KIDS COUNTY SURVEY HAS GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS

Kids count in Missouri. But how well are they faring?

Each year a St. Louis-based advocacy group sizes up the state of children in Missouri. It's merely a statistical look, but it provides some interesting insight. It ranks such issues as infant mortality, child deaths, child abuse, high-school dropouts, births to teens and other relevant statistics.

The numbers show that Southeast Missouri can be a difficult place for children. Out of 114 Missouri counties, three in the Bootheel have consistently scored in the bottom five since 1995. Mississippi, Dunklin and Pemiscot counties rank at the bottom of the heap.

Other counties, including Perry and Cape Girardeau, are near the top. In terms of best counties for children to live, Cape Girardeau ranks 15th. Perry County finished an impressive sixth.

Overall, the news was good for Missouri's children, with statewide conditions edging upward. The intent of the Kids Count project is to ensure youngsters get a good start in life. Missouri's infant mortality rates have improved, high school dropout rates have dropped and the number of births to teen-agers have gone down.

Of course, even children in the poorest homes may have loving families who work hard for their children to prosper and succeed. But for many, poverty remains a significant barrier.

In almost every instance, those counties with the highest poverty levels had some of the worst conditions for children.

For example, in both Mississippi and Pemiscot counties, the teen birthrate was more than twice the state average. Often, these young mothers don't get the care they need. Many of these young mothers are single and living at the poverty level, which again affects their children's welfare.

If nothing else, this annual Kids Count report helps to raise awareness about the state of children's welfare in Missouri. This statistical information can help spur continued improvements for Missouri's children.