At 26th in the nation, South Dakota may still rank in the middle among states, but it’s losing ground when measuring child well-being.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s latest Kids Count Data Book says when breaking down the ranking into specific categories, South Dakota ranks 27th for family and community support, including a rise in kids living in single parent households.
Xanna Burg, the Kids Count director for South Dakota, says there is a lack of progress in other areas, as well.
“If we look at the economic and education sections, we’re seeing data that they’re staying stagnant, or trending in the wrong directions.”
Nationally, the Kids Count report shows a five-percent increase in kids ages 16 to 19 who aren’t in school or working.
The Casey Foundation’s Leslie Boissiere says this is a critical stage that needs to be prioritized by decision makers.
“With things like internships and apprenticeships – stronger and, in some cases, alternative education – so that they have an opportunity to thrive and to move forward from education and into the workforce.”
For health coverage, voters in 2022 approved expanding the state’s Medicaid program. But when federal pandemic rules that allowed for automatic enrollment ended, thousands of children were removed from the Medicaid rolls, despite still being eligible. As Congress debates limiting the scope of safety-net programs, Burg urges state lawmakers to consider the added pressure South Dakota might feel.
Comments