|
|
|
Fremont County, like many others in the state, has seen indications of poverty increase recently, according to a new report released by the Child and Family Policy Center.
The group released its “Trends in the Well-Being of Iowa Children” report which indicates that unemployment has increased and more people are receiving food assistance. In addition, more than one in three school children in Iowa were eligible for free or reduced-price lunches in 2009 and one in seven lived in poverty in 2008.
Although economic indicators took a downturn since 2000, health, education and welfare indicators were showing improvement, according to the report.
Report Findings
Child Welfare
In 2009, Fremont County had an increase in confirmed child abuse and neglect cases from 2000 figures. In 2000, six cases were confirmed. In 2009, 24 cases were confirmed, even though the child population decreased from 2,010 to 1,702. This is a change of 372 percent, the highest of any Iowa county. Statewide, abuse and neglect cases increased 34.9 percent. Nationwide, the number decreased 15.1 percent.
Fremont County had no child deaths in 2000 or 2009. Both the state and country saw decreases in child deaths.
A higher rate of child immunization was reported for the county in 2008, however, only five children were assessed and all had been immunized. In 2000, 16 of 18 children assessed had been fully immunized.
Economic indicators
The number of children living in poverty in 2000 was reported as 234 out of 1,872 in 2000 and 239 of 1,626 in 2008, an increase of 17.6 percent.
Statewide, 31.8 percent more children lived in poverty in 2008 over 2000. Rural counties had the lowest increases while metropolitan counties saw the greatest increase. Nationwide the increase was 12.3 percent.
However, in Fremont County, far fewer children ages 0-4 are receiving services through Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC). In 2003, 125 of 404 children were in WIC while 94 of 451 received services in 2009, a 32.6 percent decline. Statewide 2.2 percent more children were served and in the nation, 11.6 percent more were served.
Considerably fewer families received financial assistance from the Family Investment Program from 2000 to 2009, in the county, state and nation. Fremont County had a 28.3 percent decline, the state a 20.2 percent decline and the nation a 34.1 percent decline.
Those receiving food assistance, however, increased dramatically. In Fremont County, the number increased 90.5 percent from 463 out of 8,010 in 2000 to 809 out of 7,345 in 2009. The state saw an increase of 140.4 percent in that time and the country a 79.8 percent increase.
In Fremont County, 26.4 percent more children are eligible for free or reduced lunches at school. Statewide 29 percent more are eligible and nationwide 15.8 percent more are eligible.
Fremont County, like many others in the state, has seen indications of poverty increase recently, according to a new report released by the Child and Family Policy Center.
The group released its “Trends in the Well-Being of Iowa Children” report which indicates that unemployment has increased and more people are receiving food assistance. In addition, more than one in three school children in Iowa were eligible for free or reduced-price lunches in 2009 and one in seven lived in poverty in 2008.
Although economic indicators took a downturn since 2000, health, education and welfare indicators were showing improvement, according to the report.
Report Findings
Child Welfare
In 2009, Fremont County had an increase in confirmed child abuse and neglect cases from 2000 figures. In 2000, six cases were confirmed. In 2009, 24 cases were confirmed, even though the child population decreased from 2,010 to 1,702. This is a change of 372 percent, the highest of any Iowa county. Statewide, abuse and neglect cases increased 34.9 percent. Nationwide, the number decreased 15.1 percent.
Fremont County had no child deaths in 2000 or 2009. Both the state and country saw decreases in child deaths.
A higher rate of child immunization was reported for the county in 2008, however, only five children were assessed and all had been immunized. In 2000, 16 of 18 children assessed had been fully immunized.
Economic indicators
The number of children living in poverty in 2000 was reported as 234 out of 1,872 in 2000 and 239 of 1,626 in 2008, an increase of 17.6 percent.
Statewide, 31.8 percent more children lived in poverty in 2008 over 2000. Rural counties had the lowest increases while metropolitan counties saw the greatest increase. Nationwide the increase was 12.3 percent.
However, in Fremont County, far fewer children ages 0-4 are receiving services through Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC). In 2003, 125 of 404 children were in WIC while 94 of 451 received services in 2009, a 32.6 percent decline. Statewide 2.2 percent more children were served and in the nation, 11.6 percent more were served.
Considerably fewer families received financial assistance from the Family Investment Program from 2000 to 2009, in the county, state and nation. Fremont County had a 28.3 percent decline, the state a 20.2 percent decline and the nation a 34.1 percent decline.
Those receiving food assistance, however, increased dramatically. In Fremont County, the number increased 90.5 percent from 463 out of 8,010 in 2000 to 809 out of 7,345 in 2009. The state saw an increase of 140.4 percent in that time and the country a 79.8 percent increase.
In Fremont County, 26.4 percent more children are eligible for free or reduced lunches at school. Statewide 29 percent more are eligible and nationwide 15.8 percent more are eligible.
In 2000, the unemployment rate for Fremont County was 2.3 percent. In 2009, that number had increased to 6.4 percent, which is in line with rural counties in Iowa. Statewide the rate was 6 percent because of a lower rate of 5.5 percent in metropolitan counties. Nationwide, the rate was 9.3 percent in 2009.
Education
High school graduation rates are down slightly in the county and state and up 4.6 percent nationwide. In Fremont County, 95.8 percent of students graduated high school in 2000. In 2009 that percent was 93.4. Statewide,
87.2 percent of students graduated in 2009. Nationwide, 75 percent graduated. Graduation rates were significantly higher in Iowa’s rural counties.
Student test scores were up for the county and state and stable in the U.S. From 2003 to 2009, Fremont County’s fourth grade reading scores improved, as did 8th grade math scores by 14 and 15.1 percent respectively.
Proficiency rates were 81.2 percent and 73.1 percent respectively. State proficiency rates were 81.2 and 77.1 percent respectively.
Mortality
Infant mortality rates for the county were not available but were down 28 percent statewide and 8.2 percent nationwide from 2000 to 2009.
No teen deaths were reported in the county in 2000 or 2009. Teen death rates were down in the state and nation.
Pregnancy
More babies were born with low birth rates in 2009 than in 2000 in the county, state and country. Fremont County had 8.5 percent of babies born with low birth weight in 2000 and 12.6 percent in 2009. The state rate in 2009 was 6.7 percent and for the nation it was 8.2 percent.
In addition, fewer pregnant women received prenatal care during their first trimester in the county over the last two years. In 2007, 70.4 percent received prenatal care while 67.4 percent did in 2009. Statewide slightly more women were receiving prenatal care while nationwide the number was stable.
The number of teen births increased dramatically in Fremont County from 4 out of 267 in 2000 to 13 of 236 in 2009, a 267.7 percent increase, the highest in the state. Statewide, teen births were down 6.2 percent. Nationwide, the rate was down 11.3 percent.
In addition, more teen mothers were unmarried. In 2000, 4.9 percent of teen mothers in the county were not married. In 2009, the number was 12.6 percent. In 2009 the state’s percent was 7.8 and the national rate was 9 percent. Both were down from 2000.
Iowa Kids County is a leadership collaborative sponsored by the Child and Family Policy Center; the Iowa Commission on Children, Youth and Families; the Iowa Department of Human Services; the State Library of Iowa; and the Iowa State University Extension Service. It is financed through a grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
