Advocates Searching for Ways State can Improve Child Wellbeing
A children’s advocacy group is looking at ways Alabama can improve its national ranking for overall child wellbeing.
Officials from VOICES for Alabama’s Children in Montgomery responded to the national 2016 Kids Count Data Book put out by the Annie E. Casey Foundation last month. The data book measures children’s overall well being over four areas: economic wellbeing, health, education and family and community.
According to the report, Alabama ranks 46th in the country for overall child wellbeing, an area the state continues to fall in year over year. The state ranked in the bottom ten states in every category and VOICES analyzed what it would take to improve these numbers.
“Programs that take a two-generational approach can help raise the educational attainment of the parent or head of household and can have direct impact on the educational achievement of their children,” says Rhonda Mann, VOICES research and policy director. She says education – for both adults and children – is one of the first steps to improving the lives of children in the state.
VOICES outlined several policy initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Alabama’s children, Mann says. One plan is increasing access to First Class Pre-K, a proposal also made by Governor Robert Bentley earlier this year. In May, Bentley announced a $16 million increase to the Education Trust Fund to provide access to voluntary pre-kindergarten to nearly 3,000 additional Alabama children.
Alabama did improve under four health indicators, Mann says, but cuts to the state’s Medicaid program could mean trouble for uninsured children.
“Increasing the number of children with insurance by about 20,000 would move us from 4 percent to the number one rate of 2 percent. That’s all the more reason we need to encourage our lawmakers to fill the $85 million dollar gap in Medicaid funding,” says Mann.
The majority of people in Alabama that receive Medicaid are children, pregnant women and the elderly. Medicaid Commissioner Stephanie Azar announced last week the first cuts to the state’s Medicaid program following an $85 million budget shortfall. Officials cut the “primary care bump” given to some primary care providers in an effort to encourage those providers to accept Medicaid patients.
Dr. Peter Hotez takes the war against science very personally
In an interview about the new book he co-authored, Science Under Siege, Hotez talks about forces driving the anti-science movement, the risks it poses — and why he won't debate RFK Jr.
Trump says he’s fighting crime. Illinois Gov. Pritzker sees a power grab before 2026
Steve Inskeep speaks with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker about President Trump's threats to send National Guard troops to Chicago and the future of the Democratic Party.
Who is Lachlan Murdoch, the anointed media tycoon?
His position in leading News Corp. and Fox is now secure, as his father ends a dramatic succession battle. Lachlan grew up in New York City but has lived in Australia for much of his adult life.
Trump’s control of the D.C. police is due to expire tonight. Then what?
Trump needs an extension from Congress to control D.C. police for more than 30 days. Some Republican lawmakers are focused on pursuing legislation that would exert power over D.C. in other ways.
33 million voters have been run through a Trump administration citizenship check
Tens of millions of voters have had their information run through the tool — a striking portion of the U.S. public, considering little has been made public about the tool's accuracy or data security.
You’re more likely to reach for that soda when it’s hot outside
People drink more sugary beverages when it's hot, researchers found, significantly increasing their sugar intake. That impact could grow as climate change raises the world's temperatures.
