DOCUMENT RESUME Key Facts about the Children: Florida Kids ... · The Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI), University of South Florida, was created by the Florida Legislature in

Page 1

DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 407 144 PS 025 377

TITLE Key Facts about the Children: Florida Kids Count 1994. AReport on the Status of Florida's Children: Volume V.

INSTITUTION University of South Florida, Tampa. Florida Center forChildren and Youth.

PUB DATE 94

NOTE 313p.; For volume VI, see PS 025 379.PUB TYPE Numerical/Quantitative Data (110) Reports Descriptive

(141)

EDRS PRICE MF01/PC13 Plus Postage.DESCRIPTORS Academic Achievement; *Adolescents; Birth Weight; Births to

Single Women; Child Abuse; Child Health; Child Neglect;*Children; Delinquency; Demography; Dropout Rate; EarlyParenthood; Elementary Secondary Education; FamilyEnvironment; Grade Repetition; Mortality Rate; One ParentFamily; Out of School Youth; Prenatal Care; Runaways;*Social Indicators; State Surveys; Statistical Surveys;Tables (Data); *Well Being

IDENTIFIERS Arrests; *Florida; *Indicators

ABSTRACTThis Kids Count report investigates statewide trends in the

well-being of Florida's children. The statistical report is based on 19indicators of child well being: (1) low birth weight infants; (2) infantmortality rate; (3) child death rate; (4) births to single teens; (5)

juvenile violent crime arrest rate; (6) percent graduating from high schoolon time; (7) percent teens not in school and not in the labor force; (8) teenviolent death rate; (9) child poverty rate; (10) births to unwed mothers;(11) prenatal care; (12) child abuse and neglect rates; (13) corporalpunishments in school; (14) suspensions; (15) non-promotions to the nextgrade; (16) percent passing competency exams in math and communication; (17)

delinquency rates; (18) detentions and transfers to adult court; and (19)percent children in single parent families. Section 1 provides information onpopulation and economics. Section 2 details births, and Section 3 focuses onchild safety and deaths. Section 4 deals with education, while Section 5addresses youth and the law. Section 6 presents county data. Findingsindicate that Florida ranks 48th in child well-being nationwide. Althoughinfant mortality and prenatal care have improved and the high schoolgraduation rate has stabilized, too many children are jeopardized by abuse,unsafe environments, and crime; and the number of cases entering the juvenilejustice system has increased 93 percent in the past 10 years. Appendicespresents county rates for each indicator, racial and age group differences,terminology, and data sources. (KDFB)

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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be madefrom the original document.

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Page 2

FLO

RID

A K

IDS

CO

UN

T19

94

A R

epor

ton

the

Stat

us o

fFl

orid

a's

Chi

ldre

n:V

olum

e V

KE

Y F

AC

TS

AB

OU

T T

HE

CH

ILD

RE

N

U.S

. DE

PA

RT

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NT

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ED

UC

AT

ION

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ce o

f Edu

catio

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esea

rch

and

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ovem

ent

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UC

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UR

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RM

AT

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docu

men

t has

bee

n re

prod

uced

asre

ceiv

ed fr

om th

e pe

rson

or

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or c

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ave

been

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oduc

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ity.

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nts

of v

iew

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ions

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ted

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FO

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(E

RIC

)

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day

s of

our

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ure

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dbe

fore

us

like

a ro

w o

f lit

tle li

ghte

d ca

ndle

s.

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((/

.th

2

BE

ST C

OPY

AV

AIL

AB

LE

Page 3

CO

NT

EN

TS

AB

OU

T F

LO

RID

A K

IDS

CO

UN

T

The

Flo

rida

Men

tal h

ealth

Inst

itute

6

The

Flo

rida

Cen

ter

for

Chi

ldre

n &

You

th6

Cha

irman

's M

essa

ge7

Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

Cou

ncil

8

Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

Dat

a C

onta

cts

9

Ded

icat

ion

10

How

to U

se th

is B

ook

IIS

tate

wid

e T

rend

s at

a G

lanc

e12

Pre

vent

ion

14

5

SEC

TIO

N I

: PO

PUL

AT

ION

& E

CO

NO

MIC

S15

Dem

ogra

phic

s17

Eco

nom

ic S

tatu

s22

I

SEC

TIO

N 2

: BIR

TH

S IN

FL

OR

IDA

Birt

h R

ates

and

Birt

hs to

Unw

ed M

othe

rs27

Birt

hs to

Tee

nage

rs30

Pre

nata

l Car

e an

d Lo

w B

irthw

eigh

t33

Infa

nt M

orta

lity

36

'by

25

Page 4

CO

NT

EN

TS

SEC

TIO

N 3

: CH

ILD

SA

FET

Y &

CH

ILD

DE

AT

HS

Chi

ld A

buse

and

Run

away

s41

Chi

ld a

nd T

een

Dea

ths

44

SEC

TIO

N 4

: ED

UC

AT

ION

IN

FL

OR

IDA

47

Enr

ollm

ent i

n F

lorid

a S

choo

ls49

Dis

cipl

inar

y A

ctio

ns a

nd N

on-P

rom

otio

ns50

SEC

TIO

N 5

: YO

UT

H &

TH

E L

AW

55

The

Juv

enile

Jus

tice

'Sys

tem

57

39

FLO

RID

A'S

CH

ILD

RE

N A

T A

GL

AN

CE

...C

OU

NT

Y B

Y C

OU

NT

Y61

APP

EN

DIC

ES

133

TE

RM

INO

LO

GY

& S

OU

RC

ES

159

,fir

67

Page 5

DIR

EC

TO

RY

GR

APH

ICS

Flo

rida

Pop

ulat

ion

by A

ge. 1

992

17

Dis

trib

utio

n of

Chi

ld P

opul

atio

nby

Age

Cat

egor

y, 1

980

& 1

992

18

Num

ber

of C

hild

ren

by A

geC

ateg

orie

s fo

r 19

80 &

199

2 an

dth

e P

erce

nt C

hang

e fr

om 1

980

19

Per

cent

of F

lorid

a C

hild

ren

unde

r18

Liv

ing

in P

over

ty w

ithin

Typ

eof

Fam

ily S

truc

ture

, 199

0 C

ensu

s22

Per

cent

of F

lorid

a C

hild

ren

unde

rA

ge 6

Liv

ing

in P

over

ty w

ithin

Eac

h R

ace/

Eth

nici

ty, 1

990

Cen

sus

23

Birt

h R

ates

from

198

0 th

roug

h 19

92fo

r W

hite

, Non

whi

te, a

nd a

ll M

othe

rs

Fer

tility

Rat

es fo

r A

dole

scen

tan

d A

dult

Wom

en fr

om 1

980

thro

ugh

1992

30

Acc

ess

to P

rena

tal C

are

by R

ace,

199

233

Infa

nt M

orta

lity

Rat

e by

Rac

efr

om 1

980

thro

ugh

1992

36

Num

ber

and

Per

cent

of A

buse

and

Neg

lect

Mal

trea

tmen

ts b

y C

ateg

ory

in R

epor

ts C

lose

d, 1

992/

9341

Enr

ollm

ent i

n P

ublic

Sch

ools

from

198

3/84

thro

ugh

1993

/94

49

Rat

e of

Non

-Pro

mot

ions

by G

rade

and

Rac

e, 1

992/

935I

Per

cent

Cha

nge

in th

e N

umbe

r of

Del

inqu

ency

Cas

es R

ecei

ved

and

Cas

esD

etai

ned

by R

ace,

Age

and

Gen

der

from

198

2/83

to 1

992/

9357

Del

inqu

ency

Cas

es T

rans

ferr

ed to

Adu

ltC

ourt

, 197

5/76

thro

ugh

1992

/93

58

TA

BL

ES

Num

ber

of C

hild

ren

by A

ge a

ndR

ace

and

the

Per

cent

Cha

nge

from

198

0 to

199

219

Pop

ulat

ion.

