Watch CBS News

Report: Michigan Dips Again On Child Well-Being

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - More of the state's children are falling into poverty.

The annual Kids Count survey found that Michigan's child poverty rate is worsening since the Great Recession, while child health indicators are improving.

The report released Tuesday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation says Michigan ranks 33rd in child well-being nationally, down one slot since last year.

More than 524,000 Michigan children live in poverty, a rate of one in four, compared to one in five in 2008. The number of children in families where no parent has full-time employment also is up, from 31 percent to 33 percent.

"The economic recovery clearly has not reached everyone," Gilda Jacobs, president and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy, said in a statement. "Michigan's unemployment rate may be at the lowest it's been in the past decade, but many of these new jobs are low-wage and too many families continue to struggle to make ends meet to care for their children."

The report ranks states in four domains: economic well-being, education, family and community, and health.

Michigan's lowest ranking was in education,  where preschool attendance and fourth-grade reading proficiency has dropped since 2008. However, the report states that recent increased spending on early childhood programs will help address these issues.

This report proves that Michigan is losing ground while other states prosper and this is not the direction we need to go."

A stark reality highlighted in the report is the widening economic gap among children of color, with almost one in every two African American children and nearly one in every three Latino children in Michigan living in poverty.

Children living in high-poverty neighborhoods – where poverty rates are more than 30 percent – also increased, from 14 percent in 2006-10 to 17 percent in 2009-13. The number of children in single-parent families jumped from 32 percent in 2008 to 36 percent in 2013, accounting for 767,000 children.

RELATED: For The 1st Time More Black Children Than White In Poverty Nationally, 60 Percent In Detroit

On a positive side, Michigan improved in child death and low-birth weight baby rates, teen substance abuse and children with health insurance.

"Progress was made because of policy changes and concerted effort, so we know that with political will, we can help families thrive," Alicia Guevara Warren, Kids Count in Michigan project director, said in a statement. "Policymakers can help improve outcomes for children in Michigan by ensuring that their parents have the tools and support they need to raise healthy, educated and skilled children for Michigan's future."

TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.