Vermont ranks high for how kids are faring but economic factors continue to be a challenge

Vermont children are faring better than much of the nation, but there are some areas that could be improved, according to a new report.

Vermont ranked fifth overall for child wellbeing in the 2022 Kids Count Data Profile from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Topping the list were Massachusetts followed by New Hampshire, Minnesota and Utah.

States were ranked based upon four main categories with four individual factors within each category contributing to the score. In many cases, the figures were based on a range of years, some of which included 2020, so the COVID-19 pandemic had somewhat of an impact on the data.

"Vermont consistently ranks well in this index overall, but Vermont's rate of families experiencing a high housing cost burden and households that lack secure parental employment (both at 26 percent) contribute to our somewhat lower ranking in the economic well-being domain, where we're in 12th place," said Sarah Teel of the non-partisan children's advocacy group Voices for Vermont's Children.

Affordable housing:Plan would replace Burlington VFW building, construct new housing

One area that was targeted as of critical national concern was children's mental health.

"Sometimes the full picture of what kids in VT are dealing with can get lost in these broader trends about well-being because we do appear to be doing better than most," Kit Harrington of Voices for Vermont's Children wrote in an email. "I think what this information about mental health is showing us is that it isn’t enough."

Where Vermont's children ranked in the top five

Vermont ranked third for health. The health factors measured included low birth-weight babies (7%), children without health insurance (2%), child and teen deaths per 100,000 (21) and children and teens who are overweight or obese (28%). Three out of four of these factors had trended slightly worse since the last time they were measured in Vermont. Children without health insurance was the one that improved somewhat.

In the family and community category, the Green Mountain State ranked third here, too. the factors measured were children in single-parent families (32%), children in families where the household head lacks a high school diploma (5%), children living in high-poverty areas (2%) and teen births per 1,000 (7). The one factor that performed worse than where it was last was the amount of children in single-parent families.

Vermont came in fifth for Education. The areas evaluated included young children ages 3 and 4 not in school (43%), fourth-graders not proficient in reading (63%), eighth-graders not proficient in math (62%) and high school students not graduating on time (16%). Young children not in preschool was the one factor that had improved with a six percent gain, most likely due to the implementation of universal preschool in 2016. The other three factors dealing with academic proficiency and graduation had worsened between three and five percentage points. Those three were pre-pandemic (2019) numbers.

Economic factors among biggest challenges for VT kids

Vermont did not make the top five or top 10 in one category: economic well-being. Vermont placed 12 despite all four factors showing marginal improvement or staying the same in recent years. In every case, the Vermont percentages were better than the national average.

More than one quarter of Vermont children are living in households with a high housing cost burden, with about 31,000 children at 26% of this population affected. Similarly, 26% − or 30,000 Vermont children − have parents who lack secure employment. The share of children living in poverty was 12%, or 14,000 children. The share of teenagers not in school and not working has remained the same since 2008 at 5%, or about 2,000 teens.

More:Seven new laws designed to improve Vermont children's lives

Mental health major concern in all states

While the state level data focused on factors that have been measured over the last 15 years, the report pointed out that a mental health crisis has greatly impacted kids' well-being over the last couple years with unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression and attempted suicide.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a contributing factor with many children losing loved ones to the virus, parents' jobs being affected and the isolation that came as a result of precautions to limit transmission.

During that time, attempted suicide rates climbed and at increased rates among Black, Indigenous, Alaska Native, teens of two or more races and LGBTQ youth.

Hiding in Plain Sight:Ken Burns-produced film includes Vermonters talking about youth mental health

To sustainably address the mental health impact on Vermont youth, Aishwarya Joshi, an assistant professor of counseling at the University of Vermont, said a systematic approach is required across all levels that provides equitable access to resources and takes youth social identities into account. The mental health and emotional wellbeing of the caregivers who are providing help (such as parents, teachers, school counselors, etc.) should also be prioritized, she said.

"Children right now are growing up at the intersection of global, national, and local crises, from climate change to school teaching shortages, and the impact this is having on their mental health cannot be understated," said Teel of Voices for Vermont's Children. "Making progress for kids and families in this moment requires us to think holistically about their unique needs in the context of a rapidly changing planet."

Contact April Barton at abarton@freepressmedia.com or 802-660-1854. Follow her on Twitter @aprildbarton.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont ranked 5th for kids' wellbeing. Areas that could be improved.