199

220

Eco

nom

ic S

tatu

s, 1

990

24

Birt

hs, 1

992

28

Birt

hs to

Tee

nage

rs(u

nder

age

20)

, 199

231

Ear

ly P

rena

tal C

are

and

Low

Birt

hwei

ght,

1992

34

Lead

ing

Cau

ses

of In

fant

Mor

talit

yby

Rac

e, 1

992

37

Infa

ntM

orta

lity,

199

218

Chi

ld A

buse

and

Run

away

s, 1

992/

9342

Tee

n V

iole

nt D

eath

s by

Rac

ean

d G

ende

r, 1

992

(Age

s 15

-19)

44

Chi

ld a

nd T

een

Dea

ths,

199

245

Flo

rida

Stu

dent

Enr

ollm

ent b

yR

ace

and

the

Rat

e of

Dis

cipl

inar

yA

ctio

ns a

nd N

on-P

rom

otio

ns, 1

992/

9350

Edu

catio

n, 1

992/

9352

You

th &

the

Law

, 199

2/93

59

Key

Fac

ts a

bout

the

Chi

ldre

n: V

olum

e V

was

prep

ared

by

the

Flo

rida

Cen

ter

for

Chi

ldre

n &

You

th. O

rigin

al F

lorid

a K

ids

Cou

nt d

ata

was

prov

ided

by

the

Uni

vers

ity o

fm

h F

lorid

a.F

lorid

a M

enta

l Hea

lth In

stitu

te. D

epar

tmen

tof

Chi

ld a

nd F

amily

Stu

dies

.

APP

EN

DIC

ES

App

endi

x A

.P

opul

atio

n, 1

992

134

App

endi

x B

.C

hild

Pop

ulat

ion

by R

ace,

199

213

6

App

endi

x C

.P

erce

nt C

hang

e in

Num

ber

ofC

hild

ren

from

198

0 to

199

2by

Age

Gro

up a

nd R

ace

138

App

endi

x D

.P

over

ty, 1

990

Cen

sus

140

App

endi

x E

.B

irths

in F

lorid

a, 1

992

142

App

endi

x F

.B

irths

to U

nwed

Mot

hers

, 199

214

4

App

endi

x G

.B

irths

to T

eena

gers

(und

er a

ge 2

0), 1

992

146

App

endi

x H

.E

arly

Pre

nata

l Car

e an

dLo

w B

irthw

eigh

t, 19

9214

8

App

endi

x I.

Infa

nt M

orta

lity,

199

215

0

App

endi

x J.

Chi

ld S

afet

y15

2

App

endi

x K

.E

duca

tion,

199

2/93

154

App

endi

x L.

You

th a

nd th

e La

w, 1

992/

9315

6

S9

Page 6

AB

OU

T F

LOR

IDA

KID

S C

OU

NT

Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

pro

files

the

wel

l-bei

ngof

Flo

rida'

s ch

ildre

n by

trac

king

thei

rst

atus

usi

ng s

elec

t ind

icat

ors

of h

ealth

,ed

ucat

ion,

soc

ial a

nd e

cono

mic

wel

l-bei

ng.

The

dat

a co

mpi

led

by K

ids

Cou

nt is

gath

ered

from

pub

lic s

ourc

es a

ndsu

pple

men

ted

by in

form

atio

n av

aila

ble

from

res

earc

h st

udie

s, p

ublic

pol

icy

anal

yses

, and

org

aniz

atio

ns e

ngag

ed in

dat

aco

llect

ion

and

advo

cacy

wor

k.

The

pur

pose

of t

he p

roje

ct is

to in

form

the

publ

ic a

nd p

olic

y m

aker

s ab

out t

he li

ves

of o

ur c

hild

ren

and

to b

uild

lead

ersh

ip a

ndac

coun

tabi

lity

for

actio

n on

beh

alf o

fch

ildre

n. K

ids

Cou

nt s

triv

es to

hel

pF

lorid

ians

und

erst

and

the

real

ities

of

child

ren'

s liv

es in

thei

r co

mm

uniti

es a

ndst

atew

ide

by p

rovi

ding

ans

wer

s to

que

stio

nssu

ch a

s, "

How

ser

ious

are

the

prob

lem

s ou

rch

ildre

n an

d fa

mili

es fa

ce?

Are

we

adeq

uate

ly s

uppo

rtin

g fa

mili

es in

mee

ting

thei

r ch

ildre

n's

need

s? W

hat p

rogr

ess

has

been

mad

e in

impr

ovin

g th

e liv

es o

f the

next

gen

erat

ion

of F

lorid

a ci

tizen

s?"

Kid

s C

ount

is fu

nded

by

the

Ann

ie E

.C

asey

Fou

ndat

ion,

the

larg

est f

ound

atio

nin

the

Uni

ted

Sta

tes

devo

ted

excl

usiv

ely

to im

prov

ing

the

lives

of d

isad

vant

aged

child

ren.

Flo

rida

Com

pare

dto

the

Nat

ion

Ove

rall

Ran

k: 4

8th

Indi

cato

rU

.S.

Fla.

Ran

k

Per

cent

low

birt

h-w

eigh

t bab

ies

7.1%

7.4%

33

Infa

nt m

orta

lity

rate

(pe

r 1,

000

live

birt

hs)

8.9

9.0

29

Chi

ld d

eath

rat

eA

ges

1-14

(pe

r10

0,00

0 ch

ildre

n)30

.735

.140

Per

cent

of a

llbi

rths

that

are

to s

ingl

e te

ens

9.0%

10.2

%36

Juve

nile

vio

lent

crim

e ar

rest

rat

eA

ges

10-1

7 (p

er10

0,00

0 yo

uths

457

757

49

Per

cent

gra

duat

ing

from

hig

h sc

hool

on ti

me

68.8

%56

.4%

49

Per

cent

teen

s no

tin

sch

ool a

nd n

otin

labo

r fo

rce

Age

s 16

-19

5.0%

6.5%

44

Tee

n vi

olen

t dea

thra

te A

ges

15-1

9(p

er 1

00,0

00 te

ens)

71.1

66.9

22

Per

cent

chi

ldre

nin

pov

erty

20.0

%22

.9%

39

Per

cent

chi

ldre

nin

sin

gle-

pare

ntfa

mili

es25

.1%

30.9

%47

/994

. Nat

iona

l Kid

s C

oma

A m

ajor

goa

l of t

he K

ids

Cou

nt in

itiat

ive

isto

fost

er a

gre

ater

nat

iona

l com

mitm

ent t

oim

prov

ing

outc

omes

for

vuln

erab

lech

ildre

n an

d th

eir

fam

ilies

. Nat

iona

l Kid

sC

ount

has

pub

lishe

d an

ann

ual r

epor

t on

the

stat

us o

f chi

ldre

n in

the

Uni

ted

Sta

tes

sinc

e 19

89. T

he n

etw

ork

of K

ids

Cou

ntpr

ojec

ts c

urre

ntly

ext

ends

to 4

8 st

ates

.

Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

, beg

un in

199

2, is

adm

inis

tere

d by

the

Uni

vers

ity o

f Sou

thF

lorid

a, F

lorid

a M

enta

l Hea

lth In

stitu

te,

Dep

artm

ent o

f Chi

ld a

nd F

amily

Stu

dies

in p

artn

ersh

ip w

ith th

e F

lorid

a C

ente

r fo

rC

hild

ren

& Y

outh

.

KE

Y F

AC

TS

AB

OU

T T

HE

CH

ILD

RE

N:

The

199

4 F

lorid

a K

ids

Cou

nt D

ata

Boo

k is

inte

nded

to s

uppl

emen

tth

e 19

93 K

ey F

acts

/Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

Dat

a B

ook.

The

199

3 ho

ok p

rovi

ded

base

line

year

dat

a fr

om th

e 19

90 C

ensu

san

d fu

ture

Kid

s C

ount

effo

rts

will

bui

ldup

on th

e fo

unda

tion

begu

n th

ere.

To

fulfi

ll th

e m

issi

on o

f Flo

rida

Kid

sC

ount

, wor

k w

ill c

ontin

ue a

nd e

xpan

d in

the

area

s of

dat

a co

mpi

latio

n, a

naly

sis

and

diss

emin

atio

n, a

nd p

ublic

edu

catio

nan

d ad

voca

cy.

i06)

199

411k

ida

K(

'om

it

Page 7

TH

E F

LO

RID

A M

EN

TA

L H

EA

LT

H I

NST

ITU

TE

The

Flo

rida

Men

tal H

ealth

Inst

itute

(FM

HI)

, Uni

vers

ity o

f Sou

th F

lorid

a, w

ascr

eate

d by

the

Flo

rida

Legi

slat

ure

in 1

969

to s

erve

the

men

tal h

ealth

nee

ds o

f the

Sta

te o

f Flo

rida.

