New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau show Kentucky ranks 40th in the nation for child poverty. The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey says 25.3 percent of Kentucky children lived in poverty in 2013, which is a little more than three percent higher than the national average.
Kentucky Youth Advocates director Terry Brooks says anything that can be done to alleviate the number of economically distressed young people will pay off down the road.
“We know that poverty is the driver for literally every other facet of a kid's life; health outcomes, education achievement, family structure, core issues like safety,” Brooks said.
Brooks also renewed his call for lawmakers to institute an earned income tax credit, and take further steps to crack down on payday lenders who he says prey on the poor by charging exorbitant interest rates on short-term loans.
The latest Census Bureau figures also include child poverty rates for Kentucky counties with populations of over 65,000 people.
In our region, McCracken has one of the highest child poverty rates at 31.9 percent while Christian County stands at 15 percent.
