ERIC ED424927: Maine Kids Count 1994 Data Book.

62 Pages·1994·1.3 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
PS 027 025
ED 424 927
Maine Kids Count 15.94 Data Book.
TITLE
Maine Children's Alliance, Augusta.
INSTITUTION
Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, MD.
SPONS AGENCY
1994-00-00
PUB DATE
61p.; For 1995-96 Data Book, see PS 027 026; for 1997 Data
NOTE
Book, see PS 027 027, and for 1998 Data Book, see PS 027
028
Maine Children's Alliance, P.O. Box 2446, Augusta, ME 04338;
AVAILABLE FROM
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; e-mail:
[email protected] ($10).
Numerical/Quantitative Data (110) Descriptive
Reports
PUB TYPE
(141)
MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Adolescents; Birth Weight; Births to Single Women; *Child
DESCRIPTORS
Health; *Children; Counties; Delinquency; Demography;
Dropout Rate; Early Parenthood; Economic Status; Elementary
Secondary Education; Family (Sociological Unit); Higher
Education; Infants; Mortality Rate; One Parent Family; Out
of School Youth; *Poverty; Safety; *Social Indicators;
Special Needs Students; State Surveys; Statistical Surveys;
Tables (Data); *Well Being
Arrests; Child Safety; *Indicators; *Maine
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
This Kids Count report details statew'.de trends in the
well-being of Maine's children. The statistical portrait is based on
(1) social and economic
indicators of children's well-being in four areas:
(3) physical and mental
(2) community and family environment;
opportunity;
health; and (4) education. The report's introduction delineates goals and
future plans for Kids Count and describes the indicators addressed. The
second section presents statewide data. The third section, and bulk of the
report, presents a demographic profile of each of the state's 16 counties,
and the county data, including a comparison to the statewide averages for the
(1) children in
eleven indicators of child well-being. The indicators are:
families receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC);
(2) births
(4) infant mortality;
to unmarried teens; (3) low birth-weight rates;
(5)
(7) child deaths, ages
number of physicians;
(6) child deaths, ages 1-14;
(10) post-secondary graduation rates;
(9) dropout rate;
(8) arrests;
15-19;
and (11) children with special needs. Key findings include an increase in
birth rates for single teens and in teell violent death rate, and a decrease
The report's
in the infant mortality rate and child death rate (ages 1-14) .
two appendices list definitions used in completing the report, data sources,
and references.
(SD)
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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
CENTER (ERIC)
yk;fhis document has been reproduced as
received from the person or organization
originating it.
Minor changes have been made to
improve reproduction quality.
Points of view or opinions stated in this
document do not necessarily represent
official OERI position or policy.
7/1441ne 7<M4s Count
1994 DATA BOOK
PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND
DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS
BEEN GRANTED BY
elin9v
Go icliDeri
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
1
2
Permission to copy, disseminate, or otherwise use
information from this Data Book is granted as long
as appropriate acknowledgment is given.
To obtain additional copies of this publication, use
the form in the back of this book, or contact the
Maine Children's Alliance,
P.O. Box 2446,
Augusta, Maine 04338
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Cover photos, from left to right: Bruce Kidman; Patrisha McLean, Faces, Inc.; and Leigh Kelly
Printed on recycled paper.
Maine KIDS COUNT Staff
Advisory Group Maine Children's Alliance
Board of Directors
Trish Riley, Chairperson
Edmund S. Muskie Institute of Public
Merrie Allen
National Academy for State Health
Affairs, University of Southern Maine
Policy, Maine Community Foundation
Susan Aaronson
Anne Bernard
Georgia Carroll
Wendy Betts
Cary Collette, WCSH TV, 6 Alive!
Dean Crocker
Donna Bird
Robert Durgan, Bureau of Children with
Barbara Crowley, M.D.
