Tulsa World: As families struggle, kids at risk, study shows

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As families struggle, kids at risk, study shows
Economic stresses may wipe out gains for America's children.

By MIKE AVERILL World Staff Writer
Published: 5/25/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 5/25/2009 3:46 AM

A national report released by the Foundation for Child Development projects the economic recession could wipe out decades of gains in children's economic well-being.

Higher child obesity rates, less participation in pre-kindergarten and increased violent crime involving youth are projected in the report, based on analysis of data form the Child Well-Being Index databank and data from past recessions.

"In general, when families struggle, no matter the circumstances whether it's economic stress or social stress, their children suffer," said Desiree Doherty, executive director of the Parent Child Center.

She said the agency has seen a five-fold increase in the number of requests for the most basic needs of living like food, shelter and transportation needs.

"Their dollar, which was already stretched really thin, goes much less further when they go to the checkout counter, so child nutrition suffers," Doherty said.

There are also emotional effects associated with recessions that can be hard on children.

"When the parents feel a great increase in pressure to make ends meet or the pressure to meet a large increase in workload because they work for a company that's had layoffs, those stresses can wear on a person so much that their reaction time and durability to deal with all pressures calmly can be challenged and sometimes they overreact," Doherty said.

Doherty said she's also seen a sharp increase in the number of trauma exposures, whether it's media reports on community violence or if they live in a violent neighborhood.

"Sometimes their fear and worries can grow out of proportion and they don't know how to handle it," she said.

The report also projects a national family median income of $55,700 in 2010, down from $59,200 in 2007.

"I think we've definitely got challenges. The challenges have to do with what people are used to and the number of changes they're having to make and how the adults are handling those changes and how much support there is for the people going through those changes," said Claudia Arthrell, director of professional services at Family and Children's Services.

When families fall on hard times they need to take advantage of the help that's available, be it credit counseling, items from a food bank or free or low-cost insurance for their kids, added Arthrell.

"All that is based on someone calling 211 and saying they need help. That's the tricky, tricky piece of it," she said.

"I worry about parents who get depressed, almost immobilized depressed. It's hard for them to reach out for help and it's hard for the kids to learn from this."

By learning, Arthrell means looking at how people lived through the Depression and take the chance to spend more time with family.

She said her 97-year-old mother-in-law has taught her a lot about what it was like to live during the Depression and how it is to live on nothing.

"I think people who grew up during the Depression understand what they need and what they desire," she said.

Problem areas for children in downturn

From the report: “Likely Impacts of the Current Economic recession on Child Well-Being”

Decline in social connectedness: Children will experience substantial negative impacts on their peer and other neighborhood social relations because of the severity of the housing crisis that will force more low- and middle-income families to move or become homeless.

Health decline: obesity is likely to spike even higher as the recession drives parents to rely more on low-cost fast food.

Safety decline: Children are expected to fare worse due to higher rates of violent crime where youth are both victims and perpetrators, based on recessionary trends of budget cuts for policing and juvenile crime prevention.

Education decline: Fewer children will be able to participate in pre-kindergarten programs.

Rise in poverty rate: The percentage of children in poverty is expected to peak at 21 percent in 2010, comparable to that of previous economic recessions.

Decline in family income: median family annual income is expected to decline from $59,200 in 2007 to $55,700 in 2010.

Source: Foundation for Child Development

Mike Averill 581-8489
mike.averill@tulsaworld.com By MIKE AVERILL World Staff Writer

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