ERIC ED382431: Kids Count in Nebraska, 1994 Report: A Second Look.

29 Pages·1994·0.91 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
RC 020 094
ED 382 431
Kids Count in Nebraska, 1994 Report: A Second
TITLE
L',ok.
Nebraska Univ. Medical Center, Omaha.; Voices for
INSTITUTION
Children in Nebraska, Omaha.
Annie E. Casey Foundation, Greenwich, CT.
SPONS AGENCY
94
PUB DATE
31p.; Photographs and figures may not reproduce
NOTE
adequately.
Reports
Information Analyses (070)
PUB TYPE
Research /Technical (143)
MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
American Indians; Asian Americans; Blacks; Census
DESCRIPTORS
Figures; Child Health; *Children; Child Welfare; Day
Care; Delinquency; *Demography; Elementary Secondary
Education; Hispanic Americans; Housing; *Low Income;
*Metropolitan Areas; *Nonmetropolitan Areas; Poverty;
Preschool Education; Rural Education; *Social
Indicators; Welfare Recipients; Welfare Services;
Whites
*Nebraska
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
This document reports demographic data on children
children
living in Nebraska for the year 1994. The report focuses on
living in households with low incomes, defined as below 185 percent
include census
of the federal poverty level. Sources of information
that 30
data and reports from Nebraska state agencies. Data indicate
percent of Nebraskans are children ages 19 and under and that
slightly more than half of Nebraska's children live in rural or
(1) the
nonmetropolitan areas. The report covers the following:
ethnic
number of children who were low-income, categorized by race or
Asian, Hispanic, and other) and
group (White, Black, Native American,
(2) the
by residence in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas;
financial
number of families who received Aid to Dependent Children
(3) the number of families in
assistance, food stamps, and Medicaid;
nonmetropolitan and metropolitan areas who spent more than 35 percent
of their total income on housing costs, who are overcrowded, or who
the number of children living in metropolitan and
are homeless;
(4)
nonmetropolitan areas who participated in health and nutrition
infant mortality, low
programs, and statistics on teen birth rates,
birth weight, prenatal care, alcohol and tobacco use, and child
(5) the number of registered and licensed child care providers
death;
education
and the number of children served by Head Start and special
(6) the number of cases of abuse and neglect investigated
services;
(7) the
yearly and the number of registered foster care homes; and
number of juveniles arrested for crimes. The report also includes
figures and photographs, a data sheet that allows comparisons between
counties, definitions of indicators, and a listing of Kids Count team
members and advisors. (LP)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Othce ot Educatanai Rainrch and trnotownwor
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
CENTER (ERIC)
..lument has boon rsorodrrood as
ellg This
recsivid from IA. parson or organization
originating it
0 Minor changes haws bun made to improve
reproduction duality
Points Of v *w n opinions stated in this doe
mint do not necessarily rsoresont official
OE RI position or policy
"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
R sb
KaA
rr\c,_)-
Nebraska
Kids Count in
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."
Second Look
1994 Report: A
Foundation
Supported by a grant from the Annie E. Casey
the
in Nebraska, in partnership with
kids
A publication of Voices for Children
of
and Rural Health Policy, Department
Section on I lealth Services Research
count
of Nebraska Medical Center
Preventive and Societal Medicine, University
In Nsbrasko
AVAILABLE
BEST COPY
Acknowledgments
report. Focus groups
Count in Nebraska
This is the second annualKids
were used this year to find out directly from low-income parents about their
successes in gaining assistance for themselves and their children and about
barriers they confronted when seeking help.
We also interviewed other youths and parents who described to us their
hopes, concerns, and life experiences. We are grateful to all of these people for
talking with us and inviting our award-winning photographer, Pamela J.
Berry, into their world. Their words, pictures, and stories bring life to the Kids
Count statistics.
Those who helped us locate people for interviews and photographs were
invaluable. They are Marilyn Alvarez, Andrea Andersen, Ellen Brokofsky, Julie
Chrastil, Donna DeFreece, Rhonda Drewes, Sandi Elsea, Terri Erdman, Betty
Jami Kotera, Doris Lassiter, Debra Mabry-
Gonzales, Alberto Gonzales,
Strong, Judy Owens, Barb Schroenrock. and Kathleen Stogin.
including our Kids Count Technical Team listed
Many individuals
on the back inside cover collaborated with us to select and report the data
you find here. They shared information and helped us understand the data's
implications. Special thanks to Bob Beecham, Grey Borden, Martha Carter,
Kim Collins, Paula Eurek, Brenda Grant, Lois Harlan, Pat King, Linda
Lindgren, Mark Miller, Mike Overton, Tom Reck, Deb Scholten, Mary Steiner,
Peggy Trouba, Kryste Wiedenfeld, and Pat Wilson. The Panel of Advisors, also
listed on the back inside cover, guided us, helped us gain contacts with the
public, and helped us disseminate the report.