Special Needs, Department of Mental
Helaine Hornby
Health & Mental Retardation
Tom Ewell
Al Leighton
Barbara Gill
Judith A. Graham, University of Maine
Louise Olsen
Cooperative Extension
Wilson Hess
Mark Richards
James Hennigar, Good WillHinckley
D. Bradlee Hodson
Kris Sahonchik
School
Linda Hogan
Louise Sharp
Sandra Hodge, Bureau of Child & Family
Lucky Hollander
Services, Department of Human Services
Maine Children's Alliance
Peggy Kellenberger
Katherine Howley, Bureau of Child &
Elinor Goldberg
Frank O'Hara
Family Services, Department of Human
Charles O'Leary
Services
Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public
Barbara Reinertsen
Policy, University of Maine
Sherry Huber, Maine Waste Manage-
ment Agency
John Rosser
Suzanne Hart
Neil Rolde
Sylvia Lund, Office of Substance Abuse
Consultants
Margaret Semple
Mary Majorowicz, Maine Department of
Ala Reid
Education
John Shoos
Anita St.Onge
Mindy Taylor
George Nilson, American Association of
Retiied Persons
Jane Weil
Charles O'Leary, Maine AFLCIO,
Maine Children's Alliance
Barbara Reinertsen, United Way of Mid-
Coast Maine, Maine Children's Alliance
Kenneth Schmidt, Regional Medical
Center at Lubec
Stanley R. Tupper, Esquire
Richard Warren, Bangor Daily News,
Maine Community Foundation
Data Committee
Policy Committee
Public Awareness Committee
Jamie Clough, Office of Substance Abuse
Laura Fortman, Maine Women's Lobby
Nancy Fritz, Children's Center
William Davis, Institute for the Study of
Robert Foster, Bureau of Children with
Judith A. Graham, Cooperative
At-Risk Students, College of Education,
Special Needs, Department of Mental
Extension, University of Maine
University of Maine
Health & Mental Retardation
Tom Godfrey, Juvenile Justice
Lynda Dunn, Spurwick Center
Chris Gunderman, Pine Tree Legal
Advisory Group
Assistance, Inc.
Judy Feinstein, Department of
Leanne Greeley-Bond, Maine
Human Services
Chris Hastedt, Pine Tree Legal
Aspirations Foundation
Assistance, Inc.
DeEtte Hall, Division of Maternal and
Brenda Hughes, Maine Public Television
Child Health, Department of Human
Roxy Hennings, Department of
Frank O'Hara, Market Decisions,
Services
Corrections
Maine Children's Alliance
Jim Harrod, Department of Mental
Liz Hufnagel, Department of Human
Charles O'Leary, Maine AFL/CIO,
Health & Mental Retardation
Services
Maine Children's Alliance
Michael Martin, Bureau of Highway
Horace (Brud) Maxcy, Department of
Barbara Reinertsen, United Way of Mid-
Safety, Department of Public Safety
Education
Coast Maine, Maine Children's Alliance
Charles Morris, Margaret Chase Smith
Libby McCullum, Department of
Center for Public Policy, University of
Human Services
Maine
Mark Millar, Casey Family Services
Ellen Naor, Office of Data, Research and
Barbara Jean Nicoletti, Margaret Chase
Vital Statistics, Department of Human
Smith Center, University of Maine
Services
Ala Reid, Consultant
Al Sutherland, Division of Information
Management, Department of Education
Christopher Spruce, Margaret Chase
Smith Center, University of Maine
Jane Weil, Maine Children's Alliance
Mel Tremper, Office of Substance Abuse
David Winslow, Department of Human
Services
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Our thanks go to:
The project could not have come to
fruition without the vision and
Susan Aaronson, Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education
determination of the following
Rep. Michael Brennan, Maine State Legislature
individuals and organizations.
Henry Bourgeois, The Maine Development Foundation
None of this work would be possible
Sarah Campbell, Maine Council of Churches
without the generous support of the
Robert Carroll, Saco River Telegraph & Telephone Co.
