According to a statewide report released Wednesday, one of the biggest challenges facing children and their caregivers in Tennessee is insecurity in childcare, poor access to mental health treatment, Childcare costs are high.
Although Tennessee’s adolescent depression rate is similar to or lower than that of the United States as a whole, the State of the Child 2022 report from the Tennessee State Commission found that Tennessee is more likely to receive treatment for major depressive episodes. It ranks in the bottom five states in terms of children and youth.
The annual report provides an overview of child well-being in the state based on the latest available data. It is intended to guide the Tennessee government and other stakeholders in making data-driven improvements to systems that support children and families in the state.
“Youth across the nation are twice as likely to receive treatment for (depression) as youth in Tennessee, and in the highest-performing states they are four times more likely to receive treatment,” the report said. A committee news release on the In Tennessee, 71.1% of adolescents who experienced a major depressive episode were untreated, compared to 60% of her nationally.
Pennsylvania, followed by Maine, were the best-performing states in terms of mental illness prevalence and youth access to care, according to data sources cited in the report.
According to the report, a significant shortage of Tennessee’s mental health workforce combined with increased demand is the primary cause of Tennessee’s access problems.
According to the news release, among other findings, Tennessee “suffers from foster care instability at a level not seen elsewhere in the country.”
The report cites federal data showing that from 2016 to 2020, Tennessee’s foster children changed placements three or more times in the first 12 months of care, far exceeding all other states. In 2020, nearly 34% of foster children in Tennessee changed placements three or more times in their first year.
Puerto Rico has the next highest precariousness rate, according to the report, with about 26% of foster children experiencing three or more placement changes in the first 12 months. A recent audit found dangerous situations for children Under the care of the Tennessee Department of Child Services.
The cost of caring for children is also a major challenge for many Tennesseans. The report found that the average cost of caring for an infant and her 4-year-old is 81% higher ($19,539) than the average annual rent cost for all housing types in the state ($10,764).
Additionally, about 25% of families report spending 30% or more of their monthly income on housing or not getting enough food on a daily basis.
Despite challenges, the number of children living in poverty in Tennessee hit an all-time low as the proportion of children living in poverty fell by 8% between 2019 and 2021, according to the report. Did.
According to the release, “Certain counties, particularly rural counties, saw even greater reductions. Bledsoe and Sequachie counties saw overall child poverty decrease by 29% and 26%, respectively.” … apparently …
The report attributes the improvement to child tax credits and state investments in rural areas.
“Additional state and federal interventions can help build resilience and support the health and well-being of families with children,” the release said. We can prevent these challenges and lessen their negative impacts by increasing our health.The choices we make to meet the needs of our children and help them thrive are critical to our state’s future health. , will determine the success of our economies and communities.”
Contact Elizabeth Fite at [email protected] or 423-757-6673.
