Hawaii kids’ well-being at 24th in nation

It’s no surprise that the economic downturn has hit families hard. But a new report puts a spotlight on how family hardships are affecting the well-being of Hawaii’s children.

And the picture isn’t good.

The 2012 Kids Count report, released Wednesday, ranks Hawaii 31st in the nation on the economic well-being of its children.

From 2008 to 2010, the report notes, the percentage of island children whose parents lacked steady employment grew 4 percentage points to 30 percent. The number of kids living in households with a high housing-cost burden climbed to 46 percent, 5 percentage points higher than the national average. (In 2005, Hawaii was on par with the nation).

"We’re still not doing economically well as a country and a state and it’s clearly impacting children and families," said Ivette Stern, Hawaii Kids Count director and a junior specialist at the University of Hawaii Center on the Family.

Stern said poverty can have long-term effects on children, which should be a big concern for everybody.

"As we rebuild our state budgets," she said, "let’s make sure our children stay a priority."

The report, produced by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, ranks Hawaii 24th in the nation for overall child well-being. The ranking is based on four key indicators: economics, education, health, and family and community.

Last year’s data ranked the state 26th in the nation, but officials cautioned against a year-to-year comparison because of changes in the ranking system.

Norm Baker, Aloha United Way chief operating officer, said family economic hardship is having a big effect on kids and those effects could be felt for years.

"I think we’re going to see more and more kids who are starting off behind the power curve," he said.

Baker added that the nonprofit continues to see a high need for basic services, including food and housing assistance. Calls to Aloha United Way’s 211 information and referral hotline rose 30 percent in late 2008, he said, and have stayed at those levels.

The report says that 14 percent of Hawaii’s children lived in poverty in 2010, from 13 percent in 2005. In 2010, 30 percent of children had parents who lacked steady employment, from 26 percent in 2008.

Other areas of concern, the report said, were a decrease in the percentage of children attending preschool and an increase of children with single parents.

On the brighter side, the report notes strides in student achievement since 2005, with increases in the percentage of students proficient in reading and math.