Kids Count Data Center

Definitions: Average monthly food stamp recipients is the total number and children who recieve food stamps or assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Data Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

Footnotes: Data is by federal fiscal year.
Data is not yet determined for children in 2009.

Definitions:

Food stamp recepients reflects the percent change from June 2007 to June 2009 of those receiving  food stamps/SNAP benefits.

Data Source:  New York Times, based on data from U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Census Bureau

Footnotes: Change over time: June 2007 to June 2009.  

Definitions: Children in Poverty is the percentage of children under age 18 who live in families with incomes below the poverty threshold. The poverty threshold varies by family size.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates

Footnotes: This data shows two-year moving averages.

Data Source:  U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates

Definitions:

Average Unemployment Rates is the ratio of unemployed to the civilian labor force expressed as a percent. Unemployed individuals have not had employment during the reference week, were available for work (except for temporary illness) and had made specific efforts to find employment some time during the four-week period ending with the reference week. Persons who were waiting to be recalled to a job from which they had been laid off need not have been looking for work to be classified as unemployed.

Data Source: Illinois Department of Economic Security

Footnotes: Chicago Metropolitan annual unemployment rates include Joliet and Naperville.