From Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition:
BCAC October 20, 2010 – The Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition (BCAC) released its State of the Child in Bridgeport 2010 Report today. The Report indicates that despite some important, positive gains made since last year, Bridgeport received an “F” on 15 of 21 indicators of children’s well-being when compared with children statewide. This 25th Anniversary Edition shows that while some areas showed significant improvement, the disparities between Bridgeport’s children and those statewide are clearly evident.
Produced annually since 1985, the State of the Child in Bridgeport Report presents a snapshot of the lives of Bridgeport’s children, giving them a grade in comparison to other children statewide as well as a grade for “effort” showing if progress has been made in key areas from one year to the next.
Several measures BCAC examined showed significant improvement from the previous year, including the percentage of students meeting goal in reading on the Connecticut Mastery Test; infant mortality rate; juvenile arrests overall, and arrests for violent crimes.
At the same time, three indicators deserve close attention, particularly in light of the current economic crisis:
• 64% increase in the number of families on the waiting list for public housing;
• 24% increase in the use of food stamps (SNAP); and
• 15% increase in the number of children abused and neglected
“During times of economic hardship, it is more important than ever to continue investing in our children and their families,” explained Mary Pat Healy, Executive Director, Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition. “Family security and stability is critical to ensure that children are healthy and have the education and skills they need to thrive.”
Where is Bridgeport Failing? And, Why It Matters?
Child Poverty
Living in poverty puts children at greater risk for disease, poor nutrition and school performance, violence, abuse, and homelessness.
• Bridgeport’s rate of child poverty, 28% (10,000 children), is more than twice the statewide rate of 12.5%.
Early Care
Children who participate in quality early childhood programs are more likely to perform better academically, graduate high school, become employed, and earn a higher income than those who do not.
• 67% of kindergarten students entered Bridgeport public schools with preschool, nursery school or Head Start experience in the 2008-09 school year, while 80% of kindergarten students statewide entered with preschool experience.
Education
Overcrowded classrooms, high teacher turnover and unsafe school environments contribute to poor student achievement and high dropout rates.
• Bridgeport’s cumulative dropout rate for the Class of 2008 was 23.3%, nearly four times the statewide rate of 6.6%.
Child Health
Good health, including physical, behavioral and oral health, is essential for a child’s development and well-being.
• Bridgeport’s teen birth rate is nearly three times the statewide rate. The 2006-08 rate for Bridgeport teens ages 15-17 was 33 births per 1,000 teenage girls, compared to the statewide rate of 12 births per 1,000 teenage girls.
Housing
Homeless children are at increased risk for poor health, developmental delays, mental health and behavioral health problems, and lower educational achievement.
• The rate of Bridgeport children living in homeless shelters is nearly three times the statewide rate. There were 8 homeless children in Bridgeport shelters per 1,000 children in FY 2008-09, compared to 3 homeless children per 1,000 statewide.
Child Safety
Long-term exposure to violence can lead to academic failure, depression and delinquency. Children exposed to violence are nearly 40% more likely to commit a crime when they reach adulthood than children not exposed to violence.
• In FY 2008-09, there were 22 confirmed cases of abuse and neglect per 1,000 Bridgeport children, compared to 12 cases per 1,000 children statewide.
Where is Bridgeport Improving?
Two indicators showed enough improvement from the previous year to earn an “A” and two earned an “A+,” showing gains of more than 20%: Specifically:
• A: 12% improvement in the percentage of students meeting goal in reading on the Connecticut Mastery Test
• A: 14% reduction in juvenile arrests from 934 in 2008 to 799 in 2009.
• A+: 23% decline in the infant mortality rate from 9.5 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2007 to 7.3 per 1,000.
• A+: 35% decline in juvenile arrests for violent crimes from 134 in 2008 to 87 in 2009.
More About the Report
The State of the Child in Bridgeport 2010 Report examines 21 major indicators of child well-being. Following are the major indicators and the related issues covered:
• Childhood Poverty: child hunger and family status.
• Early Care: child care capacity and need, child care costs and child care quality.
• Education: student enrollment, academic performance, bilingual education, class size, dropout rate, school behavior, and students with disabilities.
• Child Health:
* Infant Health: infant mortality and low birth weight babies, and prenatal care.
* Child Health: childhood asthma, lead poisoning, mental health, obesity,
and oral health.
* Teen Health: sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse and smoking,
and teen pregnancy.
• Housing: includes homelessness and the need for public and affordable housing.
• Child Safety: child abuse, domestic violence and juvenile violence.
The full State of the Child in Bridgeport 2010 Report is available on the BCAC Web site, www.bcacct.org. Copies may be obtained by calling the BCAC office at (203) 549-0075 or by e-mailing nbass@bcacct.org.
Funding for BCAC’s State of the Child in Bridgeport 2010 Report is generously provided by the Pitney Bowes Foundation, Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc., GE, Unilever United States Foundation, Inc. and People’s United Bank.
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About Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition (BCAC)
The Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition (BCAC) is a coalition of organizations, parents and other concerned individuals committed to improving the well-being of Bridgeport’s children through research, advocacy, community education, and mobilization. To learn more, visit www.BCACCT.org.
*** Let’s throw more money @ the problem, no? ***
*** Did I do that? *** Public Schools Education ***