Children and Youth

EDN200

Today’s Plan

Discuss next class: Research Meeting

Quick Review

Children and Youth:– Health and Well-being

Children and Youth in America• Population:

– 1960, 36% of U.S. population under age 18– 2000, 26% of U.S. population under age 18– 2030, 24% of U.S. population under age 18

The Changing Face of America’s Youth

The Changing Face of America’s Youth

Children's Health and Well-being*• Casey foundation analyzes child well-being

along 10 dimensions. • Low birthrate• Infant mortality• Child death rate• Teen death rate• Teen birth rate• Teen dropout rate• Teen dropouts not working• Children living in families with no working parent• Children living in poverty• Children living in single-parent homes

• Foundation analyzes by race, looks for trends, and compares states

*2006 Kids Count Data Book, Annie E. Casey Foundation

Low-Birthrate

• Low birthrate babies (5.5 lbs or less) are more likely to experience developmental problems– National Average: 7.9%– White: 7%– Black: 13.4%– Hispanic: 6.7%

Teen Death Rate

• Deaths among 15-19 yr. olds from all causes. Accidents, homicides and suicides account for 75% of deaths.– National Average: 66/100,000– White: 63/100,000– Black: 80/100,000– American Indian: 97/100,000

• Total of 13,595 deaths in 2003

Teen Birth Rate

• Teen pregnancy (15-19 year olds) related to high poverty for mother and child.– National Average: 42 births/1,000 females (15-19)– White: 27 births/1,000 females– Black: 64 births/1,000 females– Hispanic: 82 births/1,000 females

• Poverty rate for children born to unmarried teenage mothers without h.s. degree = 78%

• Poverty rate for children born to married women, over age 20, with h.s. degree = 9%

• 414,580 babies born to 15-19 year old women in 2003. This is a decline from 2000.

High School Dropouts

• Individuals without h.s. degrees are more likely to live in poverty than those with degrees.

• Percent of teens (16-19) who are high school dropouts– National Average: 8%– White: 6%– Black: 8%– Hispanic: 15%

Percent of Children Living In Poverty

• The 2004 poverty line was $19,157 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children. Poverty is closely related to many negative well-being factors.– National average: 18% of children live in poverty– White: 11%– Black: 36%– Hispanic: 29%

• States: 10% poverty rate in CT, 22% in NC & 31% in MS

Overall State Rank (Composite score on 10 well-being factors)

• 50 Mississippi

• 49 Louisiana

• 41 North Carolina

• 2 Vermont

• 1 New Hampshire

Literary Activities*

• Percent of children 3-5 who:– Read a story every day: 57%– Are told a story at least 3X a week: 54%– Visited a library in the past month: 36%

• Percent of children who read for fun on a daily basis:– Age 9: 54% (63% female, 45% male)– Age 13: 28% (34% female, 23% male)– Age 17: 25% (24% female, 26% male)

*U.S. DOE, 1999

Why Should You Care About these Facts?