12 percent of Ohio children living in poverty, nearly 8 million U.S.children living in poverty areas

CLEVELAND - Nearly 8 million American children live in high-poverty areas, about 1.6 million more since 2000, according to a new KIDS COUNT report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, twelve percent of Ohio's children are living in poverty. The numbers were up from seven percent in 2000.

The latest data from the U. S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey show that about 7.9 million, or 11 percent, of the nation's children are growing up in areas where at least 30 percent of residents live below the federal poverty level-about $22,000 per year for a family of four.

In 2000, 6.3 million kids, or 9 percent, were living in such communities, which often lack access to resources that are critical to healthy growth and development, including quality education, medical care and safe outdoor spaces.

"Kids in these high-poverty areas are at risk for health and developmental challenges in almost every aspect of their lives, from education to their chances for economic success as adults," said Laura Speer, associate director for policy reform and data at the Casey Foundation. "Transforming disadvantaged communities into better places to raise children is vital to ensuring the next generation and their families realize their potential."

The report also indicates that about 75 percent of children in areas of concentrated poverty have at least one parent with full-time, year-round employment.

According to the ACS, almost all states saw the number of children living in high-poverty neighborhoods climb. States with the highest rates were Mississippi (23%), New Mexico (20%), Louisiana (18%), Texas (17%), and Arizona (16%). District of Colombia and Puerto Rico saw their rates decline over the same period, but they continue to have higher rates, 32 and 83 percent, respectively, than any state in the country.

The data also highlights the children most likely to live in areas of concentrated poverty to include youth in the south and southwest, as well as those in urban and rural areas. African-American, American Indian, and Latino children are six to nine times more likely to live in high-poverty communities than their white counterparts.

According to the ACS, almost all states saw the number of children living in high-poverty neighborhoods climb. States with the highest rates were Mississippi (23%), New Mexico (20%), Louisiana (18%), Texas (17%), and Arizona (16%). District of Colombia and Puerto Rico saw their rates decline over the same period, but they continue to have higher rates-32 and 83 percent, respectively-than any state in the country.

The data also highlights the children most likely to live in areas of concentrated poverty to include youth in the south and southwest, as well as those in urban and rural areas. African-American, American Indian, and Latino children are six to nine times more likely to live in high-poverty communities than their white counterparts.