Richard Craver/Winston-Salem Journal | Posted: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 9:45 pm
Overall health conditions for Forsyth County children have improved since 2007, but local children still face challenges, according to a statewide annual report issued Wednesday by nonprofit group N.C. Child.
More children and youths were covered by public insurance options, such as Medicaid and N.C. Health Choice, in 2012 compared with 2007. And children have access to dental care and are screened for lead exposure.
What can be done to further improve the health of Forsyth County children?
There also was a decrease in the number of Forsyth girls becoming pregnant between ages 15 and 17, from 38.7 per 1,000 in 2007 to 23.6 per 1,000 in 2012.
However, the economic downturn – particularly the persistently high unemployment rate – curtailed the overall feeling of progress.
For example, the median household income in Forsyth dropped 16.5 percent during the five years, or from $51,558 in 2007 to $43,049 in 2012, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
During the same time period, children considered living in poverty rose from 21.7 percent to 32.4 percent.
According to a December report by Forsyth Futures, the county has about 23,678 children younger than 5; about 37 percent are living below the poverty threshold.
“Poverty causes increased financial and emotional strains on families that often result in poorer health outcomes for children,” said Laila Bell, director of research and data at NC Child.
The number of Forsyth children experiencing food insecurity was at 24.7 percent in 2011, the latest data available. By comparison, it was 27.3 percent statewide.
The U.S. Agriculture Department defines food insecurity as when people lack access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. An example of food insecurity is when a mother doesn’t eat so that her child can.
“Food insecurity is a very serious byproduct of poverty that’s making its presence felt in Forsyth,” Bell said.
Mari Kran, data and research director for Forsyth Futures, said the N.C. Child report “provides another opportunity to understand the health and well being of Forsyth County’s children” along with other county, state and national surveys.
Among the key Forsyth indicators were:
u Medicaid enrollment increased by 29.2 percent and N.C. Health Choice enrollment increased by 32.9 percent; statewide, there was a 27 percent increase in uninsured children gaining Medicaid coverage and 24 percent in N.C. Health Choice;
u Medicaid-eligible Forsyth children who received dental care increased by 18.8 percentage points to 66 percent for ages 1-5 and 16.7 percentage points to 72 percent for ages 6-14;
“These data show that public policy actions which promote evidence-based programs and support local communities can be powerful tools to safeguard our children’s health during tough economic times,” Bell said.
There was a 6.5 percent increase in investigations of potential child abuse or neglect in Forsyth to 4,198. The statewide level rose 9.5 percent to 133,949. There were 595 cases in Forsyth where services were recommended and 71 cases in which child abuse or neglect were substantiated.
The report factored in the Forsyth high school graduation rates, which rose from 70.7 percent to 80.9 percent – just above the statewide average of 80.4 percent.
“It’s no coincidence that Forsyth County experienced a significant decline in its teen pregnancy rate and increase in its graduation rate over the past several years,” Bell said.
With the General Assembly’s elimination of the state Earned Income Tax Credit for 2014, along with significant cuts to weekly unemployment benefits, Bell said the agency is concerned that many families could find their economic situation worsening during a slow economic recovery.
rcraver@wsjournal.com (336) 727-7376