Kids Count Data Center

ILLINOIS KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK 2010

Children and Families in a Time of Economic Crisis

Very few are untouched by recessions as deep as the current economic downturn. This edition of Illinois Kids Count begins to take account of the personal toll of the “Great Recession.” The trends reported here are only the tip of the iceberg, given that most of the available data do not yet reflect the full impact of the economic crisis on children and families. Child poverty rates are expected to rise sharply during the recession and continue rising for several years after the economy begins to recover. Research shows that children who fall into poverty fare worse than their peers, even well into adulthood, in education, employment, and health status. The prospect of significantly higher child poverty rates underscores the need to maintain and strengthen policies and programs that enhance child and family well-being in Illinois.

To download the latest Illinois KIDS COUNT Data Book:  http://www.voices4kids.org/library/KC10_economic_crisis.html