{"id":14808,"date":"2019-09-25T10:00:18","date_gmt":"2019-09-25T15:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/?p=14808"},"modified":"2019-09-24T23:56:40","modified_gmt":"2019-09-25T04:56:40","slug":"tennessee-shows-reduction-in-the-number-of-children-living-in-concentrated-poverty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/2019\/09\/25\/tennessee-shows-reduction-in-the-number-of-children-living-in-concentrated-poverty\/","title":{"rendered":"Tennessee Shows Reduction in the Number of Children Living in Concentrated Poverty"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of 29 States Nationwide to Show Progress in Child Poverty Rate According to New Data Snapshot from the Annie E. Casey Foundation<\/h2>\n

\"TennesseeNashville, TN<\/strong> – The percentage of Tennessee children living in areas of concentrated poverty fell 7% between 2013 and 2017, according to \u201cChildren Living in High Poverty, Low-Opportunity Neighborhoods,\u201d a new KIDS COUNT\u00ae data snapshot released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.<\/p>\n

Using the latest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, the snapshot examines where concentrated poverty has worsened across the country despite a long period of national economic expansion.<\/p>\n

Living in a neighborhood with a high level of concentrated poverty, in addition to putting children at risk from environmental exposure and reduced opportunities, can cause chronic stress and trauma.<\/p>\n

\"In<\/a><\/p>\n

The Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, the Tennessee KIDS COUNT affiliate, partners with other state and private agencies through the state\u2019s Building Strong Brains Tennessee strategy to empower all Tennesseans to respond to childhood adverse experiences.<\/p>\n

The 200,000 Tennessee children living in concentrated poverty would nearly fill Neyland Stadium twice and make up almost one of every eight children in the state.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur state\u2019s future relies on the stimulus we are giving the brains of its future wage earners though healthy nutrition and quality education,\u201d said Richard Kennedy, TCCY\u2019s executive director. \u201cWe need to make sure all of our children have the resources and opportunities they need to be successful.<\/p>\n

Growing up in a community of concentrated poverty \u2014 that is, a neighborhood where 30 percent or more of the population is living in poverty \u2014 is one of the greatest risks to child development. Alarmingly, more than 8.5 million children nationwide live in these settings. That\u2019s nearly 12 percent of all children in the United States.<\/p>\n

Children in high-poverty neighborhoods tend to lack access to healthy food and quality medical care and they often face greater exposure to environmental hazards, such as poor air quality, and toxins such as lead. Financial hardships and fear of violence can cause chronic stress linked to diabetes, heart disease and stroke.<\/p>\n

And when these children grow up, they are more likely to have lower incomes than children who have relocated away from communities of concentrated poverty. These conditions work together to create an environment of toxic stress.<\/p>\n

\u201cToxic stress affects the developing brain. Our youngest children are the most likely to live in low income households,\u201d said Kennedy. We need to develop solutions to help families and their children live in safe communities and grow up healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Key findings from the snapshot\u2019s examination of all states include:<\/p>\n