"The state of Washington does a good job of tending to the health of its children . . .", says the head of a state organization that tracks the welfare of children.
"The state of Washington does a good job of tending to the health of its children . . .", says the head of a state organization that tracks the welfare of children.
The organization, called Washington Kids Count, compiled statistics for a national survey in which Washington ranked ninth in the overall welfare of its children among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Health care was Washington's particular "bright spot", said rick Brandon, a professor in the University of Washington graduate School of Public Affairs and director of Washington Kids Count.
"We have made major gains," Brandon said.
The national survey was compiled by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Maryland that publishes the Kids Count Data Book.
It compared each state's performance in 10 different categories, looking at everything from the number of low birth-weight babies to the number of families headed by single parents.
According to the survey, Washington ranked among the top five states nationally for:
On the negative side, the violent death rate among teens increased by 9 percent since 1985 and the teen birth rate continued to climb, up 16 percent since 1985.
Overall, the survey shows that Washingtgn is surpassed as a good place for kids by oniy eight states: New Hampshire, North Dakota, Iowa, Maine, Vermont, Utah, Nebraska and Minnesota.
Oregon was 20th.
The worst place in the United States to be a kid in 1993 was the District of Columbia.
Information provided here was excerpted from an article which appeared recently in the Seattle Post Intelligencer newspaper written by Gordy Holt, P-I Reporter.
Back to the Pregnancy Info page