West Virginia is failing our children

by: Carnacki

Wed Jul 28, 2010 at 11:28:10 AM EDT

West Virginia ranks 43rd in the nation overall in child well-being and in the bottom 10 states on four of the 10 indicators, including the percent of low-birthweight babies (46th), children living without secure parental employment (45th), children in poverty (43rd) and the child death rate (42nd). There was some good news for children in West Virginia: The state has improved on four of the 10 measures affecting child well-being since 2000 (infant mortality rate, child death rate, teen death rate and percent of children in poverty). However, in two measures (percent low-birthweight babies and percent of children in single parent families), conditions for West Virginia children have worsened; in two others(teen birth rate and percent of teens not in school and not high school graduates), conditions have remained unchanged; and two of the indicators are not comparable to previous years.

When you look at the maps at the county level, it is not surprising that the counties where King Coal rules strongest are also where children fare badly in overall well-being. King Coal isn't good at raising children.