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Senate Update: New ranking proves ‘Kids Count’ in Iowa
by Bob Dvorsky, State Senator · Op-Ed · August 14, 2014
Iowa continues to boost its reputation as one of the best places for children. Iowa rose to third in the nation (up from seventh in 2013) in the national Kids Count data.
The rankings are based on economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. Iowa placed high — and boosted its standing over last year — on each measure. The 2014 national Kids Count data show Iowa placed:
• First in children’s health, up from seventh last year.
• Third in economic well-being, up from fifth in 2013.
• Seventh in family and community, up from eighth.
• Thirteenth in education, up from fifteenth.
What are we doing right? The number of Iowa children without health insurance has dropped dramatically, as have low-birth-weight babies. Iowa is also seeing fewer cases of child death, and teen drug and alcohol abuse is declining. More kids are proficient at reading and math, and they are graduating on time from high school.
However, the Kids Count report also shows some areas where we can improve the lives of Iowa kids. Since last year, Iowa has more children living in poverty, more children in single parent homes, more children whose parents lack secure employment and more teens working rather than attending school.
A child’s chances of lifelong success depend on strong family and community support.
Here in Iowa, we’ve put a lot of emphasis on ensuring that success with policies and investments for better jobs, education, health care and safe communities. We can be proud of the results we’re seeing, but we won’t stop working to make Iowa the very best place for children — and for all Iowans.
Read more about how Iowa stacks up when it comes to the wellbeing of our kids at www.kidscount.org.
To contact Senator Dvorsky during the week, call the Senate Switchboard at 515-281-3371. Otherwise he can be reached at home at 319-351-0988. E-mail him at bob.dvorsky@legis.iowa.gov.
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