CHILD WELL-BEING IN NEW MEXICO REMAINS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HEAP. THAT ACCORDING TO THE 2015 KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK RELEASED TUESDAY BY THE ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION. THE REPORT RANKS NEW MEXICO 49TH IN THE NATION FOR CHILD WELL-BEING … WITH ONLY MISSISSIPPI BEHIND US.
THERE ARE 16 INDICATORS THE REPORT USES TO RATE STATES … AMONG THEM ARE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC WELL-BEING, EDUCATION AND HEALTH. IN THOSE FOUR CATEGORIES ALONE NEW MEXICO WAS RANKED 48TH AND 49TH. THIS YEAR’S DATA BOOK ALSO FOUND NEW MEXICO’S CHILD POVERTY RATE EDGED UP FROM 29 PERCENT LAST YEAR TO 31 PERCENT THIS YEAR.
ON THE POSITIVE SIDE: MORE STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL ON TIME HERE … AND OUR CHILD AND TEEN DEATH RATE IS DOWN.
