For 20 years, the percentage of Alabama children living in poverty has remained at about 20%.
In 2022, 22% of the about 240,000 Alabama children lived in poverty, according to the 2024 Alabama Kids Count Data Book.
“Behind these numbers is an Alabama child,” said Apreill Hartsfield, the Alabama Kids Count director for VOICES for Alabama’s Children. “I hope we never forget what’s at stake when we look at these numbers.”
VOICES for Alabama’s Children releases the data book yearly. VOICES was created in 1992 and is a nonprofit that the Annie E. Casey Foundation funds to publish the data book. A similar nonprofit exists in each state, creating the full report for the nation.
Poverty can impact every aspect of children’s lives from health to education.
“While poverty doesn’t define a child, it can create huge obstacles that make escaping poverty extremely challenging,” Hartsfield said in a statement.
The data book emphasized the importance of offering families a living wage.
“Research indicates that the level of a family’s economic security is a strong predictor of a child’s future success,” said Rhonda Mann, the executive director of VOICES for Alabama’s Children, in a statement. “By adopting smart policies based on research and data and continuing to invest in programs that are working, we can help families gain financial stability so that they can provide the resources their children need to succeed and one day carry on our legacy.”
The Kids Count Data Book examines economic well-being, education, health and family and community for children in the state.
In these individual categories, Alabama ranked best at education with a ranking of 35th among the states. It ranked worst at family and community at 44.
In terms of overall child well-being, Alabama ranks 39th in comparison to other states.
Researchers also ranked each of the 67 Alabama counties in terms of overall child well-being. Shelby County ranked the best, and Perry County ranked the worst. Montgomery ranked at 43rd.
Hartsfield noted several issues of particular concern. The child and teen death rate has continued to increase. The leading cause of death for children in Alabama from guns. She called for supporting firearm safety policies.
The infant mortality rate is at 6.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, but the rate for Black babies is much higher at 12.5 deaths per 1,000 live births.
The data book also showed that 23% of Alabama children experience food insecurity.
Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser’s education reporter. She can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @gladlyalex.
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Publish date : 2025-02-24 20:54:00
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