© 2025 WFSU Public Media
WFSU News · Tallahassee · Panama City · Thomasville
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
WFSU-FM is currently broadcasting at reduced power. We apologize for this inconvenience. And remember, you can stream or listen to WFSU on the App.

Georgia, Florida Fall In Annual 'Kids Count' Report Card

Annie E. Casey Foundation
/
Kids Count, Florida, Georgia
Annie E. Casy Foundation 2016 "Kids Count" Report

Florida and Georgia are faring poorly on the annual child well-being report card. Both state’s slipped further toward the bottom when it comes to economic well being, health, family and community and educational outcomes. Georgia slid two spots, to number 42 on the Annie E. Casey Foundations’ “Kids Count Survey”. The report docked Georgia for an increase in the number of children living in poverty, a figure that’s gotten worse from past years. Georgia has seen progress in the areas of education and health, but the number of kids in single parent households and high poverty areas has increased during the past six years.

Meanwhile, Florida fared only slightly better, coming in at number 40 -- three spots lower than it was last year. The state saw gains in children’s health, but there were mixed results in other categories, the number of kids living in poverty worsened.

Florida and Georgia are not outliers, other southern states also fared poorly with Mississippi in last place. Minnesota performing the best.

Follow @HatterLynn

Lynn Hatter is a Florida A&M University and Florida State University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master's in Professional Communication. Lynn has been with WFSU since 2007 with education and health care issues as her key coverage areas.  She has worked with several organizations, including Kaiser Health News.  Lynn has also partnered with USC-Annenberg's Center for Child Wellbeing on the nationally acclaimed series "Committed," which explored the prevalence of involuntary commitment use on children.
She serves on the board of RTDNA and the United Way of the Big Bend, with previous service on the board of the First Amendment Foundation of Florida.

Find complete bio, contact info, and more stories here.