More Colorado kids fall into poverty

Number grows 73% statewide since 2000

By Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 11, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Photo by Matt Mcclain / The Rocky

Killian Adams, 12, left, holds hands with neighbor, Rebekah Rudd, also 12, as she plays with game pieces over her eyes Tuesday outside their Arvada residences, which are part of a nonprofit program that helps families with transitional housing.

Every day, 150 to 200 people go to the Adams County Food Distribution Center in Commerce City for free food because they can't afford to go to the grocery store. Within that group, 30 percent have jobs but can't make ends meet, and six to 15 families are showing up for the first time.

There's also lots of children - and some take desperate measures to eat, said program director Lily Rhoades.

Five weeks ago, Rhoades saw an 11-year-old boy digging for food in a dumpster outside the center. His mother and three younger siblings were waiting in a car nearby. Rhoades gave the family a month's worth of groceries and promised more. But she saw the same family at the dumpster again last week.

The number of children living in poverty quadrupled in Adams County between 2000 and 2006, part of a disturbing trend statewide, according to a report released Tuesday by the Colorado Children's Campaign, a nonprofit agency that advocates for better health care, education and early childhood programs.

During those six years, the number of Colorado children living in poverty grew from 104,000 to 180,000 - an increase of 73 percent. The state ranks highest in the country for the percentage increase in poor children.

Still, Colorado ranks in the middle of states for its share of children living in poverty - and below the national average.

Families in poverty

Regardless of ranking, the numbers suggest Colorado is not doing a good job of supporting its working class.

"The data in this Kids Count report shows us that Colorado has too many working families who are slipping deeper and deeper into poverty," said Megan Ferland, the agency's president. "The ramifications for our kids and our state as a whole are profound if that trend continues."

While Saguache County has the highest percentage of poor children (over 50 percent), the largest numerical increase in poor children was found in Denver, Arapahoe and Adams counties, said Alex Medler, the agency's vice president of research and analysis.

He attributed the sharp rise to several factors working together:

* Changing demographics: The population has a growing number of single mothers, immigrants and Hispanics, who are 2.5 times more likely to drop out of high school and less likely to get a high-paying job. The report shows that the population of middle class children stayed steady during this period.

* Changing economy: Colorado is seeing a surge in high-tech jobs and other employment requiring advanced degrees. But low-skilled jobs are not growing at the same pace.

* Poor educational attainment: One in four students doesn't graduate from high school and almost half of high school graduates don't immediately go to college.

* Insufficient government support: Compared with other states, Colorado has not invested as much into support services and education. There also isn't enough child care for mothers seeking better jobs. Ferland said the available child care can only meet 10 percent of the need.

Ritter: stats are 'awful'

"The working class family is highly vulnerable," Medler said. "We know we have people moving into the state who are low income. We know we have families who are slipping into poverty with kids, and we know that there are people who are already here who are poor and who are having kids. All those things are working against us."

Gov. Bill Ritter called the statistics "awful." He said the state lost ground before he took office in 2007.

The numbers "clearly demonstrate that we have a responsibility to people who live on the margins," he said. "It's intolerable that 180,000 children are living in poverty in this state."

"That's why we are working so hard on getting at-risk kids into preschool, full-day kindergarten, through high school and into college. Education is the best investment we can make to end childhood poverty."

The report also revealed other troubles children are facing.

The rate of child abuse or neglect rose 43 percent between 2000 and 2006. In 2006, nearly 11,000 children were victimized, and 24 died. The number of uninsured children in poverty also increased.

The report, done each year for the last decade, was compiled using Census data.

kimm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2361 Staff writer Burt Hubbard contributed to this report.

• June 11, 2008

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