The

mis

sion

of F

MH

I is

toim

prov

e an

d st

reng

then

ser

vice

del

iver

ysy

stem

s fo

r m

enta

l hea

lth a

nd h

uman

serv

ices

in F

lorid

a th

roug

h tr

aini

ng,

rese

arch

and

dem

onst

ratio

n pr

ojec

ts. F

MH

Ire

ceiv

es fu

ndin

g fr

om th

e st

ate,

fede

ral

gran

ts a

nd p

rivat

e fo

unda

tions

.

FM

HI's

Dep

artm

ent o

f Chi

ld a

nd F

amily

Stu

dies

(C

FS

) se

eks

to im

prov

e th

e so

cial

and

emot

iona

l com

pete

nce

and

wel

l-bei

ngof

fam

ilies

thro

ugh

rese

arch

, inn

ovat

ive

prog

ram

s, te

achi

ng a

nd s

harin

gin

form

atio

n.

Max

Der

tke,

Ph.

D.,

Dea

nF

lorid

a M

enta

l Hea

lth In

stitu

te

Rob

ert F

riedm

an, P

h.D

., C

hair

Dep

artm

ent o

f Chi

ld a

nd F

amily

Stu

dies

Flor

ida

Kid

s C

ount

Sta

ff:

Kat

hy G

oltr

y S

hanl

ey, M

.S.W

.P

roje

ct D

irect

or

Sus

an W

eitz

el, M

.A.,

Res

earc

h D

irect

or

Laur

ie L

auba

ch, R

esea

rch

Ass

ista

nt

Joy

K. N

aar,

M.A

., P

roje

ct A

ssis

tant

Cin

di S

hock

ley,

Pro

ject

Ass

ista

nt

Nel

l Coa

tes,

Adm

inis

trat

ive

Ass

ista

nt

TH

E F

LO

RID

A C

EN

TE

R F

OR

CH

ILD

RE

N &

YO

UT

H

The

Flo

rida

Cen

ter

for

Chi

ldre

n &

You

th is

a pr

ivat

e, n

onpr

ofit

citiz

ens'

org

aniz

atio

nth

at s

afeg

uard

s th

e in

tere

sts

of c

hild

ren.

Cre

ated

in 1

976,

the

Cen

ter

enco

urag

espr

even

tive

inve

stm

ent b

efor

e ch

ildre

n ge

tsi

ck, d

rop

out o

f sch

ool,

get i

nto

trou

ble

orsu

ffer

fam

ily b

reak

dow

n. T

hrou

ghpu

blic

atio

ns, a

dvoc

ate

trai

ning

, and

gove

rnm

ent m

onito

ring,

the

Cen

ter

seek

sto

edu

cate

the

publ

ic, p

rofe

ssio

nals

, new

sm

edia

and

ele

cted

offi

cial

s ab

out t

he n

eeds

of c

hild

ren.

12

The

Cen

ter's

gre

ates

t ach

ieve

men

t is

agr

owin

g ne

twor

k of

chi

ld a

dvoc

ates

wor

king

to m

ake

Flo

rida

a m

ore

fam

ily-

frie

ndly

pla

ce to

live

. The

Cen

ter

rece

ives

no o

pera

ting

supp

ort f

rom

the

Sta

te o

fF

lorid

a. It

rel

ies

on th

e fin

anci

al s

uppo

rt o

fin

divi

dual

mem

bers

, chi

ld-s

ervi

ng a

genc

ies,

busi

ness

lead

ers

and

phila

nthr

opic

foun

datio

ns to

giv

e th

e ne

eds

of c

hild

ren

publ

ic a

nd p

oliti

cal a

ttent

ion.

The

Cen

ter

isa

foun

ding

mem

ber

of th

e N

atio

nal

Ass

ocia

tion

of C

hild

Adv

ocat

es a

nd th

eC

oalit

ion

for

Am

eric

a's

Chi

ldre

n. T

hese

natio

nal p

artn

ersh

ips

empo

wer

the

Cen

ter

to e

ffect

ivel

y se

rve

Flo

rida'

s ch

ildre

n by

stre

ngth

enin

g its

adv

ocac

y sk

ills.

Sal

ly B

utzi

n, P

h.D

., C

hairp

erso

n

Jack

Lev

ine,

Exe

cutiv

e D

irect

orF

lorid

a K

ids

Cou

nt C

o-D

irect

or

Sar

a B

. Hea

ly, A

ssoc

iate

Dire

ctor

Flo

rida

Chi

ldre

n's

Cam

paig

n M

anag

er

Shi

rley

O'R

ear,

Exe

cutiv

e A

ssis

tant

Pat

St.

Ang

elo,

Leg

isla

tive

Ass

ista

nt

Kim

Gor

don,

Cam

paig

n A

ssis

tant

tren

dy H

all,

Res

earc

h A

ssis

tant

Sar

a W

oola

rd, O

ffice

Ass

ista

nt

6©

1994

Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

12

Page 8

The

re a

re o

ver

thre

e m

illio

n ch

ildre

nyo

unge

r th

an a

ge 1

8 in

Flo

rida

toda

y. I

n19

91, a

lmos

t 31

perc

ent o

f th

ese

child

ren

lived

in s

ingl

e pa

rent

fam

ilies

, a s

tart

ling

stat

istic

. The

se c

hild

ren

are

at g

reat

ris

k of

livin

g in

pov

erty

Flor

ida

rank

s 39

tham

ong

the

50 s

tate

s an

d th

e D

istr

ict o

fC

olum

bia

in th

e pe

rcen

t of

child

ren

inpo

vert

y. L

ivin

g in

pov

ei-t

y pu

ts c

hild

ren

atje

opar

dy a

t eve

ry s

tage

of

thei

r liv

es. W

ithpo

vert

y co

nies

an

incr

ease

d le

vel o

f pu

blic

assi

stan

ce, p

oor

heal

th, a

nd g

ener

al s

ocia

ltu

rmoi

l. A

s T

evye

inF

iddl

er o

n th

e R

oof

says

, "W

hile

it's

no

sin

to b

e po

or, i

t's n

ogr

eat b

less

ing

eith

er."

Eac

h ye

ar, m

ore

info

rmat

ion

beco

mes

avai

labl

e re

gard

ing

the

need

s of

our

child

ren

and

how

bes

t to

mee

t tho

se n

eeds

.U

nfor

tuna

tely

, thi

s re

sear

ch is

oft

en n

otus

ed b

y po

licy-

mak

ers

to s

et th

eir

prio

ritie

s. I

n sp

ite o

f an

incr

ease

daw

aren

ess

of th

e st

atus

of

child

ren

byci

tizen

s of

all

ages

, it i

s ev

iden

t tha

t cha

nge

will

occ

ur o

nly

whe

n pu

blic

aw

aren

ess

istr

ansf

orm

ed in

to p

oliti

cal a

nd s

ocia

l act

ion.

Vot

ers

mus

t dem

and

that

thei

r le

gisl

ator

s'pr

iori

ties

chan

ge w

hen

it co

mes

to f

undi

ngch

ildre

n's

prog

ram

s. R

emem

beri

ng th

at "

anou

nce

of p

reve

ntio

n is

wor

th a

pou

nd o

fcu

re",

we

mus

t foc

us o

n ge

tting

hel

p to

child

ren

befo

re th

ey g

et s

ick,

dro

p ou

t of

scho

ol o

r ge

t int

o tr

oubl

e.

