Report: MO Could Do Better to Ensure Children's Well-Being
A new report examined children's well-being in every state and found in Missouri, the outcomes vary greatly depending on race.
In its "Race for Results" report, the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzed indicators of child well-being by race, from early childhood education to family resources. It ranked Missouri roughly in the middle among states but the rankings by race or ethnicity range from 14th for Asian and Pacific Islander children to 40th for white children.
Tracy Greever-Rice, Kids Count program director for the Missouri Family and Community Trust, said it is consistent with historic trends.
"White children actually have gone up in terms of the percent in poverty, whereas Asian children -- who also do the best in the 'Race for Results' report -- are the only group that is actually improving, in terms of the percent of that racial group in poverty," Greever-Rice reported.
In Missouri, the report ranks Latino children 15th for well-being compared to other states, and 38th for Black children. Greever-Rice added although multiracial children are showing improvement in areas like poverty, the takeaway from the report is vulnerable groups continue to experience worse outcomes. It said the larger economy and public policy decisions affect children differently based on their race and ethnicity.
Greever-Rice pointed to the census collection of ethnicity data showing trends improving for some groups but not others. She argued it is important to understand how race definitions change over time and the impact of measuring this data.
"This is the first 'Race for Results' that used the U.S. Census Bureau's categorization of two or more races," Greever-Rice observed. "We changed in the 2020 decennial census how we asked people to identify, in terms of race categories, and I really think that's having an impact."
She added to help children of all races, Missouri needs to implement evidence-based best practices, which have shown results in other places.
The Missouri Public News Service is a partner with KRCU Public Radio.
"Mwanamke huyo alisema: ""Tunaona kuwa katika hali ya sasa, kuna uwezekano mkubwa wa kuwa na watoto wengi katika kila jimbo, lakini katika hali ya sasa, kuna uwezekano mkubwa wa kuwa na watoto wengi katika kila jimbo, lakini kwa kiwango cha juu." Katika ripoti yake ya "Race for Results", Annie E. Casey Foundation ilichambua viashiria vya ustawi wa watoto kulingana na jamii, kutoka elimu ya utotoni hadi rasilimali za familia. Missouri ni jimbo la kati kati kati ya majimbo ya Marekani, lakini kwa jamii au ukoo, inapatikana katika nafasi ya 14 kwa watoto wa Asia na Pasifiki na ya 40 kwa watoto weupe. Tracy Greever-Rice, mkurugenzi wa mpango wa Kids Count kwa Missouri Family and Community Trust, alisema ni sawa na mwenendo wa kihistoria. "Wana wazungu wameongezeka katika asilimia ya umaskini, wakati watoto wa Asia ambao pia wanafanya vizuri zaidi katika ripoti ya ""Race for Results"" ni kikundi pekee ambacho kwa kweli kinaendelea kuboresha katika asilimia ya umaskini wa jamii hiyo,"" alisema Greever-Rice." Katika jimbo la Missouri, ripoti hiyo inaorodhesha watoto wa Latino katika nafasi ya 15 kwa ustawi ikilinganishwa na majimbo mengine, na 38 kwa watoto weusi. Greever-Rice aliongeza kuwa ingawa watoto wa makabila mbalimbali wanaonyesha uboreshaji katika maeneo kama umaskini, matokeo ya ripoti hiyo ni kwamba vikundi vilivyo hatarini vinaendelea kupata matokeo mabaya zaidi. "Mafahamisho hayo yanaonyesha kuwa ""maamuzi makubwa ya kiuchumi na sera za umma yanawaathiri watoto kwa njia tofauti kulingana na jamii na ukabila wao.""" Greever-Rice alitaja mkusanyiko wa sensa ya data ya kikabila inayoonyesha mwenendo wa kuboresha kwa baadhi ya vikundi lakini sio wengine. Alisema ni muhimu kuelewa jinsi ufafanuzi wa jamii unabadilika kwa muda na athari ya kupima data hii. "Hii ndiyo 'Mshindano wa Kwanza wa Matokeo' ambao ulitumia uainishaji wa Ofisi ya Sensa ya Marekani wa jamii mbili au zaidi", Greever-Rice akasema. "Tulianza na sensa ya kila miaka kumi ya 2020 ambayo ilijumuisha watu wa makabila mbalimbali na ilionyesha kuwa ""mwisho wa mwaka"" ni muhimu." "Alichangia kuwa ""Kwa kusaidia watoto wa jamii zote, Missouri inahitaji kutekeleza mazoea bora ya msingi wa ushahidi, ambayo yameonyesha matokeo katika maeneo mengine.""" Missouri Public News Service ni mshirika wa KRCU Public Radio.