More Illinois Children Living in Poverty, New Annie E Casey Foundation Report Reveals

(Chicago, IL) –Illinois children and their families continue to face challenging economic conditions as more children are living in poverty and in families without secure parental employment, according to the 2009 KIDS COUNT Data Book released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The percentage of Illinois children living in poverty increased 13 percent between 2000 and 2007, from 15 percent in 2000 to 17 percent in 2007. During the same time period, Data Book indicators show that the percentage of children living in families without secure parental employment rose from 29 percent to 31 percent.

The Illinois indicators increased at a faster rate than in the United States.

Additionally, the report found that 31 percent of Illinois children live in single parent families.

“Many Illinois families are experiencing unprecedented hardships, losing jobs and homes, watching helplessly as the value of their assets plummets, and losing services on which they urgently rely,” said Voices for Illinois Children Interim President Gaylord Gieseke.

Now in its 20th year, the KIDS COUNT Data Book provides information and statistical trends on the needs and conditions of America’s most disadvantaged children and families.

The Data Book also reveals some encouraging news: Looking across all well-being indicators, Illinois was one of five states with the biggest improvement in its rankings between 1999-2000 and 2006-07. Other states include Connecticut, Maryland, New York and North Carolina.

Among the report’s findings:

• Infant mortality: Illinois’ infant mortality rate decreased 15 percent, from 8.5 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 7.2 per 1,000 in 2006.Yet, the state’s rate remains above the national average of 6.7 per 1,000 in 2006.
• Teen birth rate: Illinois’ rate of births to teens ages 15 to 19 dropped 19 percent from 2000 to 2006; however, the rate remained the same from 2005 to 2006 at 39 per 1,000 births.
• High school dropouts: Between 2000 and 2007, the percentage of teens ages 16 to 19 who are high school dropouts decreased from 9 percent to 6 percent.

“[M]ore recent economic indicators and real-life stories from communities across Illinois show the true, current challenges families are facing and the reality that our work is far from done,” Gieseke said.

Gov. Blagojevich Says CDC Commends Illinois for Work to Eliminate Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS

(Springfield, IL) — In spite of the Tony Rezko trial bombshells and other legal artillery salvos, the Good-News-Department crew, under all the treacherous fire, smuggled out from the Blagojevich Administration–good news.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has commended Illinois for its efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Illinois was the only state asked to present its program, “Safety Net of Perinatal HIV Prevention in Illinois,” at a recent CDC conference addressing mother-to-child HIV transmission. Illinois’ program has become a model for other states and countries.

Recent data, from October through December 2007, reveals that health professionals knew the HIV status of newborns and their mothers 99.97% of the time upon hospital discharge.

“… [M]ore than 99 percent of mother-to-newborn transmissions of HIV can be prevented if a pregnant woman is tested for HIV … and treated with medications before and after the birth of her child,” said Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Illinois Department of Public Health Director.

It’s a shame, however, that Gov. Blagojevich vetoed money for HIV/AIDS programs last year simply to smite House Democrats. Otherwise, the Governor’s record would be pretty stellar.

House Approves Rep. Hamos Plan to Spend $2 Million on Infant Hearing Program

(Springfield, IL) — The Illinois House today approved legislation, 108-2, to spend $2 million on the Universal Newborn Hearing Program.

State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston), right, sponsored the health care measure, House Bill 5321.

On March 24, Rep. Hamos chaired one of 19 regional House hearings on the this year’s state budget in which social service providers beseeched lawmakers for hundreds of millions of dollars for new programs.

Other House sponsors include: Elizabeth Coulson, David R. Leitch, Sara Feigenholtz, Sidney Mathias, Harry Osterman, Aaron Schock, Jim Watson, Karen May, Kathleen Ryg and Elga Jefferies.

State Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) is sponsoring the legislation in the Senate.