DOCUMENT RESUME PS 027 027 ED 424 929 Maine Kids Count 1997 Data Book. TITLE Maine Children's Alliance, Augusta. INSTITUTION Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, MD. SPONS AGENCY 1997-00-00 PUB DATE 72p.; For 1994 Data Book, see PS 027 025; for 1995-96 Data NOTE Book, see PS 027 026; and for 1998 Data Book, see PS 027 028 Maine Children's Alliance, P.O. Box 2446, Augusta, ME 04338; AVAILABLE FROM Tel: 207-623-1868; Fax: 207-626-3302; e-mail: [email protected] ($10). Descriptive Reports Numerical/Quantitative Data (110) PUB TYPE (141) MF01/PC03 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE Adolescents; Birth Weight; Births to Single Women; *Child DESCRIPTORS Health; *Children; Counties; Delinquency; Demography; Dropout Rate; Early Parenthood; Economic Status; Elementary Secondary Education; Family (Sociological Unit); Family Violence; Foster Care; Higher Education; Infants; Mortality Rate; One Parent Family; Out of School Youth; *Poverty; Prenatal Care; Safety; *Social Indicators; Special Needs Students; State Surveys; Statistical Surveys; Suicide; Tables (Data); *Well Being Arrests; Child Safety; *Indicators; *Maine IDENTIFIERS ABSTRACT This Kids Count report details statewide trends in the well-being of Maine's children. The statistical portrait is based on (1) physical and mental indictors children's well-being in four areas: (3) community and family (2) social and economic opportunity; health; environment; and (4) education and learning. The report's introduction describes goals for Kids Count, presents a Maine state profile including comparative national data where available, and describes the indicators addressed. The second section, and bulk of the report, presents a demographic profile for each of the state's 16 counties, and the county data, including a comparison to the statewide averages and changes from the 1995-96 report, for (1) children in the 20 indicators of child well-being. The 20 indicators are: families receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC); (2) (3) children on Medicaid; children receiving subsidized lunches; (4) (6) prenatal care; (7) low (5) births to unmarried teens; unemployment; (10) number of (9) number of physicians; (8) infant mortality; birth-weight; (12) child deaths, ages 1-14; (11) children in foster care; dentists; (13) (16) domestic (15) child suicide; (14) teen violent deaths; teen deaths; (19) post-secondary education (18) dropout rate; assaults; (17) arrests; rates; and (20) children with special needs. The report's two appendices present definitions and data sources used in completing the report, and 20 references for further reading. 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To obtain additional copies of this publication, use the form in the back of this book, or contact, Maine Children's Alliance PO Box 2446 Augusta, Maine 04338 (207) 623.1868 (207) 626.3302fax e-mail us at: [email protected] Maine Children's Alliance ,Elinor 'Goldberg Tom McLaughlin Margaret Ricker Ann Woloson Consultants Alan H. Reid Steven Ricker Betsy Sweet Design: Katie Murphy, Univoice Graphic Design Printed by Impressive Printing, Portland, Maine Front cover photo: I Spy, by Michelle Jolicoeur Back cover photo: Jay-Lee on Tire Swing, by Helen M. Stummer Drawing, above: Kevin Walsh, Presurnpscot School, Portland Maine.Children's Alliance Maine Children's Alliance Maine Children's Alliance Policy CoMmittee Board of Directors Staff Sharon Abair Elinor Goldbet Merrie Allen Boothbajr YMCA Child Care -Rachel Curtis,RN Leanne Greeley Bond Margaret Ricker Michael Carpenter Ann Woloson Peter Driscoll, MSW Gail Chase Torn McLaughlin Debaah Dunn Dean Crocker . Child Development Services Barbara CroWley, MD Cindy Fagan Muskie Institute Tom. Ewell . Svjeetser Children's.Services Mary, Herman Staff Laura Fortman Wilson Hess . Maine Women's' Lobby Peggy Kellenlierger Chris-Hastedt Donna C. Bird_ Jane McCarty Isabel Ames MaineEqual Justice Project Dale McCorrnick' J. Gregory Jolda Barbara Reinertsen Marjorie Medd Sun Xiangdong United Way of Mid Coast Maine Charles O'Leary Sue Ellen Richardson Vicky Russell Edwird O'Meara, Jr.