(SitNews) Anchorage, Alaska - KIDS COUNT Alaska, a project at the Alaska Children’s Trust (ACT), released a new report detailing the latest trends in the economic well-being of Alaska’s children and their families. Each quarter a report is released with the goal to shed light on a number of statistics that impact a child’s life and future.

“All families, no matter their education, economic status, family structure or where they live, can raise thriving children,” said Alaska Children’s Trust Executive Director, Trevor Storrs. “Unfortunately, many of our hard-working families across Alaska are struggling.”

The report shows 36% of Alaska’s children live in poverty, 20% are from homes that don’t have enough food and are hungry, and 31% live in homes with a high housing cost burden. When families are unable to provide the basic needs, children are at risk of experiencing adversities that can negatively impact them lifelong.  

According to the report, there are significant disparities in family income by race/ethnicity in Alaska. While median family income was $75,500 in 2015, only White families earned more than the median ($91,300); all other race/ethnicities earned less (non- White median family income is $48,700). Alaska Native families and American Indian families have the lowest median income ($43,600).

Approximately 11,000 children live in families with incomes less than $12,000 a year. The report also shows most families in poverty are single-parent families.

Financial security is a complex issue that no one policy can solve.  However, leaders in the private, public, and nonprofit sector can take steps to the issues that put children’s and families’ financial security and stability at risk. 

Areas of investment include making affordable child care available, supporting afterschool programs or building affordable house.

Alaska Children’s Trust (ACT) is the statewide lead organization focused on the prevention of child abuse and neglect. ACT has operated as Alaska’s KIDS COUNT partner since 2016.

Kids Count Alaska is part of the Voices for Alaska’s Children program (Voices) at ACT. Voices is a grassroots community movement focused on continually raising awareness of the needs and challenges of children, youth, and families throughout Alaska. The goal of the quarterly data is to have timely information available in order to make positive changes in the lives of Alaska’s families.

To read the full report and additional statistics on how poverty, employment, and basic needs affect Alaska’s children download the KIDS COUNT ALASKA Report [PDF]

On the Web:

Kids Count Alaska data center
http://datacenter.kidscount.org/about/
state-providers/details/2-kids-count-alaska