An annual report released on Monday from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows signs of an improving economy, but underlying struggles remain for children in Lake and Porter counties.
The 2017 Kids Count Data Book measured data on a broad ranges of factors from economics, health outcomes and education statistics between 2012 and 2015.
The Baltimore-based nonprofit partnered with the Indiana Youth Institute to compile a wealth of data that serve to illuminate some of the issues children face from birth to age 17.
For the first time in a decade, the number of children statewide considered homeless under the federal McKinney-Vento Act dropped: to 16,143 in 2016 from 17,437 in 2015. That number is up from 4,789 in 2006, according to the report.
Federal law defines homelessness as the lack of a permanent fixed address, which also includes families living in a shelter, or doubling up with friends or family members.
“I think generally, the economic recovery is finally trickling down to families with kids, and in particular, single parents with kids,” said Indiana Youth Institute President Tami Silverman.
Statewide, the number of children in poverty dropped slightly to 20.9 percent in 2015 from 21.5 percent in 2014, compared to 20.7 percent nationwide.
Lake County saw the number of children in poverty continue to decline slightly to 26.5 percent in 2016 from 27.3 percent in 2014. However, the number of children receiving free lunches jumped to 51.1 percent from 48.7 percent the prior year.
Median household income dropped slightly to $50,135 in 2015 from $50,774 in 2014.The average unemployment rate increased to 10.5 percent in 2015 from 8.1 percent in 2014.
In Porter County, the number of children living in poverty jumped to 14.8 percent in 2015 from 13.2 percent in 2014. The number of children receiving free lunches also climbed slightly to 27.5 percent in 2015 from 27.3 percent in 2014.
Median household incomes increased to $63,926 in 2015 from $63,030 in 2014. The average unemployment rate increased to 7.3 percent in 2015 from 6.3 percent in 2014.
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