- Jasper Ziller. _Community- Concepts Barbara Reinertsen Neil Rolde Sharon Rosen John Rosser. John Shoos Mindy Taylor James Thompson Richard Warren Jane Weil ' Maine Children's Alliance Public Awareness Committee Leanne Greeley BOnd Maine Development Foundruion Cary Collette 6/Alive, . Or. Judith Graham Colburn . Coopertive Extension, University of Maine Charles O'Le"ary Maine AFL-CIO Edwai'd O'Meara Public Affairs Consultant Barbara Reinertsen. United Way of Mid Coas:t Maine . James Thompson Corporate and Institutional Communications PETER LINDSAY Kids Count Committee Kids Count Data Subcommittee Marlene-McMullen-Pelsor Linda Christie Maine Counrilfor Adolescent Health Portland, Maine Lynda Gaillard, Chair Mark Millar Barbara'Crowley, MD. The Spurwink Clinic . Leda Cunningham. Kennebec Pediatrics, Keonebec Valley Medical Center Casey Family Services Leda Cunningham Edward Miller Maine Department of Corrections Maine Department of Corrections American Luog Association of Maine Bill Davis Francis Finnegan Lisa Miller Institute for the Study of At-Risk Students, University of Maine Burean cf Medical Services, Maine Department Public Health Consultant of Human Services Judy Feinstein Carol Morris Lynda Gaillard Maine Department of Human. Services, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Division of Community and Family Health The Spurwink Clinic Barbara Reinertsen BOb Gross Judith Graham Colburn United Way of Mid Coast Maine Maine Department of Human Services, Cooper'ative Extension Program, University of Maine . Gladys Richardson Division of 'C'ommunity and Family Health Laurel Graves Healthy Futures DeEtte Hall Maine Department of Mental Health, Burt Richardson, M.D. Maine Department of Human Services, Mental Retardation and. Substance Abuse,Services Healthy Futures Division of Community. and Family Health Sarah Haggarty . Trish Riley Jim Harrod Maine Ambulatory Care Coalition . National Academy for State Health Polity Maine Department of Mental Health, DeEtte Hall Edward Rushton, M.D. Mental Retardation, and Substance:Abuse Services Division of Community and Family Health, Rick Hayward American Acaderriy of Pediatrics. Maine Department of Human Services Norma Jean Senechal Maine Department of Mental Health., James. Hennigar Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services Meant Ediecation Office, Mountain View School .Good Will-Hinckley School Lita Klavins Dianne Stetson Roxy Hennings. Maine Department of Mental Health, Maine Office of Child Care and Head S'tart, Department of Corrections Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services Department of Human Services Kristina Lunner Mike Martin Meredith Tipton . Maine Medical Association Maine Department of Public Safety, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine Deb Mattson Bureau of Highway Safety Kathi Wall, RN Marcey McHatten Mediation and Facilitation Resources Children's Health Collaborativ; Margaret Chase Smith Center forPublic Polity, University 2 [Maine Ellen Naor Maine Departmern of Human Seririces, Office of Data, Research ond Vital Statistics -Al Sutherland Maine Department of Education, Divisiott of Information Management Joyce Tillson Maine Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (.1;,.. ANGELA, CLEGG ontents Tab Introduction Body Rhythms About Maine KIDS COUNT' Anxious faces everywhere Girls in black leotards chatter- A woman enters the room... The Voices of Maine Youth Silence. 1 A sea of pink covered legs makes its way to the bar ,and begins to move in time of Maine KIDS COUNT with the music that fills'the space. My dance teacher's voice echoes tihrough the room. Child Health Care Access Project Concentration takes Over.. ,Demi plie, derni plie, grand plie, stretch." My head, How to Use This Book my feet, 3 my arms begin moving. Maine State Profile 5 Freedom envelopes me' My whole body lets go. All doubts, Physical'and Mental Health 6 worries, . . thoughts of homework, everything, escape me. Social and Economic Opportunity 8 The music ends. I feel hot but.good. Community and Family Environment 12 Now' the music .changes but my .teachee.s voice remains. Free from the bar Education and Learning 14 my real dancing begins. Run arid leap, and then'repeat... run and leap, and then repeat. County Profiles 18 I fly high 'and something lifts me Definitions and Sources of Data 52 invisible. Could it come from Within the? I become part of the music.. My'body moves without thought- References for Further Reading 62 pure instinct. When the music stops I begin to feel my body again. Room in.my mind for only orie thou'ght I am a dancer: Emily,Miller Center for Teaching and Learning, Edgecomb Introduction The 1997 Maine KIDS COUNT data book provides We fall far short of celebration, hoWever, in many other the most comprehensive picture of the status of areas. On average during the Period 1991.to 1995, nearly children living in Maine. It features the most up-to-date' 20% of Maine children lived.in pover4i. The 1996 National information available regarding the condition of Maine's Kids Count Data Book indicates'that in 1993 more than.7% children in terms of social and economic opportunity, of Maine's children were growing up in families whose community and family environment, phylsical and niental annual income was below the federal poverty line, despite health, and education and learning. By providing and the fact.that at least one parent worked all year. Nearly. 