Report illustrates struggles for the average Spokane County mother and child
SPOKANE, Wash. — A new report tracks the life of the average child in Spokane County, as well as the factors that affect that child and its mother through the time leading up to young adulthood.
The report was put out by the Women Helping Women Fund and the Spokane Regional Health District. It assesses the lives of women and children through the lenses of poverty, health, education and safety.
‘The State of Women and Children in Spokane County’ was written by researchers from SRHD and compiles information from local, state and national databases.
The Women Helping Women Fund said the report ‘signifies a shift in focus’ for the organization, which has been operating since 1992.
Listed among the report’s key findings:
15% of Spokane families (approximately 19,280 households) fell below the federal poverty line.
More than one in seven children in Spokane County are born to a low income single mom who has a high school education/GED or less.
A single mom of two children making about $20,000 would spend 60% of her income on housing.
The average cost of childcare in the county (calculated for two kids under age 5) was 25% of the median income for a two earner household and between 43-60% percent of the median income for a single mom.
62% of kindergartners were kindergarten ready, the lowest rate for the last 6 years. Only one in every two low income or homeless children were kindergarten ready.
Child abuse rates are higher than the state average, and immunization rates are lower.
60% of Spokane children have dental decay
14 percent of Spokane County youth cut/skipped meals due to money/food shortage
At every educational level women earn about 25% less than men in Spokane County
Catch up on the day’s news and look ahead to tomorrow by signing up for the Daily Local email newsletter from KXLY4. Headlines, events, and staff picks every weeknight at 8 p.m. Sign up HERE to get your news on the D.L.
COPYRIGHT 2023 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