We

mus

t enc

oura

ge o

ur la

wm

aker

s to

crea

te p

olic

y in

ligh

t of

curr

ent c

hild

deve

lopm

ent k

now

ledg

e. G

over

nmen

tal

CH

AIR

MA

N'S

ME

SSA

GE

Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

bel

ieve

sth

at e

very

chi

ld d

eser

ves:

acce

ss to

qua

lity,

aff

orda

ble

heal

th c

are

and

cari

ng h

ealth

pro

vide

rs.

to li

ve in

a lo

ving

fam

ily w

hich

has

the

reso

urce

s to

pro

perl

y ca

re f

or it

s ch

ildre

n.

to b

e se

cure

that

ther

e is

a r

oof

over

head

and

food

on

the

tabl

e.

an a

dult

role

mod

el w

hose

task

is to

impa

rt v

alue

s an

d sh

ow th

e w

ay.

affo

rdab

le, q

ualit

y ch

ild c

are

whi

le h

is o

rhe

r pa

rent

s ar

e at

wor

k.

to a

rriv

e at

sch

ool p

repa

red

to le

arn.

to g

row

up

in a

non

viol

ent,

drug

-fre

een

viro

nmen

t and

hav

e a

safe

pla

ce to

pla

y.

to s

afel

y at

tend

sch

ool a

nd r

ecei

ve a

qual

ity e

duca

tion.

the

oppo

rtun

ity to

dev

elop

ski

lls a

nd h

ave

a w

ell-

payi

ng jo

b.

to r

ecei

ve h

elp,

sup

port

and

nur

turi

ng p

ast

the

age

of 1

8.

lead

ers

shou

ld a

ct to

pro

vide

hea

lth c

are

for

all p

regn

ant w

omen

and

chi

ldre

n;st

anda

rds

for

qual

ity c

hild

car

e an

dpr

esch

ool e

duca

tiona

l pro

gram

s; s

afe

envi

ronm

ents

with

out c

onst

ant e

xpos

ure

to

viol

ence

; and

you

th d

evel

opm

ent p

rogr

ams

to k

eep

child

ren

out o

f tr

oubl

e. W

hile

it is

impe

rativ

e to

rid

the

stre

ets

of v

iole

nt a

ndre

peat

cri

min

als,

this

mus

t be

done

at t

hesa

me

time

our

youn

gest

chi

ldre

n re

ceiv

epr

even

tiVe

serv

ices

to e

nabl

e th

em to

gro

wup

rea

dy to

be

prod

uctiv

e ci

tizen

s.

To

achi

eve

thes

e go

als,

Flo

ridi

ans

mus

tbe

com

e m

ore

dire

ctly

and

per

sona

llyin

volv

ed in

the

heal

th a

nd w

ell-

bein

g ou

rst

ate'

s ch

ildre

n an

d fa

mili

es. W

hile

adeq

uate

fun

ding

for

chi

ldre

n's

serv

ices

toel

imin

ate

wai

ting

lists

for

cri

tical

car

e m

ust

cont

inue

to b

e a

top

prio

rity

, we

can

also

crea

te o

ppor

tuni

ties

for

colla

bora

tive

effo

rts.

For

exa

mpl

e, th

e Fl

orid

a D

istr

ict o

fK

iwan

is a

nd th

e Im

mun

izat

ion

Sect

ion

ofth

e St

ate

Hea

lth D

epar

tmen

t hav

e, o

ver

the

last

two

year

s, w

orke

d to

impr

ove

imm

uniz

atio

n ra

tes

for

child

ren.

By

wor

king

toge

ther

, and

bri

ngin

g ot

her

indi

vidu

als

and

orga

niza

tions

into

the

part

ners

hip,

Flo

rida

's c

hild

imm

uniz

atio

nra

te is

hig

her

toda

y th

an a

t any

tim

e in

hist

ory.

Suc

h pu

blic

-pri

vate

par

tner

ship

sar

e th

e m

ost c

ost-

effe

ctiv

e w

ay to

impr

ove

the

lives

of

child

ren.

By

docu

men

ting

need

s an

d pr

ovid

ing

clea

r,fe

asib

le s

olut

ions

to th

e pr

oble

ms

child

ren

face

, chi

ld a

dvoc

ates

' eff

Ort

s ar

e de

stin

edto

mak

e Fl

orid

a a

mor

e ch

ild-f

rien

dly

com

mun

ity.

Wil

Ble

chm

an, M

D.

Cha

irman

, Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

Cou

ncil

0 In

Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

7

Page 9

The

Hon

orab

le C

lare

nce

Ant

hony

Pres

iden

t, Fl

orid

a L

eagu

e of

Citi

es

Hila

rie B

ass,

Esq

.Pr

esid

ent,

Flor

ida

Bar

Fou

ndat

ion

Will

iam

Ben

tley,

Pres

iden

tO

unce

of

Prev

entio

n Fu

nd o

f Fl

orid

a

W. J

. Ble

chm

an, M

.D.,

Cha

irm

anFl

orid

a K

ids

Cou

nt C

ounc

ilPa

st P

resi

dent

, Kiw

anis

Int

erna

tiona

l

Col

leen

Bev

is,

Cha

irC

hild

ren'

s B

oard

of

Hill

sbor

ough

Cou

nty

Jam

es B

loun

t,A

ssis

tant

Dir

ecto

rD

ivis

ion

of A

dmin

stra

tive

Serv

ices

Dep

artm

ent o

f L

abor

and

Em

ploy

men

tSe

curi

ty

Sal

ly B

utzi

n,V

ice-

Pres

iden

tE

duca

tion,

Res

earc

h &

Dev

elop

men

tD

anie

l Mem

oria

l Ins

titut

e

Dom

inic

Cal

abro

Pres

iden

t and

Chi

ef E

xecu

tive

Off

icer

Flor

ida

Tax

Wat

ch, I

nc.

FLO

RID

A K

IDS

CO

UN

T

CO

UN

CIL

Jay

Cro

use

Cro

use

Inve

stm

ents

Max

Der

tke,

Ph.

D.

Dea

n, F

lori

da M

enta

l Hea

lth I

nstit

ute

Uni

vers

ity o

f So

uth

Flor

ida

Ste

ve F

reed

man

, Ph.

D.

Dir

ecto

r, I

nstit

ute

for

Chi

ld H

ealth

Pol

icy

Uni

vers

ity o

f Fl

orid

a

Judi

th G

ordo

nN

atio

nal C

ounc

il of

Jew

ish

Wom

en

Ste

phen

Han

lon,

Esq

.H

olla

nd &

Kni

ght

Judy

Jam

es,

Cha

irC

hild

ren'

s Se

rvic

es C

ounc

ils o

f Fl

orid

a

Mar

y A

. Kum

peV

ice

Cha

ir, 1

000

Frie

nds

of F

lori

da

Car

olyn

Lav

ely,

Ph.

D.,

Dir

ecto

r, I

nstit

ute

for

At-

Ris

k In

fant

s,C

hild

ren

& Y

outh

and

thei

r Fa

mili

esU

nive

rsity

of

Sout

h I

h ri

da

Kay

Luz

ier

Pres

iden

t, Fl

orid

a PT

A

Nan

cy M

aggi

acom

o,Pr

esid

ent

Lea

gue

of W

omen

Vot

ers

of F

lori

da

Jam

es E

. Mill

s,E

xecu

tive

Dir

ecto

rJu

veni

le W

elfa

re B

oard

of

Pine

llas

Cou

nty

Dia

nna

Mor

gan

Vic

e-Pr

esid

ent f

or H

uman

Res

ourc

es a

ndG

over

nmen

t Rel

atio

nsW

alt D

isne

y W

orld

Com

pany

Ade

laid

e "A

lex"

Sin

kP

resi

dent

, Nat

ions

Ban

k of

Flo

rida

S. D

avid

Sta

mps

, Ph.

D.

