House Republican Press Release

September 17, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

A VIEW FROM THE INSIDE

State Representative Ruth Fahrbach

Connecticut among nation’s leaders on children issues

Recently, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released its rankings on each state’s policies as they relate to the general well-being of children. Once again this year, Connecticut was rated among the best in the nation for its policies on issues effecting children.

According to its Web site, the mission of he Annie E. Casey Foundation is to foster public policies, human-service reforms, and community supports that more effectively meet the needs of today’s children and families. To help achieve this goal, the Foundation makes grants that help states, cities, and neighborhoods fashion more innovative, cost-effective responses to these needs.

The rankings took into account Connecticut’s performance in 10 categories: Percentage of low-birth weight babies; infant mortality rate; child death rate; teen death rate; teen birth rate; percentage of teens who are high school dropouts; percentage of teens not attending school and not working; percentage of children living in families where no parent has a full-time job; percentage of children in poverty; and percentage of children in single-parent families.

With high scores in nearly every category, Connecticut ranks third in the country. These rankings are based on real data, not anecdotal evidence, giving the results even more credence. It is a sign that we are on the right track with regards to our policies involving children.

Connecticut ranked first in the nation in percentage (with the least number) of teens not working or attending school (5 percent). The state’s lowest ranking in any category was 19^th in the percentage of low-birth weight babies (7.8 percent).

A number of initiatives were passed in the most recent legislative session which will help keep Connecticut at the forefront on children’s issues.  Two of those initiatives which will have the most impact include increased outreach to maximize the number of residents who are eligible to participate in the HUSKY plan and an increase in the reimbursement rates paid to doctors.  Doctors have been providing care without adequate reimbursement for years.  In effect, they have been subsidizing the cost of healthcare.   The increase in reimbursement rates was long overdue.

Clearly we must keep up the pace and continue to find ways to see that Connecticut’s children receive the care that they need.

If you would like to view the entire report compiled by the foundation, log on to www.kidscount.org/sld/databook.jsp. If you do not have Internet access and would like more information, you may call my office at 240-8700. 

Rep Ruth Fahrbach represents the 61^st District, including Suffield, and parts of Windsor and East Granby, in the General Assembly.