'bringing attention to information available on the status one-third of all children enrolled in school iii.Maine . of children, the Maine KIDS COUNT project continues received.subsidized school lunches during the 1995-1996 to strengthen our ability to stand for all children in Maine school year: An average of 10.8% of 'children Were without health insurance during the 1991-1995 period. Clearly, too -and give them the best opportunity to becOme successfill adults. manyehildren in Maine continue to live without the resources The third year of the Maine KIDS COUNT project giyes ;they need to grow up as healthy, happy adults. us 'reasons to celebrate. At 3%, the high school dropout rate in Maine is the second lowest in the country.The number The availability of services for victims'of child abusc and of live births in Maine for which prenatal care began in the neglect also remains an area of concern in Maine.'While first trimester increased to 89%, remaining considerably. the total number of substantiated child abnise and neglect higher than the.national average. The number of 2-year-old cases decreased Slightly from 1994 to 1995, the.number of approptiate referrals for these services that were not assigned children who were age-appropriately imm' unized in 1994 rose to 84%, also well above the national average. The teen . due to lack of re'sOurces increased over.I0%from the previous- pregnancy rate in,Maine continues to decrease. "In addition, year.That means thaealmost 2,700 appropriate requests for the teen birth rate in Maine decreased 9% from 1985 to child abuse and neglect services did not receive necessary 1993, while the national teen birth rate climbed nearly attention due-to the lack of resonrces. Domestic assaults 23%"dUring the same time period. The 1996 National' reported to police in Maine also increased by almost 7% from 1994 to 1995. Kids Count Data Book ranks the overall status of Maine's children as fourth beSt in the nation. Finally, the number of jnvenile arrests for crimes against persons totaled 219 in Maine in 1995, Afthough the rate CD co of 1.6 per 1,000 children arrested for such crimes in Maine LTI is considerably lower than thc national rate of.5.I, the rate Cr) has continued to increase since 1985, giving us legitimate : reason for concern. As the Maine KIDS COUNT,project enters its fourth year, we continue to seek out indicators that reflect the quality of life for children in Maine.The 1997 Data Book includes- data that has been collected over several years, allowing us to examine trends in the status of Maine's children. We Must use the inforMation in thc Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book to work together to:itnprove the'condition of children in Maine. Maine KIDS COUNT enables us to do . so b:y providing us with the information we need to:channel our resources and create policies that give Maine's children the-opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. By _ adopting policies and programs that promote improved outcomes for all children in Maine, we will be rewarded with good news and positive trends in thefutute. 7 Maine KIDS COUNT 1997 Data Book i 6oals of Maine KIDS COUNT About Maine KIDS COUNT . The overall goal.of Maine KIDS COUNT is to ensUre.that Maine KIDS COUNT is a four7year project to collect-and -analyze data on the Welhbeing of children in Maine. Maine's children thrive and beCome successful adults who Produced in-collabOration with the Edmund S. Muskie are able to participate fully in Maine's.social and economic Institute of Palk Affairs, Maine KIDS COUNT environments. Tho prOject has identified ce-etain desirable provides the mist comprehensive resource availabk today of outcome§ to measure Maine's progress. in re.aching this goal: outcomes for M-aine children: Funding for the project is Fewer Maine Children Will live in pOverty; provided by the-Annie E. Casey.Foundation as part of a national and state-by-state effort to track the status of . Children and youth Will have.improved aCcesS to health children in the United Stares. During the first two years of care and.will be healthier;. the Maine KIDS COUNT project, data analysts and a ..Children. will enter school icady to learn;, broad range of people interested in children worked together Family-violence will be reduced; tO select indicators that would measure how Maine i-s Teens will have more hoPe and purpose..in.their lives; meeting the needs of irs children. As we refine.our data collection efforts and foeus on specific issues such as The community will share rhe