We are very grateful for support from the Woods Charitable Fund,
Letter from the
Lozier Corporation, Target, and Burke High School Class of 1984 in Omaha,
and for a special gift from Dr. John and Kay Lynn Goldner in memory of
Chairperson
Pauline Friedman Mayer. These gifts enable us to distribute Kids Count
information through public forums, photo exhibits, media events, and
For this second look at how children in Nebraska
Children's Day celebrations. The KIDS COUNT project is made possible by
are faring, we have placed a special emphasis on poverty,
which is at the root of so many problems. Without
major finance-' support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and technical
adequate food, shelter, and clothing, children cannot go
assistance ft,in the National Association of Child Advocates, with support
to school ready to learn and Jevelop to their maximum
from the Prudential Foundation.
potential. The normal challenges of life become
Kids Count in Nebraska Project Team
exacerbated by poverty, and we see higher representations
of poor and minority children at many levels of care and
Credits
custody.
In this second Annual Report, we have attempted
Sergio, age 6, and Martin, age 7, 1994, at the Chicano Awareness
Cover photo:
to measure trends over a longer period of time; we will
Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
continue to do that in subsequent Kids Count years. We
Nongkane Sackaly, age 13, Tecumseh.
sack cover photo:
still cannot report on all indicators we th ink are important
Ph.D., Ann Coyne, Ph.D., Jerome Daichert,
Virginia Be..n,
Consultants:
to child well-bein, due to the lack of access to data in
MA, and Magda Peck, Sc.D.
Angella Bowman, MA, Keith Mueller, Ph.D., and
some areas. We will continue to attempt to gather a wider
Quantitative data analysis:
Fred Ullrich, B.A.
array of data but hope you will take advantage of what we
Gail L Flanery, Ph.D.
Interviews and report coordination:
have presented this year. These indicators point to strengths
Pamela J. Berry, CO 1994.
Photographs:
as well weaknesses in Nebraska. We hope you will use that
Carol McCabe, Professional Darkroom Services.
Photo printing:
information to determine needs and plan ways to increase
Tracy Shew.
Audiotape transcriptions of interviews:
the potential for Nebraska children to become healthy,
Melinda Flo Jers, Kristin
Focus group leaders and audiotape transcribers:
productive adults.
Schroeder, and Cindy Siadek.
Dr. Carol A. Aschenbrener, MD., Chancellor,
Maria M. Lemon,
Editing, design, layout, and pre-press camera-readies:
University of Nebraska Medical Center. and
Ph.D., The Editor Inc., Lincoln, Nebraska.
Chairperson, Kids Count in Nebraska
Moran Printing Company, Omaha, Nebraska.
Printing:
0 1994, Voices for Children in Nebraska.
Panel of Advisors
J
1
Kids Count in Nebraska
1994 Report: A Second Look
0 Focuses on the well-being of children
O Looks at them today
O Plans for them tomorrow
O Issues an annual state-of-the-child report
O Uses numbers, stories, and photos
O Develops an information bank
t7 Is statewide
0 Involves public and private sectors
the
0 Is a four-year project (1993-1996) sponsored by
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Contents
Letter from the Chairperson
Inside front cover
Tables
Acknowledgments
Inside front cover
How many children are there in Nebraska?
4
Credits
Inside front cover
What is the gross income of low-income families?
5
Introduction
3
How many Nebraska children
Characteristics of Nebraska Children
4
are low-income? How old are they?
6
Age
4
How many Nebraska children are homeless?
10
Diversity
4
The Economic Well-being
Figures
of Nebraska Children
5
How many Nebraska children live in metropolitan areas?
4
Low income among Nebraska children
5
What are the racial/ethnic backgrounds
Federal poverty level interpretations
5
of low-income Nebraska children?
7
Ages of low-income children
6
How many Nebraska children live in poverty
Low income among racial and ethnic
groups 6
and where do they live?
7
Low income in metropolitan
How many families receive ADC payments?
8
and nonmetropolitan counties
7
How many Nebraska children are eligible for Medicaid?
9
Economic assistance
8
How many Nebraska children under 6
ADC
8
participated in the EPSDT program?
11
Food Stamps
9
How many women and children does WIC serve in Nebraska?
11
Medicaid
9
What are Nebraska's Infant Mortality Rates?
