How Are Alaska’s Children Doing?
10 April 2007UAA’s Institute for Social and Economic Research often produces good research upon which public policy decisions can be intelligently discussed and formulated. Perhaps my favorite which is routinely produced is the Kids Count Alaska Data Book. Despite the title, it is not just reams of statistical data. There actually is some discussion of policy, and this year several real stories about Alaskan kids. Take a look. You will not be disappointed. . .
A new look at how well Alaska’s children and teenagers are doing, the annual Kids Count Alaska Data Book, reports some good news and some bad news.
- Birth rates among teenage girls continue to fall, and since the 1990s rates in Alaska have fallen faster than the national average. But teenage girls in the northern and southwestern regions of Alaska still have babies at much higher than national rates.
- Juvenile crime in Alaska was lower in 2004 than in 1994 and lower than the national average. But teenagers in Alaska still commit property crimes and drive under the influence of alcohol more often than teenagers nationwide.
- Alaska’s high school students are passing the high school graduation qualifying exam at higher rates now than in 2002, but about 25% still failed the math and reading sections in 2006. Only half of the state’s Alaska Native, Black, and Hispanic students graduate from high school.
- The share of children without health insurance is lower in Alaska than nationwide, largely because Alaska Native children are eligible for health care through the Alaska Area Native Health Service.
- The new data book also includes stories from seven foster families around the state. These families have opened their homes and their hearts to some of the 2,000 Alaska children in foster care. All the families report that the satisfaction they get from helping some of Alaska’s most vulnerable children far outweighs the difficulties.
Click here to see the data book. Copies are also available from ISER in Anchorage. Call 907-786-7710 for information.
[Source: ISER list serve, April 9, 2007]
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