responsibility of raising poverty, domestic violence -and access to health care, it is children. critical that indicators measure OtitcoMe§ for child-I-en, no( These Outcomes shape the Maine KIDS COUNT project. Merely efforts made on their behalf.. It continues to be By working towards-them, we will ultina' ately creare a Maine iMportant.that, tb the extent possible, each indicator meet environment conducive fo raising-happy, healthy children '- several criteria: it must be reliable and consistent over.. who arc .roady to reach their_full potential as adults.. time; it must reflect a salient.outeome or measure of well being in terms-that arc easily understandable;.and it should be available on an.annrial basis.. The Voices of Maine Youth The voice§ of Maine YOuth theme of the 1995-96 Data Book suCceeded in capttiring the essence of what it means to be a child in Maine-. Including the voices of Maine's youth as part of die Maine KIDS. COUNT project helps us to-better under§rand what it is really like to grow up in Maine.The project includes yoices from Maine children by asking them. to describe in,their Own words Or artwork some of the-best things about- growing up_in Maine, including favorite seasons;pastirnes, places; some of the-problems facing Maine children and youth;. and Ways that citizens of Maine have Worked, of could work together, to improve the .well-being of Maine's Children._ 60, The importance of including children's voices in formulating policy should never bc forgatien, as it,is children themselves' who are best able to describe.their needs and experiences. . B. FIELDING -1 Maine KIDS COUNT 1997 Data Book 1 =4,1, Child Health Care Access.Project. With this Data Book,Maine KIDS COUNT introduces the Child Health Care Access Project, a research and advocacy project aimed at substantially improiing access to health carefor all Maine children, especially those who currently lack health insurance.Funding for this project. will be'provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation; the -Bingham Program, New England Medical Center; and the Jessie-B. Cox Charitable Trust, Hemenway &Barney. Likethe rest of the nation, Maine:faces Many new challenges to its health care system. It is now estimated thaean average of 10.8% of all Maine children lackec1public or priYate health, insurance from 1991-1995. Many of the-se are children liremem0~101k -At of the Working poor or struggling middle class, whose parents The Child Health Care Access Project, will build on the are not eligible for, or not Offered, health insurance Where conceptual framework initially proposed by. EuAnn Aday they work. As health care costs rise, the number of people - and Ronald Anderson in 1975. The framework suggests who areable to affordBealth insurance, or shareco-payments that effective health policy,development will occur when with their employer, dedines. _ char- acteristicS of the delivery system and population at Other public policy changes and market-based-forces, risk, as well as service utilization and consumer satisfaction, including the devolution of funding responsibility froth the are all taken intd consideration. The Maine KIDS COUNT. federal government to the states; threats of Cutbacks in Data Book will build upon its physical and mental health - funding for public health, and the introduCtion of Medicaid indiCators, utilizing data from, new and existing sources. It managed care, pose even more difficult challengesito our will build an accurate, complete picture Of Maine's health. . ability to protect our children's health. care system as it-relates to the needs of children, and provide. , an understanding and-basis for making decisions that. The Child Health Care Access Project will examine the full affect our children's health. . range of barriers-affecting children's access Co health care, and will monitor changes oCcurring in Maine's health care TheMaihe Children's Alliance will continue to work with system. Consumers, health care providers, policy makers, and the Edmund S. Muskie Institute of Public Affairs to define representatives from the busine-ss and.labor communities and make the best use of relevant health care access data_ will 'participate. CollaboratiVe relationship' s to address Strategies for collecting new indicators that depict children's` barriers and create realistic solution*s-for improving child access to healthcare will be developed. Additional publications access to health carc Will be encouraged and fostered. are planned which will outline thestatus of children's health- and aCcess to-health care. RecommendatiOns Will a4o The goals of the Child Health Care Access Project include: be offered for adopting:and implementing