12
Housing for Nebraska Families
10
What injuries cause deaths of Nebraska children?
13
Cost
10
How many registered and licensed
Overcrowding
10
child care providers are there in Nebraska?
14
Homelessness
10
How many Nebraska children does Head Start serve?
15
Child Health Issues
11
How many cases of abuse and neglect are investigated yearly?
16
Using available services
11
How many registered and licensed
Teen birth rates
12
vs. approved foster care homes are there in Nebraska?
17
Infant mortality
12
How many Nebraska children under age 18 are arrested
Low birth weight
12
for crimes against persons (Part I Offenses)?
18
Prenatal care
13
How many Nebraska children under age 18 are arrested
Alcohol and tobacco use
13
for crimes against property (Part I Offenses)?
18
Child death
13
How many Nebraska children under age 18
Early Care and Education
14
are arrested for Part II Offenses?
19
Child care
14
Map: Nebraska's Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Counties
22
Head Start
15
Special ed,ication
15
Child Abuse and Neglect
16
Out-of-home Placement
17
Juvenile Justice
18
County Data
20
Definitions and Data Sources
23
Kids Count Team
Members and Advisors
Inside back cover
2
Kids Count in Nebraska 1994 Report
Introduction
maybe the
Pick a high point in Nebraska and climb to the top
Scotts Bluff Monument or the Woodmen Tower in Omaha. We'll give you
the vision to see all the children in Nebraska. The statistics, stories, and
pictures about them here will let you see them from many perspectives.
Watch the van pull up at the Head Start building in Wilber. Out
tumbles a group of 4-year-olds. They are part of our Head Start count.
Ride the elevator up to the Z Mod on the sixth floor of the Douglas
County Court House to see youths behind bars. Or find a youth at home and
on probation in any town. They are part of our juvenile arrest count.
Z.;
rOktf.:
Co to the local grocery store and look for approved products ready for
purchase by mothers who are receiving financial assistance through the
-%
WIC program. These mothers and their children are part of our WIC
participation count.
Kids Count 94 groups information about children under these topics:
economic well-being, housing, health, early care and education, child abuse
Tracy and her daughter, Thressa, age 7.
and neglect, out-of-home placement, and juvenile justice. Within each of
these areas of information, we have chosen indicators because of their
relationship to state and/or national policy objectives or to measure success
in reaching children eligible for assistance. Upon request, our Kids Count
Project Team will provide guides to scholarly literature used in making
"I try to teach my kids all cultures. My mother
these selections.
is Native American and my father is White. My
We include a special focus on children living in households with low
mom raised me in a Black community and I look
incomes, defined as below 185% of the federal poverty level. Living in a
Hispanic, but I'm Native American. I don't think of
family with tight pursestrings can influence children's health, housing,
a person as a color. I think of them as a person."
child care arrangements, education, and involvement in the juvenile justice
Tracy
system. When available, information related to household income is included.
In future Kids Count in Nebraska reports, we will incorporate other
important themes associated with child development, and we will seek to fill
the gaps in needed information when they are identified. Our purpose is to
provide both policy makers and the public at large with the information
needed to understand the well-being of children in Nebraska.
Our sources of information are Census data and reports from state
agencies: the Nebraska Departments of Social Services, Health, and
Corrections; the Foster Care Review Board; and the Nebraska Crime
Commission. It is the most reliable information we can find and report to
you. In Definitions and Data Sources on pages 22-23, we provide definitions
and tell you how we obtained the data for this book.
The two-page county data sheet (pages 21-22) provides a county-by
county list of some of the indicators, to allow for comparisons and for easy
checking of counties that particularly interest you.
"We learned that ordinary people can take matters into their own
hands when it comes to the welfare of our children. We learned that
together we had the skills and power to turn a city around. We learned
that it is only when the will of the people is ignored that a community
can neglect its children."
Margaret Brodkin
Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth
San Francisco, 1993
Kids Count in Nebraska 1994 Report
3
Characteristics of
How many children are there in Nebraska?
Nebraska Children
% of total
Number
Age
15%
70,620
0 -2
10%
48,986
3-4
Age
26%
126,401
5-9
are
476,250
Thirty percent of Nebraskans
25%
117,383
10-14
children ages 19 and under. Half of those are ages 9 and
14%
65,622
15-17
under. Slightly less than half live in metropolitan areas.
10%
47,238
18-19
Today's children will be the next large group of
476,250
100%
Total
citizens upon which the state will depend for a
productive labor force. These children's healthy
Source: L'S Census, 1590.
development will contribute not only to their welfare
but also to the general welfare of all Nebraskans.
