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Kids Count report: child abuse down, high school dropouts up

May 17, 2009 By

The annual KidsCount report is out. It provides county-by-county data on the health and wellbeing of Missouri’schildren.

While child abuseand neglect cases in Missouriare down from last year, high school dropout rates are higher.

The Kids Countreport compares information and statistical trends on the conditions of ourstate’s children and families in all 114 counties and the City of Saint Louis.

St. Charles County,just outside of St. Louis,did the best this year. Not the case just a few miles away. St. Louis City scored lowest "across the board," says Scott Gee, director of Citizens for Missouri’sChildren. He says the areas that ranked the lowest are also the state’spoorest.

However, St. Louis did improve its numbers in all categories — save high school dropout rates — over last year.

The report breaksdown the rates for infant mortality, low birth weight, teen pregnancy, students on free or reduced lunches, babies born to mothers without a high school diploma, child deaths, children removed from homes, and violent deaths to teens.

The study also provides a breakout for various economic factors, demographics, family support systems, health and mental health.

For example, St. Louis had 1,226 high school dropouts, or 11.6 percent. St. Charles County had 449 dropouts, or 2.8 percent.

The report states that every day in Missouri:
18 babies are born with a low birth weight
41 children are born to mothers who lack high school diplomas
2 babies die before their ?rst birthday
15 children are removed from their homes
127 children receive attention from the Mo. Department of Social Services
   due to reports of child abuse and neglect
1 child or teen dies
29 teens drop out of school
25 teens between the ages of 15 and 19 give birth
212,369 children live in poverty

Gee says the reportserves local and state policymakers, as well as not-for-profits at the locallevel in identifying needs and boosting certain programs.

To see how your county ranks and individual breakdowns, visit the Citizens for Missouri’s Children Web site.

 

Jessica Machetta reports [Download/listen MP3]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Missouri might soon have Child Support Enforcement Courts

April 28, 2009 By

Missouri could try a new experiment; a specialized court to deal with child support.

Drug Courts have worked. Now, the state will try Child Support Enforcement Courts.

"What we want to do is reconnect the fathers with their children and urge them to pay their support obligation properly," House sponsor Tim Jones, a state representative from Eureka, told colleagues during floor debate on SCS SB 140 .

Jones stated that the current system simply isn’t working and the state needs to try something new. Jones says the system doesn’t work now, because a father can’t pay child support if thrown in prison and, once thrown in prison, a father has an even more difficult time landing a job and financially supporting his children.

Rep. Michael Frame (D-Eureka) told Jones parents who have won custody have told him they have lost much more when the other parent has been imprisoned.

"They sure can’t pay while they are in jail and once they come out they will be limited in paying," Frame said.

Jones responded that the current system has become the new version of debtor’s prison. Jones added that as with debtor’s prison, the person thrown in prison can’t repay the debt which keeps growing.

Under the system, circuit courts in Missouri would be allowed to set up the special courts. Parents who fall behind in child support could be referred by a court to education, job training, even drug treatment. Once the person completes the court-assignment or resumes support payments, charges could be dropped. The special courts are expected to save the state $1.5 million by keeping men out of prison and getting them to pay child support.

The bill now goes to the governor.

 

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (1:16 MP3)

Filed Under: Legislature, Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Temporary public benefits would be withheld from drug users

April 9, 2009 By

If someone applying for temporary public assistance is suspected of using drugs they would have to pass a drug tests before Missouri provides benefits under a bill approved in the House.

Rep. Ellen Brandom (R-Sikeston) sponsors HB 30 that would withhold Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, known as TANF, from those who test positive for drugs.

House Minority Leader Paul LeVota (D-Independence) questions Brandom on her intent. LeVota asserts the bill would hurt the children, though Brandom points out that though it withholds from the drug user, it relies on a third party to insure TANF continues to the children. It wouldn’t affect Medicaid or Food Stamps. Those who test positive for drug use would lose TANF benefits for a year.

Critics say the bill would hurt poor families and fails to adequately address the drug addiction, though it calls for those who test positive to be referred to a drug treatment program.

Brandom hopes losing benefits motivates a drug user to kick the habit, but states that if a person is using drugs, the taxpayer shouldn’t be required to subsidize their habit.

The bill passes on a 104-to-45 vote and moves to the Senate. 

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Legislature Tagged With:

West Platte coach busted for pot

February 20, 2009 By

49 year old David Bridger, a West Platte R-II School district teacher’s aide and girls varsity basketball coach was charged with felony possession of marijuana along with his 61 year old wife Dorothy and 22 year old son David in their Platte City home.

Bridger also helps coach football and baseball.  He was placed on administrative leave.  As part of the terms of that leave, Bridger is not allowed to go onto school property of have any contact with students and staff.  Bridger is an aide with elementary special education students.

For more on the story click here .

Filed Under: Human Interest, Sports Tagged With:

Landis to race in Tour of Missouri bike race

January 26, 2009 By

Floyd Landis Floyd Landis, who won the 2006 Tour de France, and was later stripped of that championship for a failed drug test is rumored to race in the 2009 Tour of Missouri bike race, according to several sources.

The Kansas City Star is reporting that the USA Today online edition is reporting that Landis is planning on returning to races in California, Utah, and Missouri.  The St. Louis Examiner also reported that CyclingNews.com is reporting the same story.

Next month, Landis will race in the Tour of California race, his first road race since his two year suspension.  Landis had a high testosterone/epitestosterone ration following the 17th stage of the Tour de France.  He got the two year ban after an arbitration panel voted against his appeal.

Filed Under: Human Interest, Sports Tagged With:
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