Annie E. Casey Foundation for the
John S. Dexter, Jr., Maine Chamber of Commerce & Industry
multi-year commitment they have
William E. Davis, Institute for the Study of At-Risk Students,
made to Maine KIDS COUNT. We
College of Education, University of Maine
also thank the Foundation for its
Michael J. Fitzpatrick, Alliance for the Mentally III of Maine
vision in creating the national KIDS
COUNT initiative of which Maine
Laura Fortman, Maine Women's Lobby
KIDS COUNT is a part.
Leanne Greeley-Bond, Maine Aspirations Foundation
Chris Gunderman, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc.
Chris Hastedt, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc.
Lucky Hollander, Maine Association of Child Abuse & Neglect Councils
Marion Kane, Maine Community Foundation
Peggy Kellenberger, Coalition for Maine's Children
Rep. Anne M. Larrivee, Maine House of Representatives
Judith Lucarelli, Maine Center for Educational Services
Sylvia Lund, Interdepartmental Council, State of Maine
Rep. John L. Martin, Maine House of Representatives
Mark Millar, Casey Family Services
Rep. Elizabeth H:Mitchell, Maine House of Representatives
Sen. Judy Paradis, Maine Senate
Ala Reid, Maine Community Foundation
Trish Riley, , Maine Community Foundation
Commissioner Jane Sheehan, Maine Department of Human Services
John Shoos, United Way of Greater Portland
The Bingham Betterment Fund
The Maine Community Foundation
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
1
About Maine's KIDS COUNT
2
Goals of Maine's KIDS COUNT
2
Future Plans for Maine's KIDS COUNT
2
What We Need to Know
3
How to Use and Interpret This Book
4
Child Well-Being Indicators
4
Social and Economic Opportunity
Community and Family Environment
6
Physical and Mental Health
Education
8
State Profile
9
County Profiles
12
Definitions and Data Sources
46
References
52
7
ENTRODUCTMN
In order for us to know which way to go, we must know the facts.
Would you tell me, please,
Although we often hear that children are our most valuable resource, the
which way I ought to go from
harsh reality is that many children in the State of Maine and across the
here?
country are living in a state of poverty and without the resources necessary
to grow up to become healthy and happy adults. Too many children are not
That depends a good deal
safe and secure in their own homes. Too many children are born to teen
on where you want to get to,
parents who are facing uphill battles to raise their children. Lack of prenatal
said the cat.
care often results in low birth-weight babies, a factor directly related to infant
survival, health and development.
I don't know where...,
According to the National 1994 KIDS COUNT Data Book, Maine's
said Alice.
children ranked 4th overall in the nation in 1988 and 9th in 1994. While it
Then it doesn't matter which
may seem heartening to rank in the top 5th of the nation, these figures paint
way you go, said the cat.
a picture of growing poverty and decreased opportunity for children every-
where. Maine ranked 29th in the United States for percent of children living
Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland
'ir? poverty.. While the national trend showed a slight decrease in children
living below the poverty line from 20.8 percent in 1985 to 20 percent in
1991, Maine was one of only eighteen states where this figure increased
(from 15.3 percent of its children living in poverty in 1985 to 18.7 percent
in 1991). These figures changed Maine's national ranking from 10th in 1985
to 29th in 1991.
The Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book,is the first step of our journey to
improve the conditions in which Maine's children live. The indicators
chosen will give us a picture of how children are doing in terms of social
and economic'opportunity, community and family environment, physical
and mental health and education. With this information, we can all.work
together channelling our resources to create policies and programs that give
Maine's children a better opportunity to reach their full potential.
