A First Focus state-by-state breakdown of the 2009 child poverty numbers released yesterday by the U.S. Census Bureau revealed yet another impact of the Great Recession on children: increased child poverty rates in 46 states and the District of Columbia.
The new data supplements the national statistics released earlier this month showing that the recession claimed an additional 1.8 million children into poverty from 2008-2009. The census numbers released yesterday as part of the American Community Survey provide a closer look at how state and local communities are faring. Unfortunately for 15.5 million children across America, the answer is “not so well”. Since 1974, no age group has had a higher percentage of people living in poverty than children.
For additional resources on how to find state and local (and even Congressional district) data on poverty, income, health insurance, and more from the American Community Survey, check out these step-by-step instructions from the Coalition on Human Needs.