Ass

ocia

te D

ean

for

Facu

lty D

evel

opm

ent

Col

lege

of

Art

s &

Sci

ence

sU

nive

rsity

of

Sout

h Fl

orid

a

Jose

y V

. Vel

azqu

ezN

atio

nal C

omm

issi

on o

n C

hild

ren

Ste

ve W

ilker

son,

Pres

iden

tFl

orid

a C

able

Tel

evis

ion

Ass

ocia

tion

The

Hon

orab

le M

arle

ne Y

oung

Pres

iden

t. Fl

orid

a A

ssoc

iatio

n of

Cou

ntie

s

8©

1994

Flo

rich

Kid

ti O

mni 16

Page 10

Pau

la A

ngev

ine

Flo

rida

Offi

ce o

f Vita

l Sta

tistic

sF

lorid

a D

epar

tmen

t of H

RS

Dot

Cra

wfo

rdT

estin

g an

d A

sses

smen

tF

lorid

a D

epar

tmen

t of E

duca

tion

Sus

an C

hase

Mic

helle

Mih

alic

hC

hild

ren

& F

amily

Ser

vice

s D

ata

Sup

port

Flo

rida

Abu

se H

otlin

e In

form

atio

n S

yste

ms

Flo

rida

Dep

artm

ent o

f HR

S

Ray

De

Sea

rE

cono

mic

Ser

vice

s P

rogr

am O

ffice

Dat

a an

d F

isca

l Ana

lysi

sF

lorid

a D

epar

tmen

t of H

RS

FLO

RID

A

KID

S C

OU

NT

DA

TA

CO

NT

AC

TS

Deb

bie

Eib

eck

Dan

Tho

mps

onW

IC a

nd N

utrit

ion

Ser

vice

sF

lorid

a D

epar

tmen

t of H

RS

Nat

han

Epp

sR

esea

rch

and

Dat

a U

nit

Flo

rida

Dep

artm

ent o

f Juv

enile

Jus

tice

Den

nis

Lind

sey

Chi

ldre

n &

Fam

ily S

ervi

ces

Flo

rida

Dep

artm

ent o

f HR

S

Har

riett

Mat

heny

Jane

t Hel

ler

Flo

rida

Net

wor

k of

You

th&

Fam

ily S

ervi

ces

Sus

an M

uenc

how

The

Flo

rida

Chi

ldre

n's

For

um

Dor

othy

Mab

ryH

ead

Sta

rtS

outh

east

Reg

ion

IV O

ffice

Atla

nta,

Geo

rgia

Kat

hy O

ckay

Div

isio

n of

Eco

nom

ic a

ndD

emog

raph

ic R

esea

rch

Join

t Leg

isla

tive

Man

agem

ent C

omm

ittee

The

Flo

rida

Legi

slat

ure

Cyn

di S

helto

nD

ivis

ion

of P

ublic

Sch

ools

Flo

rida

Dep

artm

ent o

f Edu

catio

n

Pau

l Sm

ithC

hild

ren'

s D

efen

se F

und

Was

hing

ton,

D.C

.

0199

4 E

liK

ids

Cou

nt9

Page 11

Thi

s ed

ition

of K

EY

FA

CT

S is

ded

icat

edto

the

volu

ntee

rs a

nd p

rofe

ssio

nals

of

Flo

rida'

s G

uard

ian

ad L

item

Pro

gram

.F

rom

its

orig

in in

the

late

197

0's,

the

prog

ram

cur

rent

ly s

erve

s m

altr

eate

dch

ildre

n in

eac

h of

Flo

rida'

s 20

judi

cial

circ

uits

.

Flo

rida'

s G

uard

ian

ad L

item

Pro

gram

isa

part

ners

hip

of th

e F

lorid

a S

upre

me

Cou

rt,

circ

uit c

ourt

s, a

ttorn

eys,

sch

ools

, men

tal

heal

th p

rofe

ssio

nals

and

lay

citiz

envo

lunt

eers

. It i

s th

e sp

irit o

f vol

unte

eris

m,

the

foun

datio

n of

ext

ensi

ve tr

aini

ng, a

ndth

e qu

ality

of s

uper

visi

on w

hich

com

bine

to m

ake

Flo

rida'

s G

uard

ian

ad L

item

Pro

gram

so

uniq

ue a

nd s

o va

luab

le.

Cur

rent

ly, m

ore

than

7,2

00 tr

aine

dG

uard

ians

ad

Lite

m a

re r

epre

sent

ing

the

need

s of

mor

e th

an 2

0,00

0 ch

ildre

n in

our

stat

e.

At t

he c

ore

of e

ach

Gua

rdia

n pr

ogra

m is

apr

ofou

nd s

ense

that

chi

ldre

n w

ho a

reab

used

, neg

lect

ed, a

band

oned

or

othe

rwis

em

altr

eate

d de

serv

e th

e sp

ecia

l atte

ntio

n of

dedi

cate

d ad

ults

. The

pur

pose

of e

ach

Gua

rdia

n's

effo

rt is

to g

athe

r an

d pr

esen

tva

luab

le in

form

atio

n to

the

cour

t abo

ut th

e

20

DE

DIC

AT

ION

Spea

k ou

t for

thos

e w

hoca

nnot

spe

ak, f

or th

eri

ghts

of

all t

he d

estit

ute.

Spea

k ou

t, ju

dge

righ

teou

sly,

and

def

end

the

righ

ts o

f th

e ne

edy.

Pro

verb

s 31

: 8-9

circ

umst

ance

s, c

ondi

tions

, and

nee

ds o

f the

child

ren

they

rep

rese

nt. G

ood

judi

cial

deci

sion

-mak

ing

for

each

vul

nera

ble

child

is th

e go

al o

f eve

ry G

uard

ian'

s ac

tion.

Eac

h G

uard

ian

has

the

pow

er to

mak

ere

com

men

datio

ns w

hich

impr

ove

judi

cial

actio

n. T

he G

uard

ians

rep

ort t

o th

e C

ourt

and

mak

e cr

ucia

l rec

omm

enda

tions

conc

erni

ng p

lace

men

t, th

erap

eutic

ser

vice

san

d pe

rman

ency

for

thei

r ap

poin

ted

child

.

Ano

ther

impo

rtan

t pow

er e

ach

Gua

rdia

npo

sses

ses

is th

e ab

ility

to b

uild

a b

ridge

betw

een

indi

vidu

al c

ases

and

the

entir

ecl

ass

of c

hild

ren

who

com

e to

the

atte

ntio

nof

the

Fam

ily C

ourt

.

Mas

tery

of t

he in

tric

acie

s of

the

syst

ems

whi

ch a

re in

tend

ed to

ser

ve c

hild

ren

is th

eke

y to

qua

lity

Gua

rdia

n ca

sew

ork.

The

iden

tific

atio

n of

pro

blem

s w

ithin

the

syst

ems

and

first

hand

kno

wle

dge

of th

ein

adeq

uacy

of r

esou

rces

mot

ivat

es e

ach

Gua

rdia

n to

wor

k fo

r sy

stem

ic c

hang

es.

By

harn

essi

ng th

e co

llect

ive

know

ledg

e of

Gua

rdia

n vo

lunt

eers

and

mob

ilizi

ng th

eir

hear

tfelt,

hea

dstr

ong

com

mitm

ent,

the

oppo

rtun

ity fo

r sy

stem

impr

ovem

ent i

she

ight

ened

.

The

goa

l by

the

year

200

0 is

that

eve

rych

ild w

ill h

ave

a G

uard

ian

ad L

item

repr

esen

t the

m in

dep

ende

ncy

case

s. In

dedi

catin

g th

is b

ook

to e

ach

and

ever

yG

uard

ian,

we

reco

gniz

e th

at it

's n

ot ju

st th

efa

cts,

but

the

face

s of

vul

nera

ble

child

ren

whi

ch p

rovi

de th

e m

ost p

ower

ful a

ndpo

igna

nt m

otiv

atio

n fo

r ac

tion.

10©

1994

Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

Page 12

The

dat

a su

mm

ariz

ed in

KE

Y F

AC

TS

are

inte

nded

to in

form

citi

zens

, priv

ate-

sect

orco

mm

unity

lead

ers,

and

gov

ernm

ent

offic

ials

abo

ut th

e liv

es o

f our

chi

ldre

n.T

he d

ata

help

s pr

ovid

e a

sens

e of

dire

ctio

nfo

r co

llabo

rativ

e ef

fort

s to

war

d as

surin

g a

brig

hter

futu

re fo

r al

l Flo

ridia

ns. T

hese

data

will

hel

p co

mm

uniti

es b

ette

run

ders

tand

how

hea

lth, e

cono

mic

s,ed

ucat

ion

and

viol

ence

influ

ence

child

ren'

s liv

es.

