SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The economic fallout from the pandemic is evident in a new report on the struggles of households with children. The findings reveal that some South Dakota families are finding it increasingly harder to meet basic needs.

This week's report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation pulled data from all states, using weekly census surveys to get a better sense of what families are experiencing. In South Dakota, one in eight reports not having enough food to eat, while one in nine is worried about paying the rent or mortgage on time.

Nationally, said Leslie Boissiere, vice president for external affairs at the Casey Foundation, the numbers are higher for families of color.

"The pandemic has laid bare and really exacerbated racial and ethnic inequities in this country," she said, "and we've seen that Black, Latino and Native communities in particular have been hard hit."

The findings also shed light on the anxiety families are feeling right now. In South Dakota, 14% described feeling "down, depressed or hopeless" in recent weeks. The report recommended instituting policies at all levels of government that promote greater racial equity and prioritize helping children and families cope with the pandemic.

Xanna Burg, who oversees the Kids Count program for North and South Dakota and Montana, said she thinks all the results are alarming. She added that the mental-health responses especially are troubling, given the fears about the long-term impact on children.

"Children must often receive mental-health services at school," she said, "but South Dakota school counselors serve about 150 more kids than recommended."

She said this should prompt South Dakota lawmakers to prioritize more funding for school counselors as students try to cope with the added pressures facing their families. Other groups, such as the South Dakota Education Association, have made similar requests in recent months.

This Sunday is the 60th anniversary of Head Start, the federally funded preschool program supporting more than 12,000 children, up to age four, in Washington and nearly 800,000 children across the country.

Although cuts to Head Start are not specifically included in the Trump administration's most recent budget proposal, some locations have faced funding delays this year, leaving them nervous about the program's future.

Ashly Hyatt has three children in Head Start in Spokane, and is a parent ambassador alumna. She is currently in school to become a teacher and said without Head Start, her life would look very different.

"I wouldn't be in school, it wouldn't be possible," Hyatt pointed out. "Three children in day care is going to be close to $3,500. My husband works 60 to 80 hours a week right now as it is, and it's tight."

Hyatt added Head Start has done so much for her children, she was inspired to get involved in advocacy work. Washington Head Start is completely federally funded, and received about $200 million last year.

Roy Chrobocinski, managing director of domestic policy at Save the Children US, which runs Head Start programs in several states, said he is focused on reminding Congress about the bipartisan support Head Start has enjoyed for the last 60 years, and stressed the program is about much more than child care.

"It also provides medical assistance, dental visits, nutrition assistance," Chrobocinski outlined. "Two meals and a snack every day."

Head Start is often the only child care option in rural areas, Chrobocinski emphasized. Without funding, parents would not be able to work, affecting their families and local economies. He pointed out currently, only about a third of eligible families are able to receive services due to limited funding.

"There needs to be a significant increase in Head Start funding in order to ensure that more families who are eligible are able to participate in this life-changing program," Chrobocinski contended.

He underscored child care disruptions already cost the economy an estimated $122 billion annually.

With the end of the state legislative session in sight, Connecticut lawmakers are moving closer to establishing a permanent child tax credit.

The 2025 legislative session has seen several child tax credit bills circulate, offering differing levels of rebate. The current proposal has moved out of committee as part of the state budget bill and would establish a $150 per child credit, capped at $450.

Lisa Tepper Bates, president and CEO of the United Way of Connecticut, said her organization has been advocating for a state child tax credit, which she noted has widespread support.

"We've gained some ground on creating a child tax credit at the state level," Tepper Bates pointed out. "There is legislation with the support of an enormous number of the members of the House of Representatives and supporters in the state Senate who want to see this done and they want to see it done this legislative session."

The credit would be available for single filers making up to $100,000 per year, $160,000 for heads of household, and $200,000 for joint filers.

Data published by United Way show nearly 40% of Connecticut households are living paycheck to paycheck. Among those are households considered as ALICE, an acronym for those who are Asset Limited and Income Constrained but Employed. Categorizing households in this way attempts to capture the financial circumstances of working people who are above the poverty level but still cannot afford the basics such as housing, food, health care and child care.

Tepper Bates noted while rents are high in the state, in many households it is not the biggest financial burden.

"Our ALICE research shows that child care for families with small children can be their single biggest cost center," Tepper Bates reported. "This is an important point to understand because we now know that in Connecticut, the cost of child care for many of these families is becoming simply unsustainable."

The scarce availability of child care is pushing costs higher, with recent data showing 80% of the state's licensed family child care centers are operating at capacity, a 6% increase over the year prior.


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A North Dakota task force raising awareness about child sexual abuse is close to wrapping up its work and its leader said she hopes more communities use every tool to ensure kids are raised in a safe environment.

By state law, the task force is scheduled to dissolve on June 30.

Lindsey Burkhardt, director of the task force, said a key accomplishment was creating a pair of guides, one for families and another for schools and youth service groups, which lay out the best prevention practices and resources to turn to.

Burkhardt acknowledged they are still fighting misconceptions, like the idea children are most often abused by strangers, and stressed it is why the conversations are important.

"What are protective strategies that we can teach our children to help empower them to help keep them safe?" Burkhardt asked.

Burkhardt noted evidence of misconceptions surfaced in a pilot project in Richland County. Among those surveyed, 25% of residents said they did not believe child sexual abuse happened within the county. At the end of the project, the number improved to 20% but Burkhardt argued it highlights the need for further community education.

Burkhardt emphasized there is a strong body of research showing a child who is sexually abused is at risk of mental health disorders and survivors are likely to experience a range of conditions and behaviors affecting their quality of life.

"Depression, chronic anxiety, PTSD, along with relationship and attachment issues," Burkhardt outlined.

Burkhardt added it is hard to fully measure the task force's effect but pointed to adoption of their prevention guides as a way to show their work connected with some audiences. It included requests from the North Dakota court system to use them when training parent investigators.


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