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ERIC Number: ED519902
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2007
Pages: 43
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
New Jersey Kids Count 2007: The State of Children in Our State
Association for Children of New Jersey
This paper presents the "New Jersey Kids Count 2007: The State of Children in Our State." Gained ground on the state of children for 2007 include: (1) The number of low-income households earning federal tax credits increased 33 percent since 2001, while the average amount of the checks they received jumped 44 percent to $1,804 for tax year 2005; (2) The number of children receiving food stamps climbed again in 2006, reflecting state efforts to ensure that families in need of this important nutritional support actually receive it; (3) The number of uninsured children dropped 10 percent from 2004 to 2005 when 234,000 New Jersey children lacked health insurance. But, the number of uninsured children is still 9 percent higher than in 2001; (4) This drop in uninsured children is likely due to rising Medicaid and FamilyCare enrollments, which climbed 7 and 28 percent respectively from 2002 to 2006, reflecting efforts to expand health insurance coverage to more low-income children; (5) The percent of mothers receiving first trimester prenatal care increased for women of all races, except "other." Still, black and Hispanic women are less likely to receive this important preventative care; (6) Juvenile arrests dropped 7 percent from 2001 to 2005, while admissions to county juvenile detention dropped 20 percent during the same time; (7) Low-income 4th graders again increased their passing rates on state math tests, reflecting the state's commitment to preschool and urban school reforms. Lost Ground include: (1) The number of families paying too much for housing costs continues to rise, making this one of the most difficult financial burdens that New Jersey families face; (2) Children in immigrant families are almost twice as likely to live in poverty, half as likely to live in a home owned by their parents and twice as likely to live in a home without a vehicle available; and (3) Fewer eligible children are receiving free- or reduced-priced school lunch in a steady decline of participation in this important nutritional program since 2001. Holding Ground include: (1) Overall, child poverty remained relatively stable from 2004 to 2005, but is still higher than it was in 2001, especially for children growing up in extremely poor families, earning less than 50 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or about $10,000 a year for a family of four; (2) Despite this, New Jersey continues to rank high when compared to national child poverty averages; and (3) Little progress has been made in boosting the percent of female-headed households that receive child support, with the rate remaining relatively flat from 2000 to 2004. Data Sources and Definitions are included. [For "New Jersey Kids Count 2006: The State of Children in Our State," see ED519885.]
Association for Children of New Jersey. 35 Halsey Street, Newark, NJ 07102. Tel: 973-643-3876; Fax: 973-643-9153; Web site: http://www.acnj.org
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Annie E. Casey Foundation
Authoring Institution: Association for Children of New Jersey
Identifiers - Location: New Jersey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A