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Louisiana Ranks Near The Bottom For Child Well-Being

When it comes to child well-being in the U.S., Louisiana ranks near the bottom: 48th. That's according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The results of the annual report are, sadly, not shocking. "We have historically always ranked at least in the bottom five states in overall child well-being, so unfortunately that wasn't a big surprise," says Teresa Falgoust. She's with Agenda for Children, which contributed local data to the national report. It looks at trends in data between 2008 and 2014.

Falgoust says there are some bright spots for Louisiana. More children have health insurance, more high schoolers are graduating on time, and the teen birth rate is at an all time low.

But "the percentage of children who are living in poverty has gotten worse," she says. "As well as children whose parents lack year-round secure employment, and children who are living in households with a high housing cost burden, meaning they're spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs."

And though Louisiana ranks 48th overall, it comes in dead last for both health and economic well-being. Falgoust says the report drives home the need for more local jobs that pay a living a wage.

Support for WWNO's Education Desk comes from Entergy Corporation.

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