1. Springfield KIDS COUNT 2010 SYMPOSIUM
Illinois Kids Count is a project of Voices for Illinois Children and is part of a nationwide network of state-level projects supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Illinois Kids Count uses the best available data to measure the educational, social and emotional, economic, and physical well-being of children.
The Casey Foundation publishes an annual KIDS COUNT Data Book that tracks the status of America’s children on a state-by-state basis.
The theme of Illinois Kids Count 2010 is “Children and Families in a Time of Economic Crisis.” This is a comprehensive look at the impact of the current recession and state budget crisis. The data and essays contained in the book tell the story.
Nov. 15, 2010

2. Introduction
The most visible signs of recession don’t reveal full impact on children
Children are hidden casualties of the economic crisis
Recessions have lasting effects on child poverty
The most visible signs of the “Great Recession” — high unemployment, mortgage foreclosures,and troubled financial markets — do not reveal its full impact on children and families.
Children are the hidden casualties and voiceless victims of the economic crisis.
Based on the experience of previous recessions, we know that child poverty is increasing and will continue to increase – even as we see hopeful signs of economic recovery.
Let’s look at some of the indicators -

3. Unemployment Rates 2008 2010 (12 mo.) (9 mo.) Illinois 6.5% 10.8%
(12 mo.) (9 mo.)
Illinois 6.5% 10.8%
Sangamon County 5.8% 8.6%
Springfield 5.9% 8.7%
Unemployment in Illinois increased from 6.5% in 2008 to 10.8% in the first 9 months of 2010.
Over the same period of time, the unemployment rate in Sangmaon County rose from 5.8% to almost 8.6%.
In Springfield unemployment rose from 5.9% to 8.7%.

4. Effects of Unemployment
Children with unemployed parent:
2007: 3.5 million nationwide
2009: 7.2 million nationwide
When parents lose a job, children are more likely to:
Struggle in school
Repeat a grade
Have behavior problems
In 2009, 14% million children nationwide lived in families with at least one unemployed parent – more than double the number in 2007.
Unemployment rates do not reflect the effects on families and children, but research shows that when parents lose a job, children are more likely to struggle in school, more likely to repeat a grade, and more likely to have behavior problems.

5. Long-Term Effects of Child Poverty
Children growing up in poverty are likely to have:
Lower levels of educational attainment
Diminished employment prospects
Greater health problems
Research also shows the long-term effects of child poverty.
Children who grow up in poverty are likely to have lower levels of educational attainment. The challenges that kids normally face increase exponentially. A separate Kids Count report from the Casey Foundation recently found that 85 percent of low-income Illinois children do not meet the National Assessment of Educational Progress reading proficiency standards, compared with 53 percent of other children in the state. And overall, two out of every three Illinois children, or 68 percent, are not proficient in reading by the end of 3rd grade.
Consequently, kids in poverty are also likely to have diminished employment prospects, and increased health problems.
An entire generation faces the prospect of life filled with struggle because of what is happening to their families today.

6. Child Poverty in Illinois, 2009
Children in poverty: 590,000 (530,000 in 2008)
Child poverty rates:
Illinois: 19% (2009); up from 17% in 2008
Sangamon County: 18% ( )
Springfield: 23% ( )
In 2009, 590,000 Illinois children lived in poverty, up from 530,000 a year earlier
The state’s child poverty rate rose from 17% in 2008 to 19% in the highest level seen in this decade.
In , the child poverty rate was 18% in Sangamon County and 23% in Springfield.
The official federal poverty level for 2009 was $21,750 for a family of four with two children, and about $17,300 for a family of single parent household with two children.
While children represent one-fourth of Illinois residents, they account for more than one-third of the state’s population living in poverty.

7. Child Poverty Rates in Illinois by Age, 2009
Under age 6 21%
Ages %
Ages %
In 2009, the poverty rate for Illinois children under age 6 was 21% — the highest for any age group.
This is important because 90 percent of a child’s brain development occurs before the age of 3, so poverty affects these young learners at a time when they are experiencing critical milestones in cognitive, social, and emotional development that can set the stage for success – or struggles – in their school years.
We also know that trauma and exposure to violence impact a child’s brain development. The complexities of poverty are evident and powerful.
A large body of research, including work by University of Chicago economist James Heckman, highlights the critical importance of children’s cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development from birth to age 5. We look forward to presenting this work over the course of the next year.

8. Child Poverty Rates in Illinois by Race/Ethnicity, 2008-09
White 9%
Black 39%
Latino 25%
Racial and ethnic disparities remain striking. In , 39% of African-American children and 25% of Latino children in Illinois lived below poverty level.

9. Lasting Effects of Recession
Poverty expected to continue rising even after economy begins to recover
Child poverty in U.S. projected to reach 24% in 2012
Expected rate in Illinois: 22%
(more than 650,000 children)
Projections from the Brookings Institution based on studies of previous and smaller recessions, indicate that child poverty will continue to rise even after the economy begins to recover – reaching a rate of 24% nationwide in 2012.
For Illinois, this means child poverty in the state can be expected to reach about 22% in 2012.
This figure would represent over 650,000 children – more than one in every 5 children in Illinois living in poverty just two years from now.

10. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps)
About half of SNAP recipients in Illinois are children
Total SNAP recipients in Illinois:
June 2008: million
June 2010: million (27% increase)
Food Stamps and federal EITC are the most effective programs in lifting children above poverty level
Another indicator of poverty is utilization of the Food Stamp Program.
Half of Food Stamp recipients in Illinois are children.
In June 2010, 1.65 million Illinois residents participated in the Food Stamp program, an increase of 27% from two years earlier.
Last January, when releasing the report in Springfield, we heard the story of the gentleman who was working with a caseworker to apply for food stamps. The man started to shiver and when the caseworker asked if he was cold, he broke down saying he used to volunteer and contribute to the food pantry but he had lost his job and had no way to provide food for his three children. These stories are told over and over as more families struggle in this economic crisis.
The benefits of these programs can not be underestimated.
According to analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Food Stamps and the federal Earned Income Tax Credit are the most effective programs in lifting children above poverty level.

11. Homeless School-Age Children
Homeless students in Illinois public schools
: 19,800
: 26,700
Evidence that homelessness has become even worse since then
In , there were nearly 27,000 homeless students enrolled in Illinois public schools – 35% more than in
Homeless students are defined as children who don’t have a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence.
Accumulating evidence from across the nation indicates that homelessness is becoming significantly worse.
Again, last year as part of our education symposium, we heard the story of the student who’s family had lost their home and had to move from relatives to friends. Fortunately, the law provides that she could continue in her home school. But consider the fact that she no longer had a fixed, regular place to sleep each night and how that impacted her ability to learn. And consider the impact on her classmates who worried not only for her but wondered if they too could become homeless.

12. Key Investments for Illinois Children
Early childhood care and education
Health care coverage
Child care assistance for working families
Mental health services
Child welfare and prevention strategies
Recession and state fiscal crisis put these investments in jeopardy
While this data is compelling it is important that we also focus on what we know works to help kids succeed.
Strategic investments produce long-term benefits for children, their families, and the state as a whole.
• Illinois has become a prominent leader in early childhood care and education. The state has been at or near the top of nationwide rankings for access to preschool and for preschool quality standards. Research has consistently demonstrated the long-term educational and economic benefits of investing in high-quality early learning programs. Prof. Heckman, UC nobel laureate economist has demonstrated that investing in early childhood development for disadvantaged children provides a 10% return to society through increased personal achievement and social productivity
• The state has dramatically improved health care coverage for children. The proportion of Illinois children without health insurance has significantly declined with greatest gains for African American and Latino children. In 2009 only 4.5% of Illinois children had no health insurance coverage, compared with 8.6% nationwide. Between FY2005 and 2009 the number of children enrolled in Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and All Kids expansion increased 34% statewide and 24% in Sangamon County.
• The Illinois Child Care Assistance Program provides access to affordable child care services for nearly 100,000 low-income working families. Research shows that child care subsidies are associated with higher employment rates and improved employment outcomes for low-income mothers.
• Through the efforts of the Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership, the state is improving the scope and quality of children’s mental health services. The Partnership has promoted comprehensive, coordinated approaches to the healthy social and emotional development of children and reduced hospitalization costs through community based care by over $100 million.
• Through reforms of the child welfare system and the development of effective prevention strategies, the state has greatly improved its efforts to protect children from abuse and neglect and provide them with stable, permanent living arrangements.

13. Securing the Future for Children and Families
Policy challenges:
Protect families in need
Build on successful policies
Strengthen foundation for prosperous future
Formidable challenges and unmet needs remain in these and other key policy areas affecting children and families. While these investments have proven long term benefits and save the state money, the recession and state fiscal crisis put these gains in serious jeopardy.
Many programs have already experienced substantial budget cuts and more are on the horizon due to a 50% deficit in the states general operating revenues.
A new study from the Urban Institute found that 72% of human service nonprofits in Illinois reported problems with late payments from government – the highest level of any state.
We know these fiscal problems mean more harm to children and families. It is heartbreaking to think that children will struggle from these effects for a lifetime.
So it is absolutely vital in this time of economic crisis that we help families in need, build on successful policies, and set the foundation for a prosperous future.
We must be vigilant about the well-being of all children – especially during difficult economic times. Our kids don’t have the luxury of starting over, and when poverty and hardship block our children from thriving – we all lose.

14. Illinois Kids Count 2010 Report
View at
Please refer to the Voices web site to learn more from the full report or the summary of Major Themes and Findings.
I know the essays in the book will inspire you to action.
As we travel the state, sharing this data, I am struck by our constant reference to crisis yet we seldom hear the outrage that we can and must feel.
I hope our discussion today, compels you to join efforts to turn our frustration and concern to real actions that build on our successes. We as the adults in this situation have the power and responsibility to establish and communicate our priorities. We must set our communities and the state on the path to fiscal stability and future prosperity. There is no disagreement with the fact that children are our future and they must be priority #1!

15. For more information
Kathy Ryg President Voices for Illinois Children