- Minority children in N.J. likeliest to be poor, unhealthy, struggle in school, report says, By Susan K. Livio, April 20, 2015, Star-Ledger: “Black and Latino children in New Jersey are far more likely to live in poverty, struggle in school, and get caught up in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems than white and Asian children, according to the latest annual Kids Count report. The report, released by Advocates for Children of New Jersey for the first time focused on the impact race has on family health and stability. With nearly half the population of children in the state being black, Latino, Asian or a mix of races, the group hopes this focus will urge lawmakers and policy makers to pay attention to the needs of minority families, said Cecilia Zalkind, the executive director…”
- N.J.’s poorest children in Atlantic, Cumberland counties, report says, By Diane D’Amico, April 20, 2015, Press of Atlantic City: “Cumberland and Atlantic counties remain at the bottom of the state for child well-being according to the 2015 New Jersey Kids Count report released Monday, ranking 21st and 20th among the state’s 21 counties. Atlantic County had a 60 percent increase in the number of children living in poverty between 2009 and 2013, among the largest increases in the state…”
Day: April 23, 2015
State Medicaid Costs
- Alabama Medicaid burden rising more slowly than most states, study shows, By Brendan Kirby, April 23, 2015, Press-Register: “During Alabama’s latest budget crisis, lawmakers often have pointed to out-of-control Medicaid costs as one of the leading culprits. A report released Wednesday by the Pew Charitable Trusts, however, suggests that costs relative to state revenues have been much more manageable in Alabama than most other states over the past decade…”
- State Medicaid costs grow, By Phil Kabler, April 22, 2015, Charleston Gazette: “Medicaid costs accounted for 11.4 percent of the state’s general revenue budget in 2013, up from 8 percent in 2000, a study released Wednesday by the Pew Charitable Trusts shows. Still, that was below the national average of 16.9 percent in 2013, an average that grew from 12.2 percent in 2000…”
Child Support Enforcement
Skip child support. Go to jail. Lose job. Repeat., By Frances Robles and Shaila Dewan, April 19, 2015, New York Times: “By his own telling, the first time Walter L. Scott went to jail for failure to pay child support, it sent his life into a tailspin. He lost what he called ‘the best job I ever had’ when he spent two weeks in jail. Some years he paid. More recently, he had not. Two years ago, when his debt reached nearly $8,000 and he missed a court date, a warrant was issued for his arrest. By last month, the amount had more than doubled, to just over $18,000…”