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.
