2019 Illinois KIds Count Report Indicators of Child Well

2019 ILLINOIS KIDS COUNT REPORT 1

2019 Illinois KIds Count Report

Indicators of Child Well-Being: Families and Communities

2019 ILLINOIS KIDS COUNT REPORT 2 2019 ILLINOIS KIDS COUNT REPORT 1

ou R m IssIon

Voices for Illinois Children is an independent advocacy organization that champions strong public policies and investments for all children in our state.

aCKnowle dg m e nts

This report was made possible by:

TaSha GREEN CRUzaT President

MITCh LIFSON Vice President for Policy and Operations

LILLIaN BaEz Administrative Assistant

KaRINa aLvaREz Community and Advocacy Outreach Coordinator

JOhN GORDON Policy Analyst

KIaRa JaCKSON Policy Fellow

This report was prepared by:

DR. BILL ByRNES KIDS COUNT Project Manager

We would also like to thank Dr. Dawn Thomas from the University of Illinois and Dr. Gina Spitz from the Center for Urban Research and Learning at Loyola University Chicago for their thoughtful comments on early drafts of this report.

KI ds Cou nt data Ce nte R

If you are interested in looking at more data for Illinois or other states in the nation, please be sure to visit the annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT Data Center website at https://datacenter.kidscount.org/.

Conte nts

1 Statement from the President voices for Illinois Children

3 Illinois County map

4 Child well-being indicators

7 a statement on race and ethnicity

9 a snapshot of Illinois children

14 Economic stability

27 Education

47 health and safety

63 housing stability

74 Methodology

77 Endnotes

TaBLES 89 Economic stability

98 Education

116 health and safety

124 housing

The views expressed in this report are those of Voices for Illinois Children and are not necessarily those of any listed supporter.

than K you to ou R g e n e Rous sponsoRs

voices for Illinois Children appreciates the generous support

of the following sponsors of the 2019 Illinois

KIDS COUNT Report:

Helen and Maurice Weigle Fund

alice W. Kraus and BaBs W. MaltenFort

voices also thanks the following parties and persons for their

additional support to the report:

Poshard Foundation for abused children

Susan and Scott GarrettEileen and Michael hamra

Dr. Patricia Jones BlessmanForesight Law + Policy


The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned. — MAYA ANGELOU

the concept of home: it lives within us as individuals, within our families, and within our communities. however, if there is a sense of personal comfort, it is not always accompanied by safety, opportunity, or a healthy environment.

This KIDS COUNT Report focuses on family and community. Over the last three decades, voices for Illinois Children has been advocating for public investments and policies that will improve the well-being of all children in our state regardless of their race, ethnicity, or zip code. however, the fact remains that Illinois children live very different lives depending on their race, ethnicity, and the place which they call home.

In 2016, the overall poverty rate for children in the state of Illinois was 18%. For black and Latinx children, however, it was 38% and 24%, respectively. The infant mortality rate for white children in our state was 4.7 per 1,000 live births in 2016. yet, for black children it was 12.9. The average life expectancy for people living in majority-black Illinois census tracts is the lowest in the state, at almost six years less than the state average.

These are but a few examples of the existing disparities that you will see throughout this report. It should be a stark reminder that not every child starts off at birth with equal opportunities. however, that does not mean that a child’s race, ethnicity, or place of birth seals his or her fate. We can change children’s life trajectories with a commitment to fund programs and services, from education to health care to community investments, that will enrich the lives of children and put every child on the path to success.

Within this report, you will also have the chance to read personal essays from individuals working towards and hoping for a better life: a mother with young children struggling to make ends meet, a teenager facing daily violence in her community, and two young people who faced financial barriers to college. They each face a different set of obstacles. These obstacles do not have to be permanent barriers. We can remove them if we have the will. voices for Illinois Children is committed to doing so. We are firm in our belief that it is not enough for only some children to live in safe communities; all children deserve to live in families that can make ends meet, go to safe, well-funded schools, have access to health care, and live in safe communities in which they are welcome.

as you read this report, I ask for your commitment to join voices in its mission to improve the lives of all children in Illinois. From zion to Cairo, Quincy to Danville, and every community in between, voices is ready to take up the cause for healthy and productive lives for all our children. We urge you to join us.

