Transcript Slide 1

Texas KIDS COUNT:
The State of Fort Worth and Tarrant
County Children
Frances Deviney, PhD
Texas KIDS COUNT Director
Center for Public Policy Priorities
Fort Worth Botanic Gardens
Forth Worth, Texas
March 21, 2006
KIDS COUNT Project Goal
TO USE SOUND DATA TO INFLUENCE
key national, state and local decision makers
who make policy, allocate resources and
design programs that aim to improve
outcomes for disadvantaged kids, families
and communities.
What is the Value of
KIDS COUNT?
• Provides the most current county-level
data available
• Tailors data to local audience and
circumstances
• Informs critical decision-making about
children and families
• Serves as a resource for local advocates
in Texas
Children in Tarrant Co. & Texas
• Tarrant Co. = 435,569
• Texas = over 6.1 million
Source: Texas State Data Center and the Office of the State Demographer, 2003
Population Estimates Children ages 0-17
Children in Tarrant County and Texas
60%
50%
49.7%
40%
30%
20%
42.8%
41.2%
Anglo
Black
Hispanic
Other Race
29.6%
15.8%
12.7%
10%
4.9%
3.3%
0%
Tarrant Co.
Texas
Source: Texas State Data Center and the Office of the State Demographer, 2003 Population Estimates
Family Economic Security
in Tarrant Co.
• Unemployment
– CLIMBS from 3.6% to 5.1% (2000-2005)
• Median Household Income
– DOWN 2% from $48,473 to $47,660
(2000-2003)
Sources: Texas Workforce Commission; U.S. Census Bureau, 2003 Small Area Income
& Poverty Estimates
Child Poverty is on the Rise
24%
Texas
23.6%
22.8%
22%
20.5%
20%
17.7%
18%
Tarrant Co.
16.8%
16%
14.2%
14%
1997
1998
1999
2000
Source: U.S. Census, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates
2001
2002
2003
Poverty
• 2005 Official federal poverty line
–Family of 2 < $12,830/year
–Family of 3 < $16,090/year
–Family of 4 < $19,350/year
Living in Fort Worth-Arlington:
Family Security Index
Necessary
Annual
Income
% Federal
Poverty
Line
SingleParent
One
Child
$33,614
SingleParent
Two
Children
$37,835
Two
Parents
One
Child
$40,795
Two
Parents
Two
Children
$45,103
262%
235%
253%
233%
Source: Family Security Index, Center for Public Policy Priorities; Data Adjusted for 2005 Inflation Levels
Infant and Child Health
Infant Health In Tarrant Co.
• Babies born with inadequate prenatal
care
–Over 1 in 4
• Babies born weighing < 5.5 pounds
–Over 2,100
Source: Texas Department of State Health Services, 2003 Birth Data
Infant Mortality Climbs After Low in 2000
10.0
Tarrant Co.
10.0
9.0
7.0
7.5
Texas
8.2
6.3
6.6
6.0
2002
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
Source: Texas Department of State Health Services
2001
5.8
5.0
2003
8.0
2000
Deaths per 1,000 Live Births
11.0
Services for Children in Tarrant Co.
• Medicaid
– UP 138%, over 96,000 enrolled (Aug 2000-Aug 2005)
• CHIP
– DOWN 32%, from over 28,000 to under 20,000
(Aug 2003-Aug 2005)
• Food Stamps
– UP 107%, over 40,000 enrolled (Feb 2000-Feb 2003)
• State Subsidized Child Care
– UP 23%, over 12,600 enrolled (2000-2004)
Sources: Texas Health & Human Services Commission; Texas Workforce Commission
Congress Reduces Funds for Programs
Affecting Children and Families: Impact on TX
Education
-$65.1 Million
Preventive Health & Human
Services Block Grant
-$1.3M
WIC Nutrition Program
-$3.1M
Child Support Enforcement
-$200M
-$2 Billion in Collections
Community Development Block
Grant
-$8M
Source: Federal Funds Watch vol 12(1), Legislative Budget Board, Texas State Legislature
The State of the Economy
is Reflected in
the State of Texas and
Tarrant County Children
Bucking the Trend:
Tarrant County Teens
11% Tarrant Co.
9.2%
10%
9%
8% Texas
8.9%
7%
6%
5%
4%
3%
2%
1%
0%
8.7%
6.2%
4.0%
Source: Texas Education Agency, 4-year Longitudinal Dropout Rate
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
3.9%
1999
1998
Percent of 9th Grade Students who
Graduated 4 Years Later
High School Dropout Rate Shows
Consistent Decline
Percentage of All Live Births
Births to Teens in Tarrant Co. Lower than
Rest of Texas . . . And Falling
17% Texas, 16.6%
15.9%
16%
15%
Tarrant Co.,
13.7%
14%
13.8%
13.5%
13%
12.0%
12%
Source: Texas Department of State Health Services
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
11%
90.0
Tarrant Co.,
86.3
80.0
70.0 Texas
74.2
60.0
Texas
53.5
50.0
Source: Texas Department of State Health Services
2003
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
40.0
2002
Tarrant Co.
48.6
1992
Deaths per 100,000 Teens Ages 15-19
Teen Violent Death Declined Sharply from
Early 1990’s
Investing in Our Kids
• Dropout Prevention Programs
• Pregnancy Prevention
• Graduated Driver’s License
Texas KIDS COUNT Project
Frances Deviney, PhD
[email protected]
(512) 320-0222 ext. 106
Center for Public Policy Priorities
www.cppp.org