Kansas kids feeling effects of economy according to new KIDS COUNT data

The economic stability of Kansas families is slipping, according to data released today by Kansas Action for Children. KAC officials say the situation will look worse next year once the recession is fully reflected in the data.

Among the economic factors revealed in the new Kansas KIDS COUNT data:
• More than 42 percent of Kansas school children are participating in the Free and Reduced Lunch program;
• Nearly 40 percent of Kansas kids are growing up in low-income or poverty-stricken households; and
• 20,000 more Kansas children have joined the ranks of the uninsured since 2005.

“It’s no secret that Kansas families are feeling the pinch of the economy,” said Gary Brunk, president of KAC. “Despite the fact that children are the most vulnerable to economic insecurity, they are also a critical part of the solution. The data tells us that investing in Kansas children is essential to long-term job growth and our economic stability.”

For 17 years, the Kansas KIDS COUNT data has provided a comprehensive look at how Kansas children and families are faring in the areas of health, education and economic stability. In addition to the data, this year’s KIDS COUNT report includes an analysis of the numbers based on population densities.

“We know that our population, like many states, is shifting from rural communities to more urban areas,” said Brunk. “KIDS COUNT gives us an opportunity to see how the challenges and the opportunities may differ for Kansas kids depending upon whether they live in a rural or urban community.”

KAC produces the Kansas KIDS COUNT report in partnership with The Annie E. Casey Foundation. For more information about the data, or to access numbers for a specific county, visit the KIDS COUNT Data Center at www.kac.org/datacenter.

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