HAMILTON COUNTYChildren in poverty2005/06: 20 percent2010/11: 24.7 percentTeen births/1,0002005/06: 37.62010/11: 16.7Free-reduced school lunch2005/06: 39.8 percent2010/11: 47.3 percentFood stamp recipients2005/06: 12.5 percent2010/11: 15 percentFair market rent2005/06: $7482010/11: $884Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation’s local reporting partners
TENNESSEECATEGORY 2005/6 2010/11Children in poverty // 21 // 26In single-parent families // 35 // 37Low birthweight // 9.5 // 9Teen births per 1,000 // 55 // 43Teens drug/alcohol abuse 8 // 7Not graduating on time 29 // 20Overall rank: 392013 rank by domain:Economic well-being: 37Education: 42Health: 33Family/community: 37GEORGIACATEGORY 2005/6 2010/11Children in poverty // // 20 // 26In single-parent families // 35 // 38Low birthweight // 9.5 // 9.7Teen births per 1,000 // 53 // 41Teens drug/alcohol abuse 7 // 6Not graduating on time 38 // 34Overall rank: 432013 rank by domain:Economic well-being: 43Education: 38Health: 40Family/community: 40ALABAMACATEGORY 2005/6 2010/11Children in poverty // 25 // 28In single-parent families // 37 // 39Low birthweight // 10.7 // 10.3Teen births per 1,000 // 50 // 44Teens drug/alcohol abuse // 7 // 6Not graduating on time // 34 // 28Overall rank: 442013 rank by domainEconomic well-being: 40Education: 44Health: 35Family/community: 44
Even though child poverty rates keep climbing in the wake of the Great Recession, there are some bright spots for the nation’s youth in health and educational achievement, an annual study of child well-being shows.
Close to home, the bright spot is a full-blown spotlight on a dramatic, 66 percent fall in births to Hamilton County teens between 2006 and 2010, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual Kids Count study.
“That is great news on so many fronts,” Julie Baumgardner, executive director of Chattanooga’s First Things First, said Friday. “For these young people to have an opportunity to truly experience childhood and the teenage years, to graduate high school without being a teen parent — I think that’s just incredible progress for this community.”