1,000: 4.5.

H.S. completion rate: 76.9 percent

Births to single teens: 10.7 percent.

Juvenile law violations per 1,000: 53.5.

Violent deaths per 100,000 teens; 80.5