The Coalition has updated our “and how are the children?” report we’ve been issuing about the status of the County’s children since we were formed in 2001.  The 2015 study offers the latest available statistics on nine topics, including poverty, food insecurity, child abuse, health, child care, and teen issues, among others. Among some of the findings:

• SNAP enrollment increased by a third between 2009 and 2013
• Child care centers enrolled in Bright Stars program jumped significantly
• Premature births dropped by a third
• More than 300 county teens reported being hurt physically in dating relationships
• At least half the students in all the County’s middle schools are witnessing or are otherwise affected by bullying
• A third of teens are sexually active, but the number of teen births continue to drop
• Roughly the same number report using marijuana
• One in four high schoolers reports being depressed.

To view the 84 page report, click here.
A preview of “and how are the children” was sent to all Coalition members in March, and all members who joined at $100 or above will receive free, full color, printed copies.
You can purchase a print copy for $40 by contacting Susan Orban, wccc@washcokids.org. Or you can join the Coalition at the $100 or $150 levels for the June 1, 2015-May 30, 2016 membership year and receive a report and all the other benefits.