LAS VEGAS -- Child well-being in Nevada saw small improvements in a new report, but still ranks 46th overall compared with other states -- and that's without anticipated setbacks due to COVID-19.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book looks at economic, education, health and other issues related to children's well-being and family stability.
Jared Busker, interim executive director of the Children's Advocacy Alliance in Nevada, said the state reduced the number of children whose parents lack secure employment, but that was before the pandemic bumped Nevada's unemployment rate to 25%.
He believes future data about children's well-being needs to be watched closely, and said the priority is clear: "We need to continue to advocate for as much as we can to really support our children and families at this time, because they need it now more than they've ever needed it."
The numbers don't take into account the economic fallout from the health crisis, either.
Busker said his group will be monitoring cuts to funding for children and families when a special session of the Nevada Legislature is held in early July to address financial and other pandemic-related issues.
Nevada improved or stayed the same in 13 of the 16 indicators in the Data Book, but lost ground in the categories of low birth-weight babies; children and teens who are overweight or obese; and the number of children living in single-parent families.
As Nevada reopens, Busker added, his group is looking at ways to make it easier for parents who need affordable child care to return to work.
"For instance, one of the things that we're seeing is that over 50% of our child-care providers that were open prior to the COVID-19 pandemic are now closed," he stated.
In this year's Data Book, Massachusetts ranked first for child well-being, followed by New Hampshire and Minnesota. Louisiana, Mississippi and New Mexico are the three lowest-ranked states.
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An evidenced-based social work model to help parents struggling with substance use stay connected to their children is offering hope to Ohio counties ravaged by the opioid epidemic.
A new survey of parents in predominantly Appalachian Ohio counties finds most had positive experiences with Ohio Sobriety Treatment and Reducing Trauma or "START."
Erin Mills, Ohio START family peer mentor for Summit County Children's Services, said the program uses a trauma-informed approach to help parents forge healthy relationships with their children, while voluntarily agreeing to enter a recovery program.
"It's an amazing tool within the community as we are facing this opioid epidemic," Mills asserted. "We have tons of children who are being displaced due to addiction issues."
According to the survey, many parents gave credit to Ohio START for helping them keep custody of or reunite with their children, and say their experiences led to a more positive perception of child protective services. According to 2022 state data, more than 5,000 residents died from drug overdoses and the majority of the deaths involved opioids.
Jen McClellan, Ohio START regional manager for the Public Children Services Association of Ohio, explained substance abuse in the home increases the odds of child abuse and neglect but pointed to research which shows removing children from their home and placing them in foster care can cause mental distress and in some cases, lead to worse outcomes.
She believes the program's success is driven by its use of peer mentors and wraparound services aimed at keeping parents and kids together safely.
"We use more intense practices, the family peer mentor is paired with a caseworker who serves the families together," McClellan explained. "And they see their families much more frequently than in a traditional Children's Services case."
Jessica Okolish, Ohio START family peer mentor for Summit County Children's Services, said the intensity and speed of recovery services to participating families can help set in motion positive changes, noting without the START network, parents could wait months for a bed in a recovery program.
"Another big thing is recovery coaches having a seat at the table to show the positive impact of peer support and that it works. I think Summit County has proven that." Okolish reported.
Most survey participants said the shared lived experience between family peer mentors and parents helped established trust and made a difference overcoming resistance in working with child protective services.
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Advocates for accessible child care saw wins during Washington state's legislative session this year but still see room for improvement.
Lawmakers invested in a number of programs to increase funding for child care providers.
Genevieve Stokes, director of government relations for Child Care Aware of Washington, said the state is building a foundation for universal access for families.
"The investments this year were modest but still really tackled some of the crucial things that we were hoping they would look at," Stokes acknowledged.
Some of the investments include $1.75 million for free infant and early childhood mental health consultations, more than $8 million for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, and nearly $7 million in additional grant money for capital improvements for early learning facilities.
However, Stokes emphasized gaps remain.
"The funding this year and the funding so far doesn't address the child care crisis for middle-income families," Stokes noted. "And it doesn't solve the issue of child care providers not being able to make a living wage."
Stokes added not finding care puts parents in a bind and impacts the economy.
"When parents can't find child care or can't afford child care, they can't work and then they're faced with impossible choices with few good outcomes," Stokes stressed.
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This month is National Disability Awareness Month, and in Ohio, parents who've adopted kids with special needs say living with a disability isn't always a barrier to independence and thriving.
Aaryn McGregor, a nurse in Richland County, said her husband adopted 15-year-old Samantha from foster care nearly four years ago. Samantha was born without some of her organs and was placed in foster care as a toddler because of medical neglect.
With both physical and cognitive disabilities, Samantha has high needs for day-to-day care, but McGregor said she's made progress in her new home and is learning independent-living skills.
"We realize they have a disability, but we also want to see past that a little, just so that they can reach their full potential, it's not just the label, because people of all ages with disabilities, they can achieve a lot in their life. We think that's important," McGregor said.
Research shows children with disabilities have significantly more disruptions and longer stays in foster care. Of the more than 680,000 children in the U.S. foster care system in 2017, 22% had a medical or disability diagnosis requiring additional or specialized care.
Rita Soronen, president and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, said no matter what race, age or background, children with any type of disability or special needs are more likely to linger in foster care or age into institutional care. She said it's important for families interested in adoption to build a network of support, and points to the Wendy's Wonderful Kids Program as a model for pre-adoption relationship-building.
"Making those connections -- access to medical or psychological resources that they'll need before that adoption is finalized -- is critical, so that families feel that they will be supported, that they will have access, and that they can successfully raise a child in their home," she explained.
According to the Dave Thomas Foundation, its Wendy's Wonderful Kids Program is responsible for more than 14,000 successful adoptions across the United States and Canada.
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