Eve

ry a

ttem

pt h

as b

een

mad

e to

mak

e th

eda

ta e

asy

to u

nder

stan

d an

d ad

apta

ble

for

use

in a

var

iety

of a

ctiv

ities

incl

udin

gpu

blic

info

rmat

ion

and

educ

atio

n, m

edia

cove

rage

, pub

licat

ion

in p

rofe

ssio

nal

jour

nals

/new

slet

ters

, spe

eche

s, w

orks

hops

and

conf

eren

ces,

and

pro

posa

l writ

ing.

22

HO

W T

O

USE

TH

IS B

OO

K

In a

dditi

on to

the

pres

enta

tion

in K

EY

FA

CT

S, t

hese

dat

a ar

e av

aila

ble

insp

read

shee

t for

mat

and

can

be

tran

sfer

red

to u

sers

ele

ctro

nica

lly th

roug

h th

e In

tern

et.

Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

see

ks to

str

engt

hen

the

colle

ctiv

e vo

ice

spea

king

on

beha

lf of

child

ren

thro

ugh

deve

lopi

ng c

olla

bora

tive

rela

tions

hips

with

exi

stin

g ef

fort

s w

orki

ngto

ass

ess

the

stat

us o

f chi

ldre

n. F

lorid

a's

Hea

lth a

nd H

uman

Ser

vice

s B

oard

s,C

hild

ren'

s S

ervi

ces

Cou

ncils

, Juv

enile

Just

ice

and

Hea

lth P

lann

ing

agen

cies

,U

nite

d W

ays,

and

a c

onst

ella

tion

ofst

atew

ide,

dis

tric

t, co

unty

and

mun

icip

alag

enci

es a

re w

orki

ng to

war

ds a

com

mon

goal

an a

utho

ritat

ive,

fact

ual a

ndco

mpr

ehen

sive

ass

essm

ent o

f chi

ldre

n's

prob

lem

s an

d w

orka

ble

stra

tegi

es to

addr

ess

child

ren'

s ne

eds.

Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

dat

a is

ava

ilabl

e to

anyo

ne w

ho c

ares

abo

ut th

e fu

ture

of

child

ren.

Idea

lly, t

his

info

rmat

ion

will

find

its w

ay in

to c

ount

less

dis

cuss

ions

abo

utch

ildre

n no

t onl

y at

the

gove

rnm

ent l

evel

,bu

t als

o at

ser

vice

clu

b an

d bu

sine

ssm

eetin

gs, c

hurc

h an

d sy

nago

gue

serv

ices

,an

d ne

ighb

or-t

o-ne

ighb

or.

With

thes

e fa

cts

in h

and,

it's

our

hop

e th

atpe

rson

al a

nd p

oliti

cal c

omm

itmen

t to

impr

ove

the

lives

of F

lorid

a's

vuln

erab

lech

ildre

n an

d th

eir

fam

ilies

will

be

exer

cise

d w

ith u

npre

cede

nted

pow

er.

23

© 1

994

Flor

ida

K id

s C

ount

11

Page 13

Pop

ulat

ion

In 1

992,

chi

ldre

n m

ade

up 2

2.5

perc

ent o

fth

e st

ate'

s 13

.4 m

illio

n re

side

nts,

an

incr

ease

in th

e ch

ild p

opul

atio

n of

4.6

perc

ent s

ince

199

0.

The

mos

t sig

nific

ant i

ncre

ase

in th

epo

pula

tion

of c

hild

ren

durin

g th

e la

stde

cade

has

bee

n in

chi

ldre

n un

der

age

10,

who

now

acc

ount

for

60 p

erce

nt o

fF

lorid

a's

unde

r ag

e 18

pop

ulat

ion.

The

cul

tura

l div

ersi

ty o

f our

sta

te is

dire

ctly

ref

lect

ed in

our

chi

ldre

nal

mos

t one

in e

very

thre

e no

nwhi

teF

lorid

a ci

tizen

s is

a c

hild

.

Birt

hs

The

re w

ere

191,

530

babi

es b

orn

inF

lorid

a in

199

2. T

hese

new

est r

esid

ents

repr

esen

t not

onl

y th

e ho

pes

and

drea

ms

of th

eir

fam

ilies

, but

the

futu

re o

f Flo

rida.

1992

's n

ewbo

rns

have

a lo

nger

life

expe

ctan

cy o

f any

birt

h co

hort

to d

ate

77.6

yea

rs. T

he li

kelih

ood

that

new

born

sw

ill s

urvi

ve in

thei

r fir

st y

ear

of li

fe h

asin

crea

sed

over

pre

viou

s ye

ars.

STA

TE

WID

E

TR

EN

DS

AT

A G

LA

NC

E

One

Day

in th

e Li

feof

Flo

rida'

s C

hild

ren

525

babi

es b

orn

179

babi

es b

orn

to u

nwed

mot

hers

71 b

abie

s bo

rn to

teen

age

mot

hers

39 b

abie

s bo

rn lo

w b

irthw

eigh

t

5 ba

bies

die

d be

fore

thei

r fir

st

birt

hday

2 ch

ild d

eath

s ag

es 1

-14

I tee

nage

vio

lent

dea

th (

ages

15-

19)

277

repo

rts

of c

hild

mal

trea

tmen

tre

ceiv

ed

162

repo

rts

of r

unaw

ays

rece

ived

1,01

9 di

sclip

inar

y ac

tions

in p

ublic

scho

ol

381

delin

quen

cy c

ases

rec

eive

d

63 a

dmis

sion

s to

juve

nile

det

entio

n

20 tr

ansf

ers

of ju

veni

les

to a

dult

crim

inal

cou

rt

Flo

rida'

s in

fant

mor

talit

y ra

te o

f 8.8

per

1,00

0 liv

e bi

rths

rep

rese

nted

a d

ecre

ase

from

the

1990

rat

es fo

r bo

th w

hite

and

nonw

hite

bab

ies,

alth

ough

the

rate

for

nonw

hite

infa

nts

cont

inue

d to

be

alm

ost

twic

e th

at o

f whi

te in

fant

s.

Bab

ies

born

in 1

992

had

mor

eop

port

unity

to b

e bo

rn h

ealth

y;ap

prox

imat

ely

eigh

t of t

en in

fant

s w

ere

born

to m

othe

rs w

ho r

ecei

ved

pren

atal

care

in th

e fir

st th

ree

mon

ths

of th

eir

preg

nanc

y.

But

in s

pite

of g

ains

mad

e in

infa

ntm

orta

lity

and

acce

ss to

pre

nata

l car

e,14

,255

Flo

rida

babi

es w

ere

born

wei

ghin

g le

ss th

an 2

,500

gra

ms

(5.5

pou

nds)

and

1,6

85 F

lorid

a in

fant

sdi

d no

t liv

e to

thei

r fir

st b

irthd

ay.

Eco

nom

ic S

tatu

s

Flo

rida'

s ba

bies

are

bor

n in

to o

ne o

f thi

sna

tion'

s w

ealth

iest

sta

tes.

In 1

991,

Flo

rida

rank

ed 1

9th

in p

erso

nal i

ncom

e, w

ith a

n

annu

al a

vera

ge p

er c

apita

of $

19,0

87.

12©

199

4 F

lorid

a K

ids

Cou

nt 2425

Page 14

In c

ontr

ast,

the

Cen

sus

repo

rts

that

appr

oxim

atel

y on

e of

fiv

e Fl

orid

ach

ildre

n liv

es in

pov

erty

.

Alm

ost o

ne-h

alf

mill

ion

Flor

ida

child

ren

lived

in f

amili

es th

at r

ecei

ved

Aid

toFa

mili

es w

ith D

epen

dent

Chi

ldre

n.

Six

of te

n Fl

orid

a ch

ildre

n liv

ed in

hous

ehol

ds in

whi

ch b

oth

pare

nts,

or

thei

ron

ly p

aren

t, w

orke

d ou

tsid

e th

e ho

me.

Des

pite

the

impo

rtan

ce o

f sa

fesu

perv

isio

n fo

r yo

ung

child

ren

whi

lepa

rent

s w

ork,

or

need

to w

ork,

nea

rly

18,0

00 u

nder

-sch

ool-

age

child

ren

wer

e on

the

wai

ting

list f

or s

ubsi

dize

d ch

ild c

are

in a

n av

erag

e m

onth

in 1

992.

