and Austin?

Yesterday I shared some interesting statistics about Swaziland and the issues they are facing. In Austin we are concerned about similar issues - specifically: education, affordable housing, and healthcare and their interrelationship.

In the arena of education, the concern is to help ensure kids are reading on grade level by the end of 3rd grade. Through 3rd grade, people learn to read. After 3rd grade, people read to learn. If kids have not successful mastered the ability to read by the end of 3rd grade, they spend the rest of their school career struggling. Studies show there is a high correlation between those who are not at 3rd grade level reading and high school dropouts.  High School dropouts are expensive to the society.  Each costs, on average, $260,000 in lost earnings, taxes and productivity and are more likely to either be arrested or be a teen parent - both of which also have financial and social costs.

Attendance is a key issue for children learning the fundamentals of reading. Many families move frequently to either avoid drastic increases in rent or to take advantage of special rates. This movement prevents children from having a consistent school experience. Affordable housing solutions can help families have the option to stay in one place longer.  There are many societal benefits to a community that is not as transitional but this is another topic for another time.

Along with frequent moving, health issues keep children from consistent engagement at a school. Families who are having difficulty affording rent are also having difficulty providing health insurance as well. This limits access to medical treatment when kids become ill and preventative education and checkups.

And here's some food for thought (pun intended) related to the health issue: Many children depend on their lunch at school as their one and only meal for the day. If they are not attending because of moves or illness, they also may be foregoing meals - contributing to the risk of having poor health.

What I have represented here is a simplistic overview of a complex social problem.  I am in no way saying that our issues are comparable to those in Swaziland. I am grateful that I can go to my kitchen and get a glass of water without having to worry about typhoid or dysentery. What I am saying is that we too have concerns on a large scale - larger than any one of us can handle alone and more complex than can be solved one day.


Learn more by reading the 2010 Kids Count Report published by Annie E. Casey Foundation.