10
KIDS COUNT IN NEBRASKA 2011 REPORT
viewed as Medicaid’s pediatric component. Screenings
times as likely as Isabella to have delivered a baby as an
begin at birth and cover physical and behavioral health, as
unmarried teenager.17
well as vision, dental and hearing services.13 Unfortunately,
The persistence of poverty is worse along racial
only about half of Nebraska’s eligible children received at
lines – Black children born poor are three times as likely to
least one EPSDT exam in 2009. Almost all infants (96%)
spend at least half their childhood in poverty – and for all
were screened, but that percentage dropped off as children
races, poverty later in life is exacerbated by the length of
aged. Among kids ages 1 to 9, only 57% received at least
time children are poor. That children of color in Nebraska
one exam.14 This is concerning both for current and long-
are disproportionately burdened by poverty is cause for
term health. According to a report by the Center for Health
concern.
Care Strategies, “Its breadth and depth make EPSDT
During the 2000s, the White, non Hispanic population
benefits particularly important because they finance not
declined while non-White or Hispanic populations grew in 74
only preventive and acute care but also early intervention
of Nebraska’s 93 counties.18 Statewide, most of Nebraska’s
into potentially long term and serious physical, mental, and
population growth is attributable to increases in the Hispanic
developmental conditions, even before they become acute
population, which comprised 63% of the state’s 2000-2010
and symptomatic.”15
growth rate. The Black, Asian or Pacific Islander, and “Some Other Race or 2+ Races” populations also contributed signi-
Economic Stability
ficant growth to Nebraska during this time. The White non-
As early as the moment of birth, we can make an educated
Hispanic population was responsible for only 5% of growth.19
forecast of the infant’s economic standing as an adult. One
See Figure 1.1.
study on the persistence of childhood poverty analyzed data
The growing population of people of color is vital to
from 1968 through 2005, when children were between the
Nebraska’s future, as the White Non-Hispanic population
ages of 0 and 17, and examined outcomes for the same
alone likely will not grow fast enough to sustain local econo-
children at ages 25 to 30.16 The numbers paint a dismal
mies. In fact, from 2000 to 2010, the population of White Non-
picture.
Hispanic children under age 18 decreased 10%. Compare
Imagine two newborns, side by side in the hospital
this with a 54% increase among Non-White, Non-Hispanic
nursery. Addison’s parents are poor; Isabella’s parents are
children during the same time period.20 Simply put, Nebraska’s
not. Though the babies are experiencing the world in
future hinges on the success of the growing percentage of
similar ways for now, checking in on them at 25 or 30
young children of color.
years of age likely would reveal significant disparity. One
Unfortunately, we know that some groups of children
point of divergence is likelihood of earning a high school
disproportionately struggle with poverty – making their path
diploma. The more affluent Isabella has only a 7% chance
from childhood to adulthood especially treacherous. Consider
of not earning her diploma – a slim chance when compared
these statistics. In 2010, 52% of Black children in Nebraska
with Addison, who faces a 22% likelihood of not receiving
were in poverty, as were 50% of Native American children,
her diploma. Not surprisingly, adult earnings are affected.
and 34% of Hispanic children.21 By comparison, 15% of
Isabella has had only about a 4% chance of spending
White children were poor in 2010. The good news is that
half of her early-adult years living in poverty. Addison,
some public assistance programs have been proven to
by contrast, has a 21% chance of being poor for at least
effectively lift all children and families out of poverty, while
half of her early-adult life. Not only that, Addison is three
focusing on the most vulnerable.