HUDSON COUNTY — A Newark-based group called “Kids County” said Monday that Hudson County ranked 18th out of New Jersey’s 21 counties when measuring 16 indicators of child well-being.
The good news, according to them: “Hudson received its best marks for the percent of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in state-approved preschool. With 72 percent of children enrolled in these vital early learning programs, Hudson ranked second in this measure.”
And now the bad news: “The county received its lowest score for the percent of children in poverty, ranking last in the state,” their press release noted. “At 23 percent, Hudson’s rate is almost double the state average of 12 percent of children in poverty.”
“The Kids Count county profiles paint a local picture of how children are faring in New Jersey’s counties,” said Cecilia Zalkind, executive director of the Association for Children of New Jersey, which publishes the Kids Count reports. “We hope that local and state leaders use these data to improve conditions for children in every county. It is positive that so many Hudson County children are enrolled in preschool programs that can help prepare them for school success. The persistence of high rates of child poverty continues to be concerning.”
Kids Count uses indicators like poverty, income, child health and test scores to draw a statistical portrait of the well-being of New Jersey’s children.
The group released the following findings:
Infant Mortality. Hudson saw a slight improvement in its infant mortality rate, which dropped from six deaths per 1,000 live births in 2004 to five deaths per 1,000 live births in 2006. The county’s ranking improved from 13th to 11th in the state.
Housing. Forty-nine percent of Hudson County households spent more than the recommended 30 percent of their income on rent, ranking Hudson 9th on this indicator.
Child Care. Hudson ranked 15th in its supply of licensed, center-based child care, with 518 slots per 1,000 children ages 0-4.
“We encourage county leaders to use Kids Count data to understand the needs of children and target resources to meet the most pressing needs of New Jersey’s children and families,” Zalkind said. “Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our children.”
KIDS COUNT is a national and state-by-state statistical effort to track the state of children in the United States, sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Association for Children of New Jersey is a statewide child research and action organization and the New Jersey Kids Count grantee.