BRIDGEPORT, CT— Juvenile arrests in Bridgeport decreased, but juvenile arrests for violent crimes increased. Infant mortality declined, but births to teens under the age of 18 increased.
These positive and negative changes affecting Bridgeport’s children are in the 2009 State of the Child in Bridgeport report, released today by the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition. This thoroughly-researched and well-documented report looks at key indicators of child well-being. The report compares Bridgeport’s children to children statewide. It also shows progress or its lack from one year to the next.
This year’s report shows that Bridgeport still lags far behind the state in childhood well-being. The rate of child poverty, at 28%, is more than twice the statewide rate of 11%.
The report earns an “F” on 16 of 21 indicators of child well-being, a slight improvement over last year’s 17 F’s. This year six indicators received an A for effort, compared to just four last year.
Though unemployment due to the recession has increased hardship for children and families nationally and statewide, Bridgeport has felt the pain more than most. With an unemployment rate of nearly 12%, Bridgeport’s unemployment is 50% higher than the statewide rate of 8%.
Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition conducted its own surveys of 2,000 Bridgeport families in the spring of 2009. The results showed devastating numbers of parents without work and without health insurance. Every month more families are at risk of utility shut downs, health crises, or foreclosure. The consequences for children are grim.
“Growing up in poverty has long lasting effects on children,” says Barbara Edinberg, Acting Director at BCAC. Living in poverty puts children at great risk for poor health, poor school performance, homelessness, and community and family violence. “Parents need good jobs that move them out of poverty and enable them to be financially self-sufficient.”
The six “A”s in this year’s report reflect the decrease in juvenile arrests and a few other notable gains:
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- A decline of 20% in the number of days with high ozone levels
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- A decline of 17% in infant mortality
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- An 11% increase in the number of children entering school with pre-school experience
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- A rise of 11% in the number of children benefiting from after-school programs
"We're pleased to see these improvements, but worried that last year's gains were not sustained," says Frances Newby, BCAC's new Board Chair. "Despite the six "A"s, other trends are cause for great concern. Last year, for example, there were fewer arrests for juvenile violent crimes, but this year the number increased by more than 30%. the number of families on the waiting list for public housing jumped more than 30% compare to last year. We are concerned about the impact of the recession on children."
“Bridgeport’s children need BCAC more than ever,” she continued. “We will continue to be strong advocates for Bridgeport’s children. We will continue to keep the needs of children high on the radar screen so they can get a good education, be healthy and safe, and have a roof over their heads.”
The Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition (BCAC) is a coalition of nearly 80 local agencies and community organizations committed to improving the well-being of local children. For 25 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, Acting Director of the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition, call 203-549-0075, extension 12. You may also call Catherine Onyemelukwe at extension 14 to receive a copy of the 2009 State of the Child Report. You may email her at conyemelukwe@bcacct.org.