Tasha Green CruzatPresident, Voices for Illinois Children Summer 2019

2019 ILLINOIS KIDS COUNT REPORT 2 2019 ILLINOIS KIDS COUNT REPORT 3 2019 ILLINOIS KIDS COUNT REPORT 3


ILLINOIS COUNTy MaP

Jo Daviess Stephenson Winnebago Boone Mchenry Lake

Carroll Ogle

DeKalbKane

DuPageCook

Whiteside Lee

Kendall

WillRock Island henry

Bureau LaSalle

Grundy

KankakeeMercer

Knox

StarkPutnam

Marshall

Livingston

Iroquois

Ford

Woodford

McLeanTazewell

Peoria

Fulton

Warren

hancockMcDonough

adams

Schuyler

Brown Cass

Mason

Menard

Logan DeWitt

Macon

Piatt

Champaign vermillion

henderson

JacksonWilliamson

Union Johnson

alexander Pulaski Massac

Pope

Saline

hardin

Gallatin

Douglas

EdgarMoultrie

Coles

ClarkCumberland

Shelby

Christian

SangamonMorgan

ScottPike

Greene

Jersey

Calhoun Macoupin Montgomery

MadisonBond

Fayette

MarionClinton

EffinghamJasper Crawford

LawrenceRichlandClay

Wayne

JeffersonWashington

St. Clair

Monroe

Randolph PerryFranklin

hamilton White

EdwardsWabash



ChILD WELL-BEING INDICaTORS FOR ILLINOIS aND COUNTy RaNGES

Indicator Year Illinois Range

Measure (County) — Measure (County)

ECONOM IC wE LL-b E I NG

Children in poverty1 2016 17.8% 5.3% (Monroe) 48.6% (Alexander)

Median family income2 2012-2016 $73,714 $36,741 (Alexander) $100,467 (DuPage)

Unemployment rate3 2016 5.8% 3.3% (Brown) 9.6% (Hardin)

households with children receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), cash assistance or Supplemental Nutrition assistance Program (SNaP) benefits4 2012-2016 27.5% 6.5% (Monroe) 60.5% (Alexander)

E d UCAtION

young children (ages 3 to 4) not in school5 2012-2016 44.9% 17.6% (Putnam) 70.3% (Cumberland)

3rd graders meeting PaRCC English Language arts (ELa) expectations6 2016-2017 36.1% 0.0% (2 Districts) 92.3% (Lisbon CCSD 90)

6th graders meeting PaRCC Math expectations7 2016-2017 28.1% 0.0% (19 Districts) 87.5% (Bannockburn SD 106)

4-year high school graduation rates8 2016-2017 87.0% 8.0% (Wayne City 100% (16 Districts) CUSD 100)

h EALth

Infant mortality (rate per 1,000 births)9 2016 6.3 3.5 (Lake) 15.7 (Vermilion)

Children under age 19 without health insurance10 2016 3.2% 1.8% (Monroe) 4.7% (Douglas)

Deaths from opioid use (rate per 10,000)11 2017 1.7 0.0 (23 Counties) 5.3 (Jersey)

Deaths from heroin use (rate per 10,000)12 2017 0.9 0.0 (45 Counties) 1.7 (2 Counties)

fAM I LY AN d COM M U N ItY

Single parent households with children13 2012-2016 8.9% 3.9% (Calhoun) 13.4% (Alexander)

Rate of teens who have given birth14 2016 5.1% 1.7% (Monroe) 22.9% (Hardin)

Families with income below 50% of the poverty level15 2012-2016 4.2% 1.1% (Piatt) 9.2% (Alexander)

Families with income below 125% of the poverty level16 2012-2016 13.6% 4.7% (Monroe) 32.0% (Alexander)



ChILD WELL-BEING INDICaTORS FOR ILLINOIS By RaCE aND EThNICITy

Indicator Year Illinois

Overall Black Latinx White asian

ECONOM IC wE LL-b E I NG

Children in poverty17 2016 18.0% 38.0% 24.0% 10.0% 10.0%

Median family income18 2012-2016 $73,714 $42,624 $50,494 $84,211 $92,375

Children in families that receive public assistance19 2016 26.0% 54.0% 36.0% 14.0% 13.0%

Children living in households with high housing cost burden20 2016 31.0% 48.0% 41.0% 21.0% 30.0%

E d UCAtION

young children (ages 3 to 4) not in school21 2012-2016 45.0% 41.0% 55.0% 42.0% 41.0%

