Changes in state rankings: the effects of child poverty

The annual report of America’s Health Rankings (AHR) was released last week. It was full of great information as usual, detailing the successes and continued challenges we face in our states and nation. Among the successes, nationally we have seen improvements in immunizations, smoking, and infant mortality. Among the challenges, we have seen increases in obesity, drug deaths, and child poverty.  Children in poverty is an important measure to look at because of the links between childhood poverty and other conditions.

 This year, the number of children living at or below the poverty line has increased, for the first time in several years. Child poverty alone is tragic, however once you look further, you realize how interlinked child poverty is with other health aspects, such as high school graduation rate, low birth weight and infant mortality. There’s a great tool on the AHR website that shows the relationships between child poverty and other conditions. Check it out under the highlights tab here to see just how far reaching child poverty is. We can do better!

To find out more, see the America's Health Rankings LinkedIn page and explore the interactive tools at AmericasHealthRankings.com