Chi

ld S

afet

y

The

live

s of

too

man

y Fl

orid

a ch

ildre

nar

e je

opar

dize

d by

abu

se, u

nsaf

een

viro

nmen

ts a

nd c

rim

e. I

n FY

199

2/93

,th

ere

wer

e 13

0,80

1 to

tal "

veri

fied

and

som

e in

dica

tion"

mal

trea

tmen

ts in

the

103,

801

repo

rts

clos

ed b

y th

e Fl

orid

aPr

otec

tive

Serv

ices

Sys

tem

.

The

maj

ority

of

repo

rted

mal

trea

tmen

tsar

e fo

r ne

glec

t, m

ost o

ften

the

resu

lt of

inad

equa

te s

uper

visi

on a

nd e

nvir

onm

enta

lci

rcum

stan

ces.

Of

deat

hs to

chi

ldre

n un

der

age

14, n

earl

yha

lf w

ere

pote

ntia

lly p

reve

ntab

le.

2

The

lead

ing

caus

e of

dea

th f

or F

lori

dach

ildre

n ag

ed o

ne-t

o-fo

ur w

as d

row

ning

,w

hich

acc

ount

ed f

or 4

5.4

perc

ent o

fde

aths

in th

is a

ge g

roup

.

The

mos

t fre

quen

t cau

se o

f vi

olen

t dea

tham

ong

youn

g w

hite

mal

es w

as m

otor

vehi

cle

fata

litie

s, w

hile

hom

icid

eco

ntin

ues

to b

e th

e m

ost f

requ

ent c

ause

of

deat

h am

ong

youn

g no

nwhi

te m

ales

.

Dea

th f

rom

vio

lent

cau

ses

ende

d th

e liv

esof

493

Flo

rida

teen

ager

s in

199

2.

Edu

catio

n

Flor

ida

publ

ic s

choo

l enr

ollm

ent

cont

inue

s to

ste

adily

incr

ease

, rea

chin

g1,

981,

731

child

ren

in 1

992,

a 2

.7 p

erce

ntin

crea

se o

ver

1990

.

Dis

cipl

inar

y ac

tions

(su

spen

sion

,ex

puls

ion,

and

cor

pora

l pun

ishm

ent)

tota

lled

187.

8 in

cide

nts

per

1,00

0 en

rolle

dst

uden

ts d

urin

g th

e 19

92/9

3 sc

hool

yea

r,an

incr

ease

in r

ate

of 7

.5 p

erce

nt s

ince

1990

/91.

Flor

ida'

s pu

blic

hig

h sc

hool

gra

duat

ion

rate

rem

aine

d re

lativ

ely

stab

le a

t 78.

3pe

rcen

t dur

ing

the

1992

/93

scho

ol y

ear.

You

th a

nd th

e L

aw

Des

pite

a p

opul

atio

n in

crea

se f

or F

lori

dayo

uth

aged

10-

17 o

f 8.

9 pe

rcen

t in

the

deca

de b

etw

een

1982

/83

and

1992

/93,

the

volu

me

of c

ases

ent

erin

g Fl

orid

a's

juve

nile

just

ice

syst

em in

crea

sed

by 9

3pe

rcen

t dur

ing

that

per

iod.

In 1

992/

93, a

tota

l of

140,

468

delin

quen

cy c

ases

wer

e re

ceiv

ed d

urin

gth

e in

take

pro

cess

, and

23,

196

inte

rim

plac

emen

ts in

det

entio

n w

ere

mad

edu

ring

that

yea

r.

Of

the

tota

l del

inqu

ency

cas

es r

ecei

ved

in19

92/9

3, y

outh

s ag

ed I

S an

d yo

unge

rac

coun

ted

for

55.2

per

cent

.

In 1

992/

93, 7

,178

cas

es w

ere

tran

sfer

red

from

the

juve

nile

cou

rts

to th

e ad

ult

crim

inal

just

ice

syst

em f

or p

rose

cutio

n.

Of

the

tota

l tra

nsfe

rs o

f ju

veni

les

to th

ead

ult c

ourt

in 1

992/

93, y

outh

s ag

ed 1

5an

d yo

unge

r ac

coun

ted

for

10.4

per

cent

,or

747

.

The

cri

mes

of

mur

der

/man

slau

ghte

r,at

tem

pted

mur

der,

sex

ual b

atte

ry, o

ther

felo

ny s

ex o

ffen

ses,

and

arm

ed r

obbe

ryac

coun

ted

for

a co

mbi

ned

tota

l of

16.7

perc

ent o

f al

l tra

nsfe

rs o

f ju

veni

les

to th

ead

ult c

rim

inal

cou

rt in

199

2/93

. 2

0 I 9

94 F

lorid

a K

ids

Cou

nt13

Page 15

Tw

o m

en w

ere

fish

ing

in a

str

eam

whe

n an

infa

nt f

loat

ed p

ast.

The

firs

t fis

herm

an ju

mpe

d in

, res

cued

the

child

and

han

ded

him

up

tosa

fety

into

the

seco

nd f

ishe

rman

'sar

ms.

No

soon

er h

ad th

ey s

ettle

d th

ech

ild o

n th

e gr

ass,

whe

n a

seco

ndin

fant

flo

ated

alo

ng. A

gain

, the

fish

erm

an ju

mpe

d in

and

res

cued

the

baby

. A th

ird

baby

flo

ated

alo

ng,

a fo

urth

, and

so

on.

The

fis

herm

an s

aved

eac

h in

turn

.Fi

nally

, a w

hole

gro

up o

f ba

bies

cam

e fl

oatin

g do

wns

trea

m. T

he f

irst

fish

erm

an g

rabb

ed a

s m

any

of h

eco

uld

and

look

ed to

see

his

fri

end

wal

king

aw

ay. "

Hey

," h

e sh

oute

d,"w

hat's

wro

ng w

ith y

ou?

Are

n't y

ougo

ing

to h

elp

me

save

thes

e ba

bies

?"T

o w

hich

the

seco

nd f

ishe

rman

repl

ied,

"Y

ou s

ave

thes

e ba

bies

,

I'm g

oing

up

stre

am to

see

who

'sth

row

ing

all t

hose

bab

ies

into

the

rive

r!"

Folk

Par

able

PRE

VE

NT

ION

Whe

n it

com

es to

chi

ldre

n, it

's n

ot w

heth

er w

e pa

y, b

ut w

hen.

It m

ay b

e ar

gued

that

Flo

rida'

sdi

smal

ran

king

s in

bot

h ed

ucat

iona

l fai

lure

and

you

th c

rime

are

the

dire

ct r

esul

t of f

ailu

res

topr

ovid

e pr

even

tion

serv

ices

in e

arlie

r ye

ars.

In o

ther

wor

ds, w

e go

t wha

t we

didn

't pa

y fo

r.F

lorid

a's

polic

y m

aker

s ha

ve th

ese

inve

stm

ent o

ppor

tuni

ties:

$1on

chi

ldho

od im

mun

izat

ions

$1on

com

preh

ensi

ve p

rena

tal

care

for

wom

en

$1fo

r qu

ality

pre

scho

ol

$8fo

r a

mea

sles

sho

t

$3,0

00pe

r fa

mily

for

pres

erva

tion

serv

ices

that

hel

p ke

epfa

mili

es to

geth

er

$3,9

25fo

r a

com

plet

e pr

enat

al c

are

and

obst

etric

hea

lth p

acka

ge

$5,0

00fo

r dr

ug tr

eatm

ent o

f an

addi

cted

mot

her

$6,7

00pe

r yo

uth

per

year

for

inte

nsiv

e co

mm

unity

base

d se

rvic

es

OR

$10

OR

$3.3

8

OR

$4.7

5

OR

$5,0

00

OR

$10,

000

OR

$70,

000

OR

$30,

000

OR

$40,

000

in la

ter

med

ical

cos

ts

in m

edic

al c

osts

for

inte

nsiv

ene

wbo

rn c

are

for

rem

edia

l edu

catio

n, c

rime

and

othe

r co

sts

for

hosp

italiz

atio

n of

a c

hild

with

mea

sles

for

one

year

inte

nsiv

e ch

ild a

buse

ther

apy

for

the

first

yea

r of

ser

vice

s fo

r a

baby

bor

n lo

w b

irthw

eigh

t and

with

deve

lopm

enta

l del

ays

for

med

ical

car

e of

a d

rug-

expo

sed

baby

for

20 d

ays

to m

aint

ain

a yo

uth

at a

corr

ectio

nal f

acili

ty

14©

1994

Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

2829

Page 16

SE

CT

ION

1

PO

PU

LAT

ION

&

EC

ON

OM

ICS

I

Page 17

DE

MO

GR

AP

HIC

S

In 1

992,

Flo

rida

rem

aine

d th

e fo

urth

mos

t pop

ulou

s st

ate

in th

e na

tion,

with

13.4

mill

ion

resi

dent

s, a

n in

crea

se o

fne

arly

one

-hal

f m

illio

n pe

ople

(48

6,49

0)si

nce

1990

. Chi

ldre

n un

der

age

18re

pres

ente

d 22

.5 p

erce

nt o

f th

e st

ate'

