Week One of Poverty Awareness

Raising Awareness

Throughout the month of February, Missouri KIDS COUNT will be focusing on poverty; its effects on child wellbeing, and the programs, policies, and people around our state who are making an impact. Toward the end of the month, our funding partner, Annie E. Casey will release a Data Snapshot on poverty measures using state level data. This national report serves as the catalyst for our focus on poverty in Missouri.

The first week of February – titled “Just the Facts” – will focus on the data surrounding poverty in the U.S. and Missouri.

Economic Inconsistencies

Why does this matter?

Children are a glimpse into the future of a community’s prosperity and security. Investing in children improves everyone’s long term prospects. Healthy, well-educated children will get better jobs, earn more, and provide a boost to the economy which could break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and thus reduce dependence on government funded assistance.

The State of the State Report put together by the Center for American Progress Action Fund gives an in depth look at how each state is doing in terms of poverty, education, jobs, families, and the economy. Missouri had a strong showing in High School Graduation rates, and in Savings and Assets. Unfortunately, Missouri ranked poorly in the fields of Child Poverty and Hunger and Food Insecurity.

Below are a few of the rankings from this report that illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of Missouri’s progress in fighting poverty.

Looking Forward

Our children are the least able to absorb the blows from poverty. Let’s protect them by strengthening the programs that work.

Next week we will focus on the programs that are working to reduce poverty by illustrating the impacts programs have on children in Missouri.

February 3, 2015