News Release: For Immediate Release
Date: October 26, 2007

Contact: Catherine Onyemelukwe, Director of Development and Communications
Office: (203) 549-0075 Ext 14
Fax: (203) 549-0203
E-mail: conyemelukwe@bcacct.org


BRIDGEPORT, CT—It comes as no surprise to thousands of families in Bridgeport to learn that more children than ever are living in poverty. Every year, the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition (BCAC) reports the “State of the Child in Bridgeport”. This thoroughly-researched and documented report looks at key indicators of child well-being. The report compares Bridgeport’s children to children statewide. It also shows what, if any, progress has been made from one year to the next.

This year’s report gives Bridgeport five A+’s, for achieving reductions in infant mortality, school dropout rate, child homelessness, child abuse and neglect, and high ozone days. But Bridgeport receives an F on 16 indicators when compared to children statewide. Childhood poverty, preschool and child care availability, and health status are among the indicators where Bridgeport gets a failing mark compared to children around the state.

“The most disturbing trend in Bridgeport is the growing rate of childhood poverty,” says Barbara Edinberg, Assistant Director of BCAC. “The number of children living in poverty rose by nearly 800 in one year alone. A child living in poverty is more likely to experience poor health, poor school performance, and violence than a child who is not poor,” she adds. Because of the negative factors poor children face while growing up, there is a greater likelihood that they will face difficulty finding employment later.  

Edie Cassidy, BCAC Board Chair, says, “Bridgeport is still lagging far behind the state, but the city is making progress year to year.” She adds, “Continued vigilance is required to sustain the gains that have been made. Children need health care, good schools, after-school programs, and affordable housing. Most importantly, their parents need well-paying jobs that move their families out of poverty and reduce this worrisome downward trend.”

Bridgeport children fare worse than children statewide:

• Over 10,600 Bridgeport children live in poverty, nearly 30% of all Bridgeport children.
• Bridgeport’s rate of child poverty is more than twice the statewide rate and 50% higher than the national rate.
• Almost 8,000 children in Bridgeport under the age of six live in families where both parents or the only parent is working and may need child care. Yet Bridgeport’s rate of licensed child care spaces for infants and toddlers is significantly lower than the rate statewide.
• More than 95% of Bridgeport public school students were economically disadvantaged or lived in families earning less than $31,770. Statewide, 27% of public school students are in these categories.
• Of the 3rd – 8th grade students in Bridgeport public schools who took the Connecticut Mastery Test in spring 2007, 43.5% met federal standards of proficiency in reading, compared to 73.5% of students statewide.

But there are positive findings as well. Progress has been made in several important areas:

• Of babies born to Bridgeport mothers during 2004, 8.6%, or 200, were born with low birthweight, compared to 9.4% the year before. This is an improvement. The number of mothers receiving prenatal care has also improved.
• Bridgeport’s school dropout rate has shown improvement. The Class of 2004 had a dropout rate of 26%. The more recent Class of 2005 had a much lower rate of 19%.

“We can’t give up on Bridgeport’s children,” says Edinberg. ”We must get the attention of people who can make lasting change. This report demonstrates that improvements can be made.”

The Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition (BCAC) is a coalition of over 80 local agencies and community organizations committed to improving the well-being of local children. For over 20 years BCAC has combined research, advocacy, community education and mobilization to ensure health, safety, and education for all of Bridgeport’s children.

To schedule an interview with Barbara Edinberg, Assistant Director of the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition, call Nicole Bass, 203-549-0075, extension 10. You may also call Nicole for other information or to receive a copy of the 2007 State of the Child Report. You may email Nicole at nbass@bcacct.org.

The Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition’s website is www.bcacct.org.