3rd graders meeting PaRCC ELa expectations22 2017 36.0% 20.0% 24.0% 46.0% 63.0%

6th graders meeting PaRCC Math expectations23 2017 35.0% 15.0% 23.0% 45.0% 66.0%

4-year high school graduation rates24 2017 87.0% 79.0% 84.0% 91.0% 95.0%

h EALth

Infant mortality (rate per 1,000 births)25 2016 6.3 12.9 6.2 4.7 3.1

Children without health insurance26 2016 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 3.0% 4.0%

Teen deaths (rate per 100,000)27 2016 59 138 42 44 n/a

Deaths from opioid use28 2017 2,202 25.0% 10.0% 64.0% n/a

Deaths from heroin use29 2017 1,187 31.0% 11.0% 57.0% n/a

fAM I LY AN d COM M U N ItY

Children in single-parent families30 2016 34.0% 75.0% 39.0% 22.0% 12.0%

Children in families where household head lacks high school diploma31 2016 11.0% 11.0% 30.0% 4.0% 7.0%

Children living in areas of concentrated poverty32 2012-2016 11.0% 42.0% 12.0% 2.0% 4.0%

Teen births (rate per 1,000)33 2016 19 38 26 11 3




a statement on race and ethnicity

aS yOU REaD ThROUGh ThIS REPORT, you will notice that we have disaggregated data by race and ethnicity when they are available. When we look at disaggregated data by race and ethnicity, a disturbing pattern emerges: there are significant racial and ethnic disparities across virtually every category (including housing, socioeconomics, educational attainment, healthcare, and so on). Many people of color make less money, are unemployed more often, have lower test scores, more frequently live in poverty, and have less access to adequate medical care than other groups. Decades after people of color won significant legal victories for full inclusion into american institutions, large disparities persist. Why is this the case?

To answer this question, we must first define what “race” and “racism” are and are not. “Race” is not biological, innate, or genetic. Rather, race is socially constructed: it is a way of classifying people based, in large part, on their ancestry, physical characteristics, and the context of the nation or region in which they were born.34 “Racism” is the collection of historical processes by which some groups gain more access to privilege, power, and resources based partially on the racial category into which they are assigned. The race category to which groups are assigned partly determines their access to resources such as housing, education, employment, and so on.35

as such, we argue at voices for Illinois Children that racial and ethnic disparities persist because racism persists. The racial and ethnic disparities we see in median family income, for example, are due to many people of color having inadequate access to housing, education, transportation, and opportunities within broader institutions.36 although the immediate consequences of these inequalities are apparent in the statistics we present in this report, it also has much broader and long-term consequences for individuals, families, and whole communities over time.

For the remainder of this report, we ask you to keep this in mind whenever you see racial disparities in the data we present. The important thing to remember is that because race is not biological, it means that racial and ethnic disparities can be lessened and hopefully eliminated. as Illinoisans, it is up to us to ensure that all people, but especially children, have access to the resources they need to live and thrive. It will not only make for stronger families and communities, but also a stronger Illinois.

Median family income in Illinois by race/ethnicity (2012-2016)

aLL $73,714

WhITE $84,211

BLaCK $42,624

LaTINx $50,494

aSIaN $92,375

SOURCE: American Fact Finder, Median Family Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2016 inflation-adjusted dollars) (Universe: Families), 2012-2016 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, Tables B19113, B19113B, B19113D, B19113H, B19113I



a snapshot of Illinois children

demographicsIn 2016, children(1) made up 22.8% of Illinois’ population, which was just over 2.9 million kids.37, (2) Children in Illinois also tend to be older,38 as this chart shows:

Since the year 2000, the share of Illinois’ child population has declined, which means the state’s population is getting older. In 2000, the median age in Illinois was 34.7.39 By 2012-2016, the median age increased to 37.4.40 Overall, women in Illinois are having fewer children. From 2007-2011 to 2012-2016, the number of women ages 15 to 50 who had a child declined from 178,598 to 157,783, a decrease of 11.7%; this is a trend that is occurring throughout the United States.41

The racial /ethnic diversity of Illinois children is also changing. Since 2000, the share of Illinois’ child population that is Latinx, asian, and multiracial has increased, while the share of children who are white and black has decreased.42, 43 This is due to broader demographic shifts statewide, which show population declines among whites

in virtually every county in Illinois, while other groups’ general populations increased due to migration patterns among Latinxs and asians (see population maps).44

Children in Illinois by age group (2012–2016)

UNDER 6 951,779

6–11 1,005,484

12–17 1,026,370

SOURCE: American Fact Finder, Children Characteristics, 2012-2016, ACS 5-Year Estimates, Table S0901

total population by child and adult populations in Illinois

SOURCE: KIDS COUNT Data Center

age 18 and over:77%

Less than age 18:23%

(1) In this report, “children” are defined as anyone under the age of 18.

