Report: Wisconsin Ranked Last in Well-being of African-American Children
Sep 10, 2014 9:14 PM EDT
By Kristen Summers
MADISON (WKOW) -- A new report shows Wisconsin is dead last when it comes to the well-being of African-American children and young adults.
The Race for Results report, compiled by the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, shows the state is in the top ten for the well-being of white children and young adults, but 46th out of 46 states when it comes to their black counterparts.
Those overall rankings are based on twelve different categories. Wisconsin was dead last in four of them for black youths and in the bottom quarter in all but three.
The biggest issues for African-Americans are the high rates of teen pregnancy and single-parent families, and the low rates of young adults who have jobs, are in school or hold some sort of post-high school degree.
"People are report-fatigued and I think folks are looking for an action plan and that's the direction we have to go in," said Michael Johnson, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County.
Johnson says that action plan has to then be followed up with adequate resources.
"I would recommend city, county, United Way, non-profit leaders, faith-based organizations get together and say 'here's what it's going to cost to address each one of these issues,'" said Johnson.
"Madison is a rich place. It has resources," said Will Green, who runs Mentoring Positives, which helps kids that have a history of trouble in their home, school or community.
Green says people need to reexamine the way resources are being distributed.
"There's been money shipped to functions for over 20 years," said Green. "And where's the accountability of the outcomes and what's happening with those resources, that we could have potentially supported other entities?"
MADISON (AP) -- A new report says the overall well-being of black children in Wisconsin is generally bleak.
An analysis by the Wisconsin Council on Children & Families puts the Badger State last in the country in the well-being of African-American children based on 12 measurements, including poverty, school performance and parental support.
Four of five black children in Wisconsin live in poor households compared to two of three Latino children and three of 10 white youngsters. Seven of every 10 African-American children live in single-parent families, compared with fewer than four of 10 Latino children and two of 10 white youngsters.
Council spokesman Ken Taylor tells the Journal Sentinel one of the biggest challenges to the findings is indifference.
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| African American and Latino youth demonstrate during 2011 in Milwaukee. |
By Kristen Summers
MADISON (WKOW) -- A new report shows Wisconsin is dead last when it comes to the well-being of African-American children and young adults.
The Race for Results report, compiled by the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, shows the state is in the top ten for the well-being of white children and young adults, but 46th out of 46 states when it comes to their black counterparts.
Those overall rankings are based on twelve different categories. Wisconsin was dead last in four of them for black youths and in the bottom quarter in all but three.
The biggest issues for African-Americans are the high rates of teen pregnancy and single-parent families, and the low rates of young adults who have jobs, are in school or hold some sort of post-high school degree.
"People are report-fatigued and I think folks are looking for an action plan and that's the direction we have to go in," said Michael Johnson, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County.
Johnson says that action plan has to then be followed up with adequate resources.
"I would recommend city, county, United Way, non-profit leaders, faith-based organizations get together and say 'here's what it's going to cost to address each one of these issues,'" said Johnson.
"Madison is a rich place. It has resources," said Will Green, who runs Mentoring Positives, which helps kids that have a history of trouble in their home, school or community.
Green says people need to reexamine the way resources are being distributed.
"There's been money shipped to functions for over 20 years," said Green. "And where's the accountability of the outcomes and what's happening with those resources, that we could have potentially supported other entities?"
MADISON (AP) -- A new report says the overall well-being of black children in Wisconsin is generally bleak.
An analysis by the Wisconsin Council on Children & Families puts the Badger State last in the country in the well-being of African-American children based on 12 measurements, including poverty, school performance and parental support.
Four of five black children in Wisconsin live in poor households compared to two of three Latino children and three of 10 white youngsters. Seven of every 10 African-American children live in single-parent families, compared with fewer than four of 10 Latino children and two of 10 white youngsters.
Council spokesman Ken Taylor tells the Journal Sentinel one of the biggest challenges to the findings is indifference.
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