Alabama lawmakers approve historic investments in children

VOICES for Alabama’s Children has released its Alabama Kids Count Data Book, the latest report on the health, safety, education and financial well-being of Alabama’s children, just as Alabama lawmakers approved historic investments in children’s care and education through the Education Trust Fund and General Fund budgets.

“Last year, less than a quarter of 4th graders were proficient in math, and one in five Alabama children were food insecure,” said Collier Tynes, CEO of VOICES for Alabama’s Children. “These are not the outcomes of bad teachers or parents. These are the outcomes of stressed and under-resourced families, teachers, providers, and communities.

“Historic investments in our children can make tremendous progress in changing these numbers.”

Those historic investments include a $17.8 million state investment in quality child care programs; a $22 million increase in first class pre-K, and expanding access from 42% to 45% for four-year-olds; $1.5 million first-time funding for summer and after-school pilot programs for K-12 students; $20 million in provisions of the Alabama Numeracy Act; $10 million in flexible grant funding to under-resourced/underperforming schools; $5 million mental health pilot program for youth and adolescents; $1 million increase for school-based mental health services collaboration; and $4 million for a postpartum health care pilot program for new moms.

Since 1994, the Alabama Kids Count Data Book has documented and tracked the health, education, safety, and economic security of children at the state and county levels. This year’s book confirms the tremendous need for these investments. It also challenges users at the local and statewide levels to look at children’s data as the outcomes of stressed parents, caregivers, providers, and educators.

“To put it simply,” said Tynes, “if we want to see these numbers change, we must support the adults who raise, educate, and care for our children.”

Among this year’s highlights, VOICES points to several challenges that must be addressed for Alabama’s children and families including child care, health, economic security, education, and safety and permanency.

There are only 1,855 licensed child care providers in Alabama, not enough to sufficiently support today’s workforce, or future workers. The lack of quality child care is a leading reason for decreased workforce participation. Furthermore, babies need quality care and education as their parents work and their brains develop in pivotal years.

There is currently one mental health provider available for every 923 Alabamians to support an uptick in the youth mental health crisis, further increased by family stress. The latest research shows that unaddressed childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) lead to lifelong chronic health issues, along with significant barriers to educational achievement and financial security.

While 16% of Alabamians live in poverty, 23.9% of Alabama children live in poverty i.e., a household of four making $24,750 a year or less. Additionally, one in five children in Alabama are food insecure.

Poverty leads to significant disparities in education. This is shown by statistics in which of Alabama 4th graders in poverty, only 37.9% are proficient in reading and 12.1% are proficient in math.

Finally, in 2021, 3,453 children entered foster care of which 48% of cases involved parental substance abuse.

“The state is making the right moves to do better for our children and support their families,” said Tynes. “However, we are far from finished. With a bold vision and an unapologetic focus on facts, we can see these numbers change. Most importantly, every child can be happy, healthy, and wildly successful.”