(2) Throughout this report, we present data as percentages to show the proportional differences between and among subgroups. Occasionally, percentages may not add up to 100 percent, but instead to 99.9 percent. This is due primarily to rounding error. In the interests of providing the most accurate data possible, we have not changed proportions to fit the 100 percent total and have left the data “as is.”

Child population by race in Illinois, by percent

2000 59 19 17 3 2

2004 57 18 20 4 2

2008 54 17 22 4 3

2012 53 16 24 4 3

2016 52 15 25 5 3

0% 100%

White Black Latinx Asian Multiracial

SOURCE: KIDS COUNT Data Center


Percent black population change (2000-2016)

Percent Latinx population change (2000-2016) Percent Asian population change (2000-2016)

Percent white population change (2000-2016)

+5.1% or more +2.6% to +5.0% +0.1% to +2.5% no change -0.1% to -2.5% -2.6% to -5.0% -5.1% or more



These population changes have occurred largely because of an influx of Latinx and asian immigrants into Illinois. In fact, people born in asian and Latin american countries make up 75.6% of those living in Illinois who have arrived in the state since the year 2000.45 (It is also possible that these numbers are underestimates, as the population of undocumented immigrants in Illinois may not be reflected in Census numbers.)

In 2012-2016, just over two-thirds of Illinois children lived in a two-parent household.46 The remaining one-third lived with one parent, with most of those households being headed by women. In Illinois, women lived below the poverty level at a rate higher than men (15.2% vs. 12.7%, respectively). Since children live in households with single mothers at a higher rate than those who live with single fathers, children in single-parent households will be below the poverty level at a higher rate than children in two-parent households or single-parent households headed by fathers.47

Child poverty in Illinois is still a serious problem. about 17.8% of Illinois children lived below the poverty level in 2016, according to data from the Small area Income and Poverty Estimates (SaIPE) program. although this was a significant decrease from 2014, it means that in 2016 over 512,000 Illinois children still lived in poverty.48 This presents a variety of challenges on local, county, and state levels.

although we explore these topics more in depth later in this book, the data suggest that Illinois has a long way to go in addressing the needs of Illinois children. although the state has recently passed an increase to the minimum wage and an increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), significant disparities exist for children, their families, and their communities along race and class lines.

This issue is even more salient in the context of the upcoming 2020 census. Up to 16 percent of Illinoisans live in communities that are “hard to count” (hTC), and children ages birth to 5 are among the most difficult groups to count accurately.49 an undercount of Illinoisans, but especially children, could lead to significant political and fiscal consequences for many communities throughout the state. This includes a loss of two congressional seats, as well as decreased funding for a number of federal programs whose allocation to Illinois depends on accurate census counts.50

Children under 18 years in households, by type of family household (2012-2016)

SOURCE: American Fact Finder, Children Characteristics, 2012-2016, ACS 5-Year Estimates, Table S0901

Female householder, no husband present24.9%

Male householder, no wife present7.3%

Married couple household67.2%

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

Percent Illinois children in poverty

SOURCE: 2004-2016 Poverty and Median Household Income Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) Program


We argue that addressing the needs of children in Illinois requires understanding how no one issue stands apart from others. In this book, we focus on four main areas we use to determine whether the needs of children in Illinois are being met: economic stability, education, health and safety, and housing. These issues do not exist in isolation from one another. Rather, they all overlap. a decline in a family’s economic stability affects that family’s access to housing, public education, and health and safety. a lack of education means that people are less able to secure good-paying jobs, attain housing, and meet their daily medical needs because they lack employer-provided insurance coverage. Thus, we understand these areas as interlocking with each other at every step during the course of one’s life:

addressing the needs of Illinois children requires addressing disparities and inequalities in these areas, as well as others not covered in this book. although this holistic view is not new, it is a reminder that the challenges we face are complex. Complex problems require bold action on the part of legislators and everyday citizens.

at the end of each major section, we make policy recommendations that we think would both benefit children and narrow the disparities in Illinois’ population that exist along racial /ethnic lines. It is our hope that this report can contribute to serious policy debates and act as a blueprint for how Illinois should approach its current and future challenges.

ECONOMIC StAbILItY

hOUSING

EdUCAtION

hEALth and SAfEtY

AREAS Of ChILd wELL-bEING


Documents

2019 Illinois KIds Count Report Indicators of Child Well