Texas Texas KIDS COUNT:KIDS COUNT:The State of Fort Worth and The State of Fort Worth and

Tarrant County ChildrenTarrant County Children

Frances Deviney, PhDTexas KIDS COUNT Director

Center for Public Policy Priorities

Fort Worth Botanic GardensForth Worth, Texas

March 21, 2006

KIDS COUNT Project Goal

TO USE SOUND DATA TO INFLUENCE key national, state and local decision makers

who make policy, allocate resources and design programs that aim to improve

outcomes for disadvantaged kids, families and communities.

What is the Value of KIDS COUNT?

• Provides the most current county-level data available

• Tailors data to local audience and circumstances

• Informs critical decision-making about children and families

• Serves as a resource for local advocates in Texas

Children in Tarrant Co. & Texas

• Tarrant Co. = 435,569

• Texas = over 6.1 million

Source: Texas State Data Center and the Office of the State Demographer, 2003 Population Estimates Children ages 0-17

Children in Tarrant County and Texas

41.2%

49.7%

12.7%15.8%

42.8%

29.6%

3.3%4.9%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Tarrant Co. Texas

Source: Texas State Data Center and the Office of the State Demographer, 2003 Population Estimates

Anglo

BlackHispanic

Other Race

Family Economic Security in Tarrant Co.

• Unemployment

– CLIMBS from 3.6% to 5.1% (2000-2005)

• Median Household Income – DOWN 2% from $48,473 to $47,660

(2000-2003) Sources: Texas Workforce Commission; U.S. Census Bureau, 2003 Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates

Child Poverty is on the Rise

17.7%

14.2%

Tarrant Co. 16.8%

22.8%Texas 23.6%

20.5%

14%

16%

18%

20%

22%

24%

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Source: U.S. Census, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates

Poverty

• 2005 Official federal poverty line–Family of 2 < $12,830/year

–Family of 3 < $16,090/year

–Family of 4 < $19,350/year

Living in Fort Worth-Arlington:Family Security Index

Single-Parent One Child

Single-Parent Two Children

Two Parents One Child

Two Parents Two Children

Necessary Annual Income

$33,614 $37,835 $40,795 $45,103

% Federal Poverty Line

262% 235% 253% 233%

Source: Family Security Index, Center for Public Policy Priorities; Data Adjusted for 2005 Inflation Levels

Infant and Child Health

Infant Health In Tarrant Co.

• Babies born with inadequate prenatal care

–Over 1 in 4

• Babies born weighing < 5.5 pounds

–Over 2,100

Source: Texas Department of State Health Services, 2003 Birth Data

Infant Mortality Climbs After Low in 2000

Tarrant Co.10.0

6.3

7.5Texas8.2

5.8

6.6

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

11.0

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Dea

ths

per

1,0

00 L

ive

Bir

ths

Source: Texas Department of State Health Services

Services for Children in Tarrant Co.• Medicaid

– UP 138%, over 96,000 enrolled (Aug 2000-Aug 2005)

• CHIP– DOWN 32%, from over 28,000 to under 20,000

(Aug 2003-Aug 2005)

• Food Stamps– UP 107%, over 40,000 enrolled (Feb 2000-Feb 2003)

• State Subsidized Child Care– UP 23%, over 12,600 enrolled (2000-2004)

Sources: Texas Health & Human Services Commission; Texas Workforce Commission

Congress Reduces Funds for Programs Affecting Children and Families: Impact on TX

Education -$65.1 Million

Preventive Health & Human Services Block Grant

-$1.3M

WIC Nutrition Program -$3.1M

Child Support Enforcement -$200M-$2 Billion in Collections

Community Development Block Grant

-$8M

Source: Federal Funds Watch vol 12(1), Legislative Budget Board, Texas State Legislature

The State of the Economy is Reflected in

the State of Texas and Tarrant County Children

Bucking the Trend:Tarrant County Teens

High School Dropout Rate Shows Consistent Decline

4.0%

8.7%

Tarrant Co. 9.2%

3.9%

6.2%

Texas8.9%

0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%

10%11%

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

Per

cen

t o

f 9t

h G

rad

e S

tud

ents

wh

o

Gra

du

ated

4 Y

ears

Lat

er

Source: Texas Education Agency, 4-year Longitudinal Dropout Rate

Births to Teens in Tarrant Co. Lower than Rest of Texas . . . And Falling

12.0%

13.5%

Tarrant Co., 13.7% 13.8%

15.9%

Texas, 16.6%

11%

12%

13%

14%

15%

16%

17%

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Per

cen

tag

e o

f A

ll L

ive

Bir

ths

Source: Texas Department of State Health Services

Teen Violent Death Declined Sharply from Early 1990’s

Tarrant Co., 86.3

Tarrant Co.48.6

Texas74.2

Texas53.5

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003D

eath

s p

er 1

00,0

00 T

een

s A

ges

15-

19

Source: Texas Department of State Health Services

Investing in Our Kids

• Dropout Prevention Programs

• Pregnancy Prevention

• Graduated Driver’s License

Texas Texas KIDS COUNT KIDS COUNT ProjectProject

Frances Deviney, PhDdeviney@cppp.org

(512) 320-0222 ext. 106

Center for Public Policy Prioritieswww.cppp.org