Child Well-Being in the CSBMG Catchment Area: Insights from the 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book

Erica Stokes| July, 3, 2024

The well-being of children in the CSBMG (Community Service Board of Middle Georgia) catchment area has been meticulously analyzed in the 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book by The Annie E. Casey Foundation. This comprehensive report provides valuable insights into various aspects of child well-being, highlighting both progress and ongoing challenges in economic stability, education, health, and family and community support and can be easily researched for the sixteen counties served by CSBMG.

 

Economic Well-Being

Economic stability is a critical factor in ensuring the overall well-being of children. In the CSBMG catchment area, the child poverty rate has shown improvement from 19% in 2019 to 17% in 2022, reflecting efforts to support economically disadvantaged families and lift children out of poverty (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024). However, the rate of children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment has remained unchanged at 26%. Addressing employment stability is essential for providing a secure environment for children (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024).

Housing costs continue to be a significant burden for many families in the region, with 28% of children living in households with a high housing cost burden in both 2019 and 2022. This underscores the need for affordable housing solutions to reduce financial strain on families (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024).

 

Education

The educational status of children in the CSBMG catchment area presents a mixed picture. The percentage of young children (ages 3 and 4) not in school increased from 50% in 2013-2017 to 52% in 2018-2022, highlighting the need for enhanced early childhood education programs (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024).

 

Reading and math proficiency among students is another area of concern. The proportion of fourth graders not proficient in reading remained steady at 68% from 2019 to 2022, while the percentage of eighth graders not proficient in math worsened from 69% to 76%. These trends indicate significant challenges in educational achievement, necessitating targeted interventions to improve literacy and numeracy skills in the region (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024).

 

On a brighter note, the rate of high school students not graduating on time improved from 18% in 2018-2019 to 16% in 2020-2021, reflecting successful efforts to keep students engaged and on track for graduation (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024).

 

Health

Health outcomes for children in the CSBMG catchment area reveal both progress and areas needing attention. The rate of low birth-weight babies increased from 10.0% in 2019 to 10.6% in 2022, indicating a need for enhanced prenatal and maternal health services (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024).

 

There has been a positive trend in health insurance coverage, with a decrease in the percentage of children without health insurance. Ensuring that all children have access to healthcare is crucial for their development and well-being (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024).

 

However, the child and teen death rate has worsened, highlighting the need for improved safety and health interventions for this age group (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024).

 

Family and Community

Family and community support play a vital role in the well-being of children. The percentage of children in single-parent families has increased slightly, reflecting ongoing challenges in family stability (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024).

 

There has been progress in parental education, with an improvement in the percentage of children in families where the household head lacks a high school diploma. This suggests better educational attainment among parents, which can positively impact their children’s future (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024).

 

The proportion of children living in high-poverty areas has decreased, indicating a reduction in concentrated poverty and its associated challenges (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024). Additionally, the teen birth rate has improved, showing progress in reducing teen pregnancies and promoting better health outcomes for young women (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024).

 

Conclusion

The 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book provides a detailed and nuanced view of child well-being in the CSBMG catchment area. While there have been notable improvements in areas such as child poverty rates, high school graduation rates, and health insurance coverage, challenges remain in education, economic stability, and health outcomes. Addressing these concerns will require continued focus and targeted interventions to ensure that all children in the CSBMG region have the opportunity to thrive.

 

For more detailed data and additional context, you can explore the KIDS COUNT Data Center and the Georgia Family Connection Partnership.

 

References:

Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2024). 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book. Retrieved from http://datacenter.aecf.org/GA.

 

Oss, M. E. (2024, June 28). The Child Opportunity. OPEN MINDS.