National Study Ranks Arkansas 48 in Child Well Being
Arkansas Needs to Improve the Lives of Children
2010 Kids Count Data Results
Arkansas's score is lower than last year by 1 point. The decrease in score is due largely to ranking at or near bottom in several key areas. When it comes to child poverty Arkansas ranked 48. The state is rock bottom - ranked 50 - for teens not in school and not working. Teenage pregnancies are rampant among Arkansas teens, as the state ranks 47. Clearly, Arkansas has a lot of work to do when it comes to improving the lives of children.
Arkansas Ranked 50th in High School Dropouts
The Kids Count survey shows that Arkansas teens are at risk. The statistics for teens out of school and not working indicate that there are a high number of high school drop outs who are unable to find work. This could be due to a lack of skills, education and training required to obtain gainful employment.
Arkansas Ranked 48th in Child Poverty
Arkansas ranks 48 out of 50 states when it comes to child poverty levels. The areas in Arkansas with the highest childhood poverty level are the Delta region and the entire southern portion of the state. The most recent statistics (2008) show a total of 479,140 Arkansans living below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Pulaski County, home to the state capitol Little Rock, has the highest number (60,677) of individuals living in poverty.
Arkansas Ranked 47th in Teenage Pregnancy
The teen pregnancy statistics are appalling. Health education in the public school system is obviously not working. Teenagers need accurate information about their bodies and sexuality in order to make responsible choices. Ranking 47th in teenage pregnancies indicates that Arkansas teenagers are not getting the information they need to make healthy choices regarding their sexual behavior.
The 2010 Kids Count rankings do not include Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands because they are not states. According to the 2010 Data Book, improvements made in the 1990's stalled just prior to the current economic downturn.
Other articles you may enjoy:
Little Rock Arkansas Schools in Trouble
Arkansas Lottery: Paying for Education or Executive Salaries
Free Things to do In and Around Bentonville Arkansas
Sources:
Kids Count 2010 Overall Rank
Kids Count Arkansas Poverty Levels
Kids Count 2010 Data Book
Published by Lynda Altman
Lynda Altman is a freelance writer, blogger and researcher. Her experience includes published print articles in Family Chronicle Magazine, writing and researching for private clients, and writing online cont... View profile
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- Arkansas ranks lowest in the U.S. in teenagers not in school and not at work.
- Arkansas has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the United States.
- Arkansas has a very high child poverty rate.