The Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth released its annual report on the well being of the state’s children this week. According to the commission’s findings, the state of children in Monroe County is not too good.

Out of 32 primary and secondary indicators of health, child welfare, economics and demographics reviewed by The Advocate & Democrat (see table), children in Monroe County fared worse than children statewide in 18 areas.

Most of the data was recorded during the 2005 calendar year. Some of the statistics that stand out for Monroe County include:

•For every 1,000 live births, 11.3 result in infant mortality in Monroe County, compared to 8.8 statewide.

•There are 17.8 child abuse and neglect victims in Monroe County per 1,000 children, compared to 12.2 per 1,000 statewide.

•Of all people age 17 or younger, 9.3 percent have reported being sexually abused in Monroe County, compared to 6.2 percent statewide.

•49.8 percent of Monroe County students receive free or reduced lunch, compared to 42.6 percent statewide.

•Of all juveniles, 7.1 percent are brought into juvenile court in Monroe County, versus 5.7 percent statewide.

•Of all people age 21 or younger, 41.1 percent are enrolled in TennCare in Monroe County, compared to 37.7 percent in the same age group statewide.

•Of all people under age 5, 29.7 percent are on WIC in Monroe County, versus 24.4 percent statewide.

•17.2 percent of Monroe County’s population is on food stamps, compared to 14.3 percent statewide.

•3.9 percent of Monroe County high school students drop out, compared to 2.7 percent statewide.

•12 percent of Monroe County students are enrolled in special education, compared to 11 percent of students statewide.

•Of all people age 20 or younger, 8.7 per 1,000 enter into state custody in Monroe County, versus 5 per 1,000 statewide.

•Of all people age 16-19, 23.1 percent are unemployed in Monroe County, versus 18.1 percent statewide.

There was some fairly good news for Monroe County, including:

•Of all live births, 9 percent have low birth weight in Monroe County, compared to 9.7 percent statewide.

•Of all people receiving Families First, 4.7 percent reside in Monroe County versus 8.8 percent statewide.

•Only 6.6 percent of Monroe County students receive school suspensions versus 8.7 percent of students statewide.

•For every 100 live births, 76 received adequate prenatal care in Monroe County, compared to 62.9 statewide

•For every 1,000 15-17 year olds, 30.4 have become pregnant in Monroe County, versus 33.8 statewide.

•24.8 percent of teens age 15-17 in Monroe County have had babies, compared to 28.2 percent statewide.

•Of all live births, 32.6 percent were to unmarried females in Monroe County, compared to 40.1 percent statewide.

•For every 1,000 teens, 7.8 have a sexually transmitted disease in Monroe County, compared to 20 per 1,000 statewide.

•Per 1,000 students, 1.8 are expelled in Monroe County, compared to 3.1 students statewide.

The commission’s report includes statistical information about children in all 95 Tennessee counties. The report includes 39 total indicators of health, education, child welfare, economics and demographics.

For more information, call 615-741-2633. View the full Kids Count: Stat of the Child 2007 report online at www.tennessee.gov/tccy/kc-soc07.html.

melissa.kinton@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101