---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 00:38:08 -0400 (EDT) From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Fwd: Children's Defense Fund Report Note--leaving children behind in times of "prosperity" is not MY idea of family OR civic values! Barb Chamberlain [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 97-10-03 19:26:56 EDT, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << *** BIG ECONOMIC GAINS LIFT VERY FEW CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY *** This week, the Census Bureau's release of 1996 income and poverty statistics reported a continued rise in the median income in 1996, the fifth year of U.S. economic recovery. The figures disappointingly showed that even while the median income rose, child poverty rates for 1996 were virtually unchanged. The rate of child poverty declined by only three-tenths of one percent from 1995 to 1996 (from 20.8 percent to 20.5 percent) and actually rose slightly for children in working families. Overall, there were 14.46 million children living in poverty in 1996, compared to 14.66 million children in 1995. Moreover, the number of uninsured children up through and including age 18 rose to 11.3 million in 1996, or 15.1 percent of all such children -- the largest numbers ever recorded by the Census Bureau. "Many claims have been made about families who have left welfare," said CDF President Marian Wright Edelman. "While far too little is known about their children's well-being, today's data warn us that many are failing to rise out of poverty, and, even worse, some are losing their health coverage as well." A number of other unfortunate records were set in this year's poverty statistics: * The number of poor families with children headed by someone who worked during the year reached 3.6 million in 1996, higher than any year since 1975, when these data were first available. * 69 percent of all poor children live in a family where someone (not always the head of household) worked in 1996, also a record high, and up from 61 percent as recently as 1993. * 1996 marked the first year on record in which Hispanic children were the poorest racial/ethnic group of children. Child poverty rates increased slightly for Hispanic and White children (to 40.3 percent and 16.3 percent respectively), while declining slightly for Black children (to 39.9 percent). As the 1996 welfare law is implemented, increasing numbers of families with children are joining the ranks of the working poor. The Census data suggest that without concerted action by business and government, children will not only experience unrelieved poverty but are also likely to lose health coverage. * For more information on the Census Bureau Report, contact: T'Wana Lucas at (202) 662-3542; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or visit the CDF Website at: <www.childrensdefense.org>. >> --------------------- Forwarded message: From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 97-10-03 19:26:56 EDT Children's Defense Fund Update October 3, 1997 In this issue: --Census Bureau Data --New Child Health Insurance Program --- Census Bureau Data --- *** BIG ECONOMIC GAINS LIFT VERY FEW CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY *** This week, the Census Bureau's release of 1996 income and poverty statistics reported a continued rise in the median income in 1996, the fifth year of U.S. economic recovery. The figures disappointingly showed that even while the median income rose, child poverty rates for 1996 were virtually unchanged. The rate of child poverty declined by only three-tenths of one percent from 1995 to 1996 (from 20.8 percent to 20.5 percent) and actually rose slightly for children in working families. Overall, there were 14.46 million children living in poverty in 1996, compared to 14.66 million children in 1995. Moreover, the number of uninsured children up through and including age 18 rose to 11.3 million in 1996, or 15.1 percent of all such children -- the largest numbers ever recorded by the Census Bureau. "Many claims have been made about families who have left welfare," said CDF President Marian Wright Edelman. "While far too little is known about their children's well-being, today's data warn us that many are failing to rise out of poverty, and, even worse, some are losing their health coverage as well." A number of other unfortunate records were set in this year's poverty statistics: * The number of poor families with children headed by someone who worked during the year reached 3.6 million in 1996, higher than any year since 1975, when these data were first available. * 69 percent of all poor children live in a family where someone (not always the head of household) worked in 1996, also a record high, and up from 61 percent as recently as 1993. * 1996 marked the first year on record in which Hispanic children were the poorest racial/ethnic group of children. Child poverty rates increased slightly for Hispanic and White children (to 40.3 percent and 16.3 percent respectively), while declining slightly for Black children (to 39.9 percent). As the 1996 welfare law is implemented, increasing numbers of families with children are joining the ranks of the working poor. The Census data suggest that without concerted action by business and government, children will not only experience unrelieved poverty but are also likely to lose health coverage. * For more information on the Census Bureau Report, contact: T'Wana Lucas at (202) 662-3542; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or visit the CDF Website at: <www.childrensdefense.org>. ---New Child Health Insurance Program--- *** STATES NEED TO KEEP MOVING TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW CHILD HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM *** The statistics in the rise on uninsured children issued by the Census Bureau this week underline the compelling need for states to move quickly to implement the new child health insurance program Congress passed this summer. "Children in low-wage, working families with incomes too high for Medicaid -- exactly the group targeted by the recent child health bill -- are falling through the ever-widening hole in the employment-based insurance system," concluded Marian Wright Edelman. "We call upon every Governor and state legislator to use the $4 billion a year in new child health grants to make sure these children get the health coverage they need to grow up healthy and strong." The new child health law will cover children up through and including 18 year olds. A number of states are moving quickly to implement the new State Child Health Insurance Program, using the federal funding that was made available beginning October 1st. The program gives states grants to provide health insurance for uninsured children in working families through expanded Medicaid or separate child health programs. A Children's Defense Fund survey of 30 states' actions on child health implementation, through September 29th, provides the first national snap-shot of how states are implementing the new program. The survey found several trends of note: A number of states have adopted or proposed substantial early expansions of health coverage: * Numerous states plan to expand affordable, comprehensive coverage to uninsured children by building on existing programs. In some states, state officials propose or plan to cover previously uninsured children through Medicaid, which provides the full range of services that children need, with low family costs. * A number of states have created task forces or working groups. Certain states have established advisory groups to recommend approaches or describe options for implementing the federal legislation for uninsured children in families with incomes above the existing Medicaid levels. * A few states have begun brand new programs. Some states signed new programs into law that were passed during their regular legislative sessions and other states have proposed new programs or are currently developing programs. States differ in whether or not they plan to help the largest possible number of uninsured children: * Most states moving forward with specific proposals cover as many uninsured children as possible under the new law, generally reaching uninsured children with family incomes below $26,000 a year for a family of three (200 percent of the federal poverty level). Others have so far proposed to help only some of those children. A number of states, including several of the larger states, have not announced their plans or, at least publicly, given much indication of progress. Some states may have already adopted large child health programs before passage of the new federal law. ** Contact your Governor's office, state agencies, and your state legislator's staff to find out the status of the new State Child Health Insurance Program in your state and encourage them to implement the new program as quickly as possible. For more information on the new State Child Health Insurance Program and/or a chart detailing CDF survey results in all 30 states visit the CDF Website at <www.chil,drensdefense.org>, write to < [EMAIL PROTECTED]>, or contact the CDF Field Division at 202/628-8787. ************************************************************ -- For more information on the Children's Defense Fund, visit our Web site at http://www.childrensdefense.org. -- OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR NUMBERS -- SHARE THIS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE WITH YOUR FRIENDS!!! Our typical email is about a page or two long and generally comes once a week. To join our legislative update email list, sign-up on our website or send an email to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> and write in the body of the message: subscribe cdfupdate <your email address> PLEASE NOTE: WHEN SUBSCRIBING OR UNSUBSCRIBING, PLEASE DO NOT SURROUND YOUR ADDRESS WITH BRACKETS. For questions or comments, write or send an email to: Kimberly Taylor Children's Defense Fund 25 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202/662-3540 (fax) [EMAIL PROTECTED] "What is done to children, they will do to society." --Karl Menninger
