Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth has released the annual State of the Child in Tennessee 2023 report, providing an in-depth look at the status of children, youth and their families across the state.
The report is broken down in nine areas: Demographics, Economics, Child Care & Early Education, Education, Health, Mental Health, Child Opportunity Index, Child Welfare and Youth Justice.
The report in its entirety is 52 pages: State of the Child Report.
However, the highlights document is four pages of much easier consumption: State of the Child Highlights Document.
Key numbers jump off the page:
- One in five Tennesseans are under 18 years of age and one in five Tennessee children under 5 live in poverty.
- More than one in five high school students have seriously considered taking their own life.
- More than one in six had made a plan of how they would end their life.
- Among all Tennessee workers who are not currently employed, more than 1 in 6 cite caregiving as the reason they are not working.
- 1 in 6 Tennessee rental households with children report being behind on their rent. Of those, 50% are very likely to face eviction in the next two months
The rest of the statistics in both the highlights document and the full report are equally eye opening to the challenges we face as a society and community, but it is a new year for all of us to be aware of the opportunities we have to make a difference in all the areas of need.
All of us have a story and I want to tell yours! Send them to susan@knoxtntoday.com