2017’s States with the Most Underprivileged Children

From WalletHub, August 9, 2017

In an ideal world, children live carefree and have access to their basic necessities: nutritious food, a good education, quality health care and a sturdy roof over their heads. They need to feel safe and to be loved and supported by caring adults. When all such needs are met, children often have a strong chance of stability in adulthood. But in reality, not every child is so privileged — even in the richest and most powerful nation in the world.

The U.S., in fact, has the seventh highest rate of child poverty — over 29 percent — among economically developed countries. And by the end of the day, more than 1,800 cases of child abuse or neglect will have been confirmed, according to the Children’s Defense Fund.

But the plight of underprivileged children is different in every state. To determine where children are most disadvantaged, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 21 key indicators of neediness. Their data set ranges from share of children in households with below-poverty income to child food-insecurity rate to share of maltreated children….

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Hawaii

• Rank – 33rd
• Score -- 37.63
• Socio-Economic Welfare – 30th
• Health – 42nd
• Education – 21st
• Highest Child & Youth Homeless Rate -- 5th