February 8, 2011
McDowell, Mercer rank low in Kid’s Count survey
By KATE COIL
Bluefield Daily Telegraph

WELCH — Two local counties are in the bottom rankings of the state in a recent survey detailing the well being of children across the state and nationwide.

The “West Virginia Kids County 2010” survey results indicated McDowell County finished last, coming in 55 out of the state’s 55 counties whereas Mercer County ranked 49 out of 55.

In addition to coming in at the bottom of the state, McDowell County had the worst numbers in the state for the amount of eligible children approved for the free and reduced lunch program as well as the highest rate of high school dropouts in the state.

McDowell County also showed setbacks in regard to the percentage of low-weight births and the infant morality rate.

However, the county showed improvements in child death rates, births to unmarried teens, teen injury death rates, child poverty, and births to mothers with less than a high school education. The county was the highest improved for eligible children being served by the Head Start program statewide.

Tim Crofton, corporate executive officer of the Tug River Health Association, said he wasn’t sure why McDowell County was ranked lowest in the sate.

“I don’t know offhand why we are rated so low,” Crofton said. “We do have school based health programs. The poverty level in McDowell County is fifth in the nation and that is one of the points made by this. In our experience, it is difficult to have parents follow through with our recommendations, especially when dental care is concerned.”

Welch Community Hospital CEO Walt Garrett declined to comment on the findings.

“I haven’t received the results yet and I decline to comment on anything I haven’t read,” Garrett said.

Calls to McDowell County Schools Superintendent Jim Brown were not immediately returned as of Monday.

Mercer County also saw some setbacks with the survey showing an increase in low birth-weight babies, children being served by the Head Start program, the percentage of eligible children approved for free or reduced lunch meals, teen birth rate, and percentage of unmarried teens giving birth.

There were some improvements in Mercer County with decreases in the county’s infant mortality rate, child death rate, percent of high school dropouts, and percentage of children living in poverty.

Mercer Schools Superinten-dent Dr. Deborah Akers said many of the indicators in the Kids Count survey are issues that arise with increases in countywide poverty levels.

“This report just puts up another measuring stick up against what we already know, that we have a lot of children and families in our county in need,” Akers said. “Indicators measured in this report are issues that rise with increases in poverty. It’s a report that indicates a lot of what we are already dealing with. It shows the many challenges we do face.”

However, Akers was pleased with the county’s improvement in the high school drop-out rate, with the rate of drop-outs decreasing by 42 percent.

“We have really been focusing on that,” Akers said. “We’ve been focusing our attention on attendance as well as part of our initiatives to keep kids in school.”

Calls to the Mercer County Department of Health and Human Resources regarding the study were not immediately returned Monday.

Monroe County ranked 10 out of the state’s 55 counties, however Monroe County had the highest rate of child abuse and neglect in the state and saw considerable setbacks in child death rates and high school dropout rates. Still, Monroe County measured significant gains in regards to infant mortality rates and teen injury death rates.

The state of West Virginia ranked 43 out of 50 of the nationwide “Kids Count 2010” survey results. County and state rankings are determined by gains and losses on a variety of factors including infant birth weights, infant mortality, child death rates, Head Start program eligibility, free and reduced lunch meal eligibility, teen birth rates, high school drop outs, juvenile delinquency cases, violent teen deaths, and births to mothers with less than a high school education.

The West Virginia Kids Count project was started in 1991 and research for the project was funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.