South Carolina has made strides when it comes to children living in poverty, children with health insurance, teen births and high school graduation rates, according to a report that will be released Tuesday.
The Palmetto State was ranked 39th nationally for overall child well-being, according the 2017 Kids Count Data Book, a report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The foundation has provided the annual report since 1990 to show how American children and families fare in every state.
Sue Williams, CEO of the Children’s Trust of South Carolina, said her organization is encouraged by a number of items in the report, including a 40-percent decline in the state’s teen birth rate from 2010-15.
Williams also noted that since 2010, the state has seen a 14 percent decline in the number of children whose head of household lacks a high school diploma.
Still, the state has room to improve, particularly in early childhood education. Data shows the number of 3- and 4-year-old children not in school has risen by 10 percent since 2010.
“We see slow and steady progress toward improving child well-being in South Carolina, especially where we are making investments in prevention and using proactive policies that work to support children and families,” Williams said.