POLLY CAMPBELL
8
About Maine KIDS COUNT
Future Plans for Maine's KIDS COUNT
Maine KIDS COUNT is a collaborative effort of the
The Maine KIDS COUNT project will continue to collect
Edmund S. Muskie Institute of Public Affairs and the
and update data which will be of greatest use to the
Maine Children's Alliance to collect, analyze and
state, communities and Maine KIDS COUNT in reaching
disseminate data on child welfare. It is funded for the
our mutual goals for the well-being of children. This
next four years by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, with
information will then be used to provide information to
a possibility for an additional three years of funding.
the public and policy makers regarding the condition of
Throughout the past year, the KIDS COUNT project
children in Maine.
worked with statisticians, children's advocates and other
The project has identified some strategies to
committee and advisory group members to select
accomplish its goals:
statistical indicators that would measure how Maine is
meeting children's needs. It was critical that these
Collect and make information available on the
indicators measure outcomes for children, not merely
condition of children in Maine
efforts made on their behalf. It was also important that
Collect data from state and national sources
the data meet several criteria: they must be reliable;
Identify gaps in data availability, or other areas in
available and consistent over time; must reflect a salient
which data are inadequate
outcome or measure of well-being in terms that are
Work with the state and others to refine data and to
easily understandable; and the measure should be able
expand the data base appropriately
to be produced on an annual basis.
Publish information on the condition of children
Develop a computerized data base containing
data on Maine's children
Goals of Maine's KIDS COUNT
Use data to effed change for children
The overall goal of Maine KIDS COUNT is to ensure that
Alert the general public to the condition of children
Maine's children become successful adults who are able
in Maine now and in the future
to participate fully in the social, economic and cultural
Encourage the general public to adopt KIDS COUNT
life of our state. To reach this goal, our children must be
goals and take action
safe, healthy and able to learn. The project has identified
Serve as a catalyst, bringing together individuals and
groups in new ways to take steps toward reaching
certain outcomes to measure Maine's progress in
KIDS COUNT goals, and reward individuals/groups
reaching this goal. Specific outcomes include:
for efforts on behalf of children
Provide a means of announcing success or failure
Fewer Maine children will be living in poverty
in reaching goals
Children and families will have access to health care
Children will enter school ready to learn
Family violence will be reduced
There will be an improvement in the lives of teens
2
WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW
Mental Health
Maine's KIDS COUNT is dedicated
to providing a comprehensive view
Children's emotional well-being is essential to their development and
of the well-being of children in
growth. Without family nurturing and community support, children will
Maine. This first data book provides
be unable to flourish and achieve their full potential as adults. At this time,
a baseline for data currently avail-
we only have limited documentation on mental health needs and services
able on the status of children in
based on extrapolations from epidemiological studies.
Maine. Some pieces of the puzzle,
Access to Health Care
however, are missing. There are
systemic limits and constraints on
Important information regarding children and health care includes how
the way Maine collects data on
many children have a primary care physician. The current data do not
children. There are areas in which
reflect the actual number of children receiving primary care, nor how far a
limited data are available at this
child has to travel to obtain medical care. Although it is important to know
time. It is our goal to work with state
how many children have access to health insurance, health insurance
and community agencies and
coverage, including Medicaid, does not always mean that a child can
individuals to develop and imple-
find a local physician willing to accept that child as a patient.
ment an accurate and comprehen-
Substance Abuse
sive way to examine the status of
Statistics-regarding alcohol and drug use reported in this Data Book were
children in Maine in other areas
derived primarily from the 1993 Youth Risk Behavior and Out-of-School
including:
Youth Surveys conducted for the Maine Department of Human Services.
Although this is useful information, it would be helpful to obtain consistent,
accurate counts of drug and alcohol use and abuse.
Domestic Abuse/Children at Risk
Currently, Maine gathers data regarding domestic violence reports to the
police. These reports do not indicate whether children were present during
a domestic abuse incident. Service providers are not currently collecting
systematic data on the number of children affected by domestic violence.
More detailed information regarding children who are part of the juvenile
justice or child welfare systems is critical to an understanding of the status
of children in Maine.
Readiness to Learn/Performance Measures
There is currently no standard assessment tool to measure children's readi-
ness to learn upon entry into kindergarten. More comprehensive measures of
children's learning in school are currently being developed and will provide
useful information regarding children's preparation for adulthood.
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