2006 Maine and National KIDS COUNT Data Book
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2006 Maine KIDS COUNT Data Shows Progress on Teen Health, While Hospitalizations for Mental Health Disorders Prompt Concern
AUGUSTA, Maine – The 12th annual Maine KIDS COUNT data book, released today, uses more than 80 indicators to track the progress of Maine children's physical and mental well-being. The Data Book has become an important part of identifying progress in improving kids' lives, and highlighting areas where more work is needed.
This year, despite considerable advances in making sure all children have access to health care, the data show that too many young people are hospitalized for treatable mental illness. The number of hospital admissions among children has risen more than 41 percent over the last four years.
Gov. John Baldacci, who has set a goal of guaranteeing all Mainers access to health care said, "Maine KIDS COUNT shows us where we've been, and where we need to go. While access to health care is vital, we must also make sure it is the right kind of care. Because so many children's mental health needs are not identified until they need emergency care, we need to ensure we direct adequate effort at early intervention and prevention. Not only will we help kids, but we will use the resources of our health care system to their maximum effectiveness."
The data book shows significant progress in improving the social health and well-being of teenagers through responsible behavior. Teen pregnancy continues to decline, and is among the lowest in the nation. Dramatic reductions in smoking by teen-agers have occurred over the last 10 years. Maine, once well above the national average, has cut teen smoking nearly in half, to just 16 percent. And in a reversal of previous trend, Maine teen-agers have lowered their rate of obesity, while exercising more often.
"We know that when we have good data, and can focus on problems, we can make a real difference," said Elinor Goldberg, president and CEO of the Maine Children's Alliance, which publishes the annual KIDS COUNT Data Book.
The teen suicide rate, for instance, has declined for the last two years, though it remains above the national average. Use of alcohol and marijuana has also declined, and are now slightly below the national average.
The indicators show that poverty has increased in Maine, as it has across the country in recent years. Among the youngest children, from birth to age 5, 18.8 percent were living in families below the federal poverty level, an increase of 3.3 percent. In all, 101,000 children live in low-income families earning 200 percent of the federal poverty level or less – 35.8 percent of all Maine children. Maine has adopted a higher than average state minimum wage, but it still represents less than half a livable wage for full-time work.
While Maine's proportion of uninsured children is 7 percent, just half the national rate of 15 percent, the number of kids lacking health insurance did not decrease last year despite increased eligibility through MaineCare, and remains at 19,000 statewide.
"We see the release of Maine KIDS COUNT as an annual checkup on the lives of some of our most important citizens," said Elinor Goldberg. "While there's a lot of good news, there is work ahead for all of us. We hope that our state policymakers, parents, and all the people of Maine will welcome this opportunity to better the lives of all our children, next year and for years to come."
(The Maine Children's Alliance is a statewide, non-profit, non-partisan organization advocating on behalf of all Maine children. In addition to annually publishing the Maine KIDS COUNT data book, it is a voice for children in Augusta, Washington and in events and forums throughout the state.)
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