Atlantic and Cumberland counties rank last in Kids Count ‘well-being’ survey, By Juliet Fletcher, June 7, 2010, Press of Atlantic City: “Children growing up in Atlantic County face greater challenges to their health and welfare than in any other county statewide, a new analysis says. The Association for Children of New Jersey, or ACNJ, which publishes an annual Kids Count study evaluating 16 factors that affect children’s well-being, ranks counties every three years to reflect children’s relative advantages and disadvantages in health, safety, education and economic circumstances. This year, Atlantic County dropped to last place in the ranking, as the study’s authors warned that the worst effects of the economic recession were not yet reflected in its data and predicted a further slide in the next report. Cumberland County placed next to last…”
Study finds economy directly influences N.J. children’s well-being, By Meredith Galante, June 7, 2010, Star-Ledger: “A study released today on New Jersey children’s well-being illustrates how the economy is compromising New Jersey families’ abilities to provide and care for their children. The 2010 Kids Count report, released by the Association for Children of New Jersey, saw the most drastic changes in the 16 indicators it monitors in unemployment rates, children living below the poverty line and housing costs…”