Troubling Trend? (Tea: homes, school, living in)

[AZheat]

From KOTA
South Dakota drops to 30 in Kids Count survey

Posted: July 26, 2007 03:49 PM MST
Lela French

The latest kids count survey is out and shows a troubling trend.

"Its sad South Dakota's lacking in that because South Dakota is known for a wholesome life. You know, good people that really care about each other and if these numbers are indicating that we're declining down to number 30 on the list, that's a sad statement," says Wellspring Development Director Mark Snyder.

The kids count study looks at how individual states foster to the development of kids.

Two years ago South Dakota ranked 14th. Now, the state seems much worse off in infant mortality, the percent of teens not in school or working, and percent of children living in poverty and single parent homes just to name a few.

In addition, the state has more kids in foster care than the national average.

One place the state held steady, drug and alcohol use. Some local experts say that's surprising.

"Look at Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton. Look at the situation these Hollywood types are getting into with drugs and alcohol. We have that same issue here," says Snyder.

Snyder says the best way to keep your kids from following in their footsteps, early prevention.

"Things like that to try to get especially younger parents, they're becoming parents at a younger age. Teaching them the skills, giving them the skills to be good parents," says Snyder.

Skills that experts hope will add up to a positive difference for South Dakota, and help it return to a place where kids really count.

For more information: KIDS COUNT

[ElkHunter]

Read the web site. Don't make judgement about the news,

[Jammie]

Well, hopefully we have more children in foster care because in SOME areas social services may be doing a good job. (Not in my county, but hopefully in others) They may be removing children from abusive homes. I've read several stories where children are lost in the system for years so my guess is that if they can lose children, they maybe aren't too accurate in their reporting either.

I guess I'm trying to make excuses for how our state has dropped, but in all honesty, I don't know the answer. I can tell you that the situation with foster children may have something to do with the reservations.

The other thing I'm confused about is I'm not sure where the older children would be if they're not in school and aren't counted as having employment. Could they possibly be doing farm labor or working for temp agencies? Guess it just sort of surprises me.

[AZheat]

I was curious about the infant mortality rate and wonder if some of these stats are including reservation numbers.

Your thoughts on that Jammie?

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by AZheat

I was curious about the infant mortality rate and wonder if some of these stats are including reservation numbers.

Your thoughts on that Jammie?

AZ, my guess is that they do include the reservations in those stats. Even though they are sovereign nations, they're generally included in the stats for our state since they're actually part of the state, too.

[DannyBanany]

I agree with Jammie; just because South Dakota has more children in foster care than most other states, does not necessarily mean that South Dakota has more troubled families

It is possible that childrens needs are more adequately met here and the end result is a foster home.

Foster care immediately brings a bad image to mind, but we must stop to think: Foster care is MUCH better than the conditions in which they were living!

In South Dakota, less children are 'left behind' or forgotten.