Diversity
The U.S. Census is used in this report to distinguish among children
How many Nebraska children*
by their race and Hispanic origin. The census questionnaire, from which the
live in metropolitan areas?
data are taken, requests that the person completing it specify the race for
each member of the household, including the children. Thus, the data are
self-reported identification, usually by an adult member of the household
(or adult caretakers in other environments).
The questionnaire includes a category "race" that asks for identification
as White; Black or Negro; Indian (American), Eskimo, Aleut, Asian or Pacific
Islander; or Other. The Asian or Pacific Islander category includes Chinese,
Filipino, llawaiian, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Asian Indian, Samoan,
Guamanian, or other (e.g., Laotian, Cambodian). These racial categories are
mutually exclusive and exhaustive; all persons are expected to respond with
a single category.
The census treats Spanish/I hispanic origin (hereafter referred to as
"Hispanic origin") as a separate category. All persons, regardless of racial
identification, are asked whether they are of Hispanic origin. Those
Total = 476,250
responding "yes" can identify themselves (or others in the household) as any
of the following: Mexican, Mexican-American, or Chicano; Puerto-Rican;
Ages 19 and under.
Cuban; or other (e.g.,Spaniard, etc.). As was true with race, these categories
Source: US Census, 1990.
are mutually exclusive and exhaustive.
Metropolitan= Cass, Dakota, Douglas, Lancaster, Sarpy,
and Washington counties.
In treating Hispanic as a single category throughout this report, we
Nonmetropolitaneall other Nebraska counties.
are combining a variety of different responses into a single category which
may mask important differences. However, of all Hispanics in Nebraska,
80% identify themselves as Mexican, Mexican-American, or Chicano.
Citizens other than those who identify themselves as Whites and non-
Hispanics typically are labeled as "minorities." The label implies only that
"I lived in a neighborhood of African Americans
they represent, in aggregate, a small percentage of the total population; it
and that is hard, being a Mexican and growing up
does not imply any statement about their status in society.
in a Black neighborhood. You don't quite fit. You
In Nebraska, ALL KIDS COUNT, regardless of racial or ethnic
feel like you do, but they look at you different
identification. However, when discussing some indications of the well-
because you are a shade lighter than they are."
being of children, particular groups may be less well-off than others, and
an 18-year-old youth.
those special needs will be reported. Such reporting is intended to
demonstrate needs and not to say that any group of children represents
special problems.
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
Kids Count in Nebraska 1994 Report
4
Nebraska Children
The Economic Well-being of
Low income among Nebraska children
Low-income children, absent any special assistance, face particular
difficulties in achieving their full potential.
which
The federal poverty level is a measure used to determine
children and families live in households with a gross income inadequate to
example, for a
support basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter. For
levcl
family of four, the 1993 federal poverty level is $14,350. Half of that
family
(50%) is $7,175; and 185% of that level is $26,548. For this report, a
whose gross family income falls below 185% of the federal poverty level is
!ow-income.
considered to
Federal poverty level interpretations
Percentages of the federal poverty level are important to understand,
because they are used to determine eligility for a number of programs.
federal
Any percentage for any size family can be calculated by using the
poverty level as the-base number.
If a family's income falls below a specified percentage of the federal
corresponding
poverty level, then members of a family may be eligible for the
Examples of some
program if they also meet all other eligibility criteria.
level
assistance programs and the specified percentages of the poverty
100%; Subsidized child care
required for eligibility are: head Start
185%; The
130%; Reduced School Lunch
110%; Free School Lunch
Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children
Oun works two jobsone away from the home and one
185%.
(WIC)
at home, doing piecework at her sewing machine. Her
The table below presents a variety of family sizes and corresponding
husband Somdy works at a plant 35 miles away. Their
level. Using it, you
gross incomes calculated for percentages of the poverty
children are among the 307,357 Nebraska children
will be eligible for Head Start
can see that a child who lives in a family of four
whose parents (both or only) are in the labor force.
if that child's family income falls below $14,350 (less than 100% of the
federal poverty level).
The percentages of the federal poverty level become especially
important when policy makers set eligibility levels. Changes relating to
Definition
either ages of children eligible or to family income level can have signifcant
Determined by the federal
Federal Poverty Level
effects on the statewide total number of children eligible for a program.
government, the federal poverty level is based on
In total, as of the 1990 cen.:us, 58,166 Nebraska children under age
family size and income level. In 1964, the Social
Another
18 live in households with incomes below the federal poverty level.