sen

tire

popu

latio

n. W

hile

the

adul

tpo

pula

tion

incr

ease

d by

3.5

per

cent

betw

een

1990

and

199

2, th

e ch

ildpo

pula

tion

incr

ease

d by

4.6

per

cent

in th

e sa

me

time

peri

od.

As

the

num

ber

of c

hild

ren

cont

inue

s to

incr

ease

, the

shi

ft in

the

age

dist

ribut

ion

with

in th

e ch

ild p

opul

atio

n is

of p

artic

ular

impo

rtan

ce in

pla

nnin

g fo

r F

lorid

a's

futu

re.

Sin

ce 1

980,

the

num

ber

of 1

5 to

17

year

-ol

ds in

the

stat

e ha

s ac

tual

ly d

eclin

ed, f

rom

483,

083

in 1

980

to 4

54,2

88 in

199

2.

The

larg

est i

ncre

ase

with

in th

e ch

ildpo

pula

tion

from

198

0 to

199

2 ha

s be

enam

ong

child

ren

unde

r fiv

e ye

ars

of a

ge.

Chi

ldre

n in

this

age

gro

up n

umbe

red

570,

224

in 1

980

and

915,

564

in 1

992,

a 60

.6 p

erce

nt in

crea

se.

Flo

rida

Pop

ulat

ion

by A

ge, 1

992

18.4

%(2

,472

,065

)

20.2

%45

-64

(2,7

16,6

69)

\,".

over

65

1

6.8% (915

,564

)

44

6 3% (8

52,1

79)

5 9% (794

,141

)

389%

(5,2

19,5

10)

3.4%

(454

,288

)

Und

er 1

822

.5%

(3,0

16,1

72)

33

BE

ST

CO

PY

AV

AIL

AB

LEC

)(.

)9-1

Flo

rida

Kill

s C

ount

1 7

Page 18

Dis

trib

utio

n of

Chi

ld P

opul

atio

n by

Age

Cat

egor

y,19

80 &

199

2

35%

0025

%26

-

20%

0 td15

%

0 /3"

1 0

%C

5%ct

.

0%

-A--

198

0

1992

In 1

980,

10

to 1

4 ye

ar-o

lds

wer

e th

e la

rges

tsi

ngle

age

gro

up in

the

child

pop

ulat

ion.

Thi

s gr

oup,

alo

ng w

ith 1

5 to

17

year

-old

s,m

ade

up h

alf

(49.

5 pe

rcen

t) o

f th

e ch

ildpo

pula

tion.

By

1992

, the

chi

ld p

opul

atio

nha

d sh

ifte

d to

war

d yo

unge

r ag

e ch

ildre

n.In

199

2, n

earl

y 60

per

cent

of

child

ren

inFl

orid

a w

ere

unde

r 10

yea

rs o

ld.

Thi

s sh

ift i

n th

e ch

ild p

opul

atio

n ha

ssi

gnif

ican

t im

plic

atio

ns f

or th

e fu

ture

of

Flor

ida

fam

ilies

and

in a

ver

y im

med

iate

sens

e hi

ghlig

hts

the

impo

rtan

ce o

f ea

rly

inte

rven

tion

prog

ram

s th

at c

an r

each

child

ren

and

fam

ilies

at r

isk

of f

utur

epr

oble

ms.

Alm

ost o

ne-q

uart

er o

f Fl

orid

a's

child

ren

unde

r 18

wer

e no

nwhi

te in

199

2. T

henu

mbe

r of

non

whi

te c

hild

ren

incr

ease

d by

34.3

per

cent

sin

ce 1

980,

com

pare

d to

a26

.7 p

erce

nt in

crea

se o

f w

hite

chi

ldre

nov

er th

at ti

me

peri

od.

The

re w

as a

gre

ater

con

cent

ratio

n of

child

ren

in th

e no

nwhi

te p

opul

atio

n th

anth

e w

hite

pop

ulat

ion.

Slig

htly

ove

r on

eof

eve

ry th

ree

(34.

3 pe

rcen

t) n

onw

hite

Flor

ida

citiz

ens

was

a c

hild

, whi

le c

hild

ren

repr

esen

ted

abou

t one

in f

ive

(20.

3 pe

rcen

t)of

whi

te r

esid

ents

.

0 -4

5-9

10-1

415

-17

Flor

ida'

s ph

enom

enal

60.

6 pe

rcen

t gro

wth

Yea

rs o

f A

gein

its

popu

latio

n of

you

ng c

hild

ren

(age

s 0-

4) b

etw

een

1980

-199

2 re

quir

espo

licy

mak

ers

to r

ecog

nize

the

impa

cton

pre

sent

and

fut

ure

serv

ice

syst

ems.

34

18©

1994

Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

Page 19

The

nee

d to

ens

ure

qual

ity c

are

in h

ealth

,ea

rly c

hild

hood

, fam

ily s

ervi

ces,

recr

eatio

n an

d ed

ucat

ion

nece

ssita

tes

long

-ran

ge p

lann

ing.

Mee

ting

the

grow

th n

eeds

of F

lorid

a's

child

ren

requ

ire s

ervi

ce fo

reca

stin

gbe

yond

the

limita

tions

of a

nnua

l fis

cal

year

bud

getin

g. U

nlik

e ti-

ansp

orta

tion

plan

ning

, whi

ch a

llow

s in

crem

enta

lac

hiev

emen

t of r

oad-

mila

ge g

oals

, an

incr

emen

talis

tic a

ppro

ach

to c

hild

ser

vice

spl

anni

ng w

ill r

esul

t in

huge

num

bers

of

child

ren

who

get

left

behi

nd. W

ithou

tpr

ovid

ing

child

ren

the

care

they

nee

d at

key

deve

lopm

enta

l sta

ges,

pre

vent

able

cond

ition

s w

ill w

orse

n, r

aisi

ng c

osts

,an

d re

quiri

ng e

xtra

ordi

nary

rem

edia

tion.

Num

ber

of C

hild

ren

by A

ge C

ateg

orie

s fo

r 19

80 &

199

2an

d th

e P

erce

nt C

hang

e fr

om 1

980

unde

rye

ar

1980

1

Num

ber

of C

hild

ren

byA

ge a

nd R

ace

and

the

Per

cent

Cha

nge

from

198

0 to

199

2

Age

Gro

up

Whi

teN

onw

hite

1980

Tot

al

1992

% C

hang

e19

80-1

992

1980

1992

% C

hang

e19

8019

9219

8019

92%

Cha

nge

1980

1992

0-4

429,

514

689,

816

60.6

140,

710

225,

748

60.4

570,

224

915,

564

60.6

5-9

476,

837

654,

211

37.2

144,

697

197,

968

36.8

621,

534

852,

179

37.1

10-1

453

8,08

960

9,79

613

.314

6,92

718

4,34

525

.568

5,01

679

4,14

115

.9

15-1

738

4,95

335

0,31

5-9

.097

,919

103,

973

6.-)

482,

872

454,

288

-5.9

unde

r 18

1,82

9,39

32,

304,

138

26.0

530,

253

712,

034

34.3

2,35

9,64

63,

016,

172

27.8

33

70

1994

Flo

rida

Kid

s C

ount

1 9