Georgia Moves Up In Kids Count

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(GPB file photo)(GPB file photo)

By Josephine Bennett

MACON, Ga.  —  A new report says Georgia is taking better care of its kids. But, there’s still a lot of room for improvement.

The 2012 Kids Count Data Report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks Georgia 37 out of 50 states. It’s the peach state’s highest placement in the report’s 23 year history.

Georgia improved in areas of children’s health including death rates and insurance coverage. But the foundation’s Laura Speer says poverty is getting worse.

“When we looked at those indicators the state ranked 43rd in terms of how well kids are doing compared to other states in economic well-being. And that set of indicators is really led by the child poverty rate.” (:14)

In 2005 one in five Georgia children lived in poverty. That number is now one in four. Poverty is defined as a family of four making less than $22,000 a year.

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