policies.that will improve access statewide Bringing information about child health and-children's access to health Care to-the attention of bursiness leaders, Project collaborators will work thgether to develop and carry .Communities, providers and policy makers; . out,a major stateWide campaign; reaching the legislature and . Increasing access to a coordinated health care systeni.for coinmunities, to resolve the multifaceted problem of health Maine children- With and- Without health insurance; care access for children in Maine. By bringing public awareness-to access issues confronting children-and working Provding a strong -advocacy campaign that tackles this - together through the.develOpment of commun-ity-Based pressing children's issue; and ' collaboratives and partnership- s,.-We will substantially increaSe . Measuring and evaluating the project results for Children: access t6 health care for all Maine children. , 2 . Maine KIDS COUNT 1997 Data Book Changes in Data Display: o make the best decisions abOut how to improve the lives of Maine's Children, -we' must first know. how to : read and interpret the available infOrmation. We have made further.innovations in data display; as well.: .FollOwingthe state data pages; we featuretrend dati iii . graphic format for seven indicators for which such data were available. Line graphs provide a useful way to shoW change Child Well-Being Indicators over timc. The "cOunty therrhOmeter" pages again include comparisons to the preVious year, Where data for the 'previous year are available.and iii a comparagle foimat, as well as, Changes in IndkatOrs ..cOmparisons to statewide avth-dges, We compare county rates This.third Maine KIDS COUNT Data -BOok features . to Corresponding state 'rates using the folloWing formula: indicators frOm a variety of..sout:ces. It reiterates 'some % difference = (county rate state rate) X 100 indicators from earliei: Data B6oks whiCh have not been up- . tate rate dated..For example, the nUmber of Women in the labor foice With 'youngeSt child under-age 6 is ohly. counted -at the Similarly, we compare current rafes to previous rates using ten-year eensus. It provides updates. tO Irst year's indicawrs 'this fOrmula: where they Were available at the time we went to press. ReSpOnsible state agencies, for example; collect and % difference.= (current rafe - previous rate) X 100 .previous rate disseminate data oh school nutritiOn programs, child suicides, . and juvenile, arrests- on an annual basis., It .also presents . Increased rates are generallydesirablefor the following indicators several new indicators at the state and county leVel,' where on the thermometer page: . available. Tor exaMple, :recognizing strong concefns about these. issues, We have expanded significantly our coverage of Live- births fof which prenatal-care began in the first trimester; OrticipatiOn in AFDC and Food Stainp programs and have PediatriCians, family practitioners, and general practitioners; added child care and Head $tart data at the state levd.-In "- addition, because of our-emphasis'on health care access, we :;General-pfactice dentiSts; and have' increased the number of 'indicators in our physical and . High schOol graduates planning to attend post-secondary mental-health sectiOn, adding.casetates,for gonorrhea and . school,' chlaniyelia; utilization .of farriily planning, Well child, and EPSDT seriTices,.and 'survey data on use of health servites Increased fates are,not desirable fOr these indicators: by all high school students and conciorhs.for sexually ktive high school students::: 'Ainemployed persons aged- 1_6 and over; Birihs to unmarried teenaged Mothers who liive not.' In response to recommendations niadc by readers of last completed 12 years: of school; .year's Maine KIDS COUNT Data.Book and by those who provide us with-the data, we have also changed the defihitiOns ;Low birth weight infants; or formats of some indicators. Las' t yeat, for example,' we -Infant Mortality; showed domestic asSaults teported to police without ari Child death's; accompanying rite. This year, we,have calculated a rate per . 100,000 population to facilitate comparisons' between o.Teen cleathS; counties and the state, and from yearto year. We have alsO Teen violent deaths; . moved.some indicators,:such as 'uneniployment rates, frOm Child and teen suicides.; "the state profde page into sections where they logically gelong, in this instarice Social and Economic Opportunity. The data Domestic assaults reported to: police; degnitions and sourees section at The endof the boOk Arr8ts of children aged I0-17;: and provides detailedinformatiohabout n-iany of:these changes. .High sehOoldropouts. Maine KIDS CoUNIT 1997 Data Ei:Dok 3