Kids in Arizona face many barriers to success according to a report issued by the Children’s Action Alliance. The 2016 Kids Count Data Book found that while there were signs of progress, like a drop in the arrest rate for violent crimes, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to improve the lives of kids.
"The rate of children living in poverty has gotten much higher and higher for every racial and ethnic group," said Dana Wolfe Naimark, the president and CEO of the Children’s Action Alliance. "Medium family income for families with children has dropped dramatically, so families have not recovered from the recession."
The report also found low preschool participation rates and a high number of kids in foster care. Naimark said that could have long-term implications for taxpayers, as well as children.