Security Administration used the U.S. Department
49,822 live in households with incomes between 100% and under 150% of
of Agriculture's "Economy Food Plan" as the basis
the federal poverty level. The table on page 6 shows numbers of children, at
for the first poverty index. Based on the assumption
various ages, below and above the poverty level; notice that these numbers
that a family's food costs averaged one third of their
level increase.
are cumulative as the percentages of the poverty
budget, the poverty level was calculated then by
multiplying the cost of this food plan by three. Now
the basis is the "Thrifty Food Plan," also developed by
What is the gross income of low-income families?
the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Family Size and
% Federal
Maximum Gross annual Income
Poverty
4
3
2
Level
$ 7,175
$ 5,945..
$ 4,715
50%
$14,350
$11,890
$ 9,430
*100%
$18,655
$15,457
$12,259
130%
$21,525
$17,835
$14,145
150%
$26,548
$21,997
$17,446
185%
1993, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Federal Poverty Level,
5
Nebraska 1994 Report
Kids Count in
Ages of low-income children
Data from the 1990 census show an increase
among Nebraska children under age 5 who live in
families with incomes below the federal poverty level,
from 13% reported in the 1980 census to 17% reported
in 1990.
Among that same age group, 8,248 are in
households with incomes below 50% of the poverty
level, and ow: 47,000 are in households with incomes
below 185% of the poverty level.
Low income among
racial and ethnic groups
The likelihood that a Nebraska child will live in
poverty is higher among particular racial and ethnic
groups (see figure on next page).
For example, nearly 50% of Native American
children and over 40% of Black children ages 0-17 live
in families with incomes below 100% of the federal
poverty level. In comparison, approximately 11% of
Andrew, age 3.
White children live in families with incomes below
100% of the federal poverty level.
How many Nebraska children
are low-income? How old are they?
"It's been juggling from here to thereskip this
Income as % of
Total
[billl this month and that one next month, so I can
Federal Poverty
Ages of Children
Children
send her to preschool."
5-14
Level, 1990
0-4
15-17
0-17
Benkelman parent
50%
8,248
3,268
13,239
24,755
"I want better for my kids. I want them to have
19,525
31,648
100%
58,166
6,993
better and I don't want them to live the life I lived."
28,863
47,818
130%
87,089
10,408
teen mom
35,093
150%
60,151
12,744
107,988
47,580
185%
84,342
17,862
149,784
Note: This table shows cumulative figures. For example, 19,525 Nebraska
children under 5 years old (ages 04) live in households whose gross family
income is below the federal poverty level. In that same age group, 8,248
children live in homes with a gross family income below 50% of the
poverty level. Thus, 11,277 children under age 5 live in households with
income between 50% and 100% of the federal poverty level.
Source: US Census, 1990 Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS).
PUMS is a specialized part of the decennial census which uses a 5% sample of
the total census to obtain much more detailed information. Population
estimates msed on PUMS may differ slightly from those reported in the full
census.
6
Kids Count in Nebraska 1994 Report
Low income in metropolitan
How many Nebraska children live in
and nonmetropolitan counties
poverty and where do they live?
region,
Childhood poverty in Nebraska is not limited to any particular
of Nebraska's
either metropolitan counties or more rural areas. More
52.8% (10,800)
guidelines live
children in families with incomes below the federal poverty
32,999
counties
in non-metropolitan counties than in metropolitan
versus 25,475.
47.2% (9,666)
throughout
Children in low-income families reside in counties
TOTAL* 20,466
Nebraska, creating state-wide challenges to improve the general economy
and provide appropriate assistance.
56.4% (32,999)
What are the racial/ethnic backgrounds
of low-income Nebraska children?
TOTAL z 58,474
48.3%
50%.
(Z143)
Nonmetropolitan
E
El Metropolitan
0
45%.
41.0%
4(%
5d%
(8,884)
36%
lb%
601%
0%
21)%
40%.
sr;
Percent of Children below 100% of
1.4
tof
1990Federal Poverty Level
31.5%
35%.
(1,936)
Source: US Census, 1990.
26.9%
Metropolitan=Cass, Dakota, Douglas, Lancaster,
3096.
Sarpy, and Washington counties.
(4,134)
Nonmetropolitan=all other Nebraska counties.
25%.
ea CI"
19.5%
*.
(871)
20%.
tv
11.3%
15 %.
(44,554)
10%.
C..)
0
I
I
5%.
a.
0%
Hispanic
Other
Black Native Asian
White
American
Race/Ethnicity
Source: US Census, 1990 Public Use Microdata Samples.
sample of
Note: The numbers reported here are estimates based on a 5%
Nebraska housing units and the persons in them.
Hispanic may be of any race.
AVAILABLE
BEST COPY
7
13
Kids Count in Nebraska 1994 Report