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Interviews with news makers and discussion of topics important to Southwest Michigan. Subscribe to the podcast through Apple itunes and Google. Segments of interview are heard in WestSouthwest Brief during Morning Edition and All Things Considered

WSW: Report Finds Many Michigan Children Stuck in Poverty

Michigan League for Public Policy

    

The latest report on child well-being in Michigan finds nearly one in four children in the state lives in an "impoverished household." 

The Kids Count in Michigan report released on Thursday examines financial conditions and factors such as health, education and investigations of abuse or neglect. 

Jane Zehnder-Merrell, the Kids Count in Michigan Project Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, spoke with WMUK's Gordon about findings in the latest report. 

Asked what is most disturbing about the latest numbers, Zehnder-Merrell says the number of children living in poverty in the state. She says while the economy may be recovering, many people are still struggling to make ends meet. Zehnder-Merrell says at the same time the state has been cutting programs that make up the "safety net." 

In terms of "silver linings," Zehnder-Merrell there has been a decrease in teens giving birth, fewer reports of children in foster care for abuse and neglect, improved reading for fourth graders and a drop in infant mortality. 

But Zehnder-Merrell says there has been little overall improvement, and child poverty is a long-term problem. She says studies show that children who grow up in poverty are likely to continue to have problems into adulthood. Zehnder-Merrell says the early years are when children are particularly vulnerable. 

Kalamazoo County ranks 52nd among the 82 counties measured in the report. Zehnder-Merrell says there is a wide variation among the indicators. She says Kalamazoo County has a lower poverty rate than the state average, but she says a "red flag" is that there is a higher than average level of investigations of child abuse and neglect. 

Southwest Michigan counties vary widely in the rankings, Calhoun County is at 77th, Van Buren County is 43rd, Saint Joseph County is at 64th. But Allegan County is 13th and Barry County 14th. Zehnder-Merrell says child poverty is a very strong indicator for the other measures of child well-being. 

Zehnder-Merrell says the state should increase access to safe, high quality child care. She says that allows parents to work and for children to develop. The Michigan League for Public Policy is also calling for the full restoration of the Earned Income Tax Credit in Michigan. It help supplement low income working families. That would be restored in voters approve the ballot proposal to increase the sales tax as part of a package to boost road funding. 

Governor Rick Snyder has proposed expanding a program for dental services for children on Medicaid. Zehnder-Merrell says the governor's budget proposal includes many programs to help children in poverty. She says the spending plan emphasizes early childhood programs in health, education and other areas. 

Gordon Evans became WMUK's Content Director in 2019 after more than 20 years as an anchor, host and reporter. A 1990 graduate of Michigan State, he began work at WMUK in 1996.
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