Child poverty series starts Monday

No. 1 in child poverty.

That was the massive yoke hung around Jay County’s neck when the Indiana Youth Institute’s Data Book came out about a year ago. While our status had never been good in terms of child poverty, the 2014 numbers that were released in February 2016 and subsequently reported in The Commercial Review represented a dramatic increase.

Now it looks as if that spike was a statistical aberration.

That’s reason for a sigh of relief, but only a small one.

The reality is that child poverty is still a massive problem in Jay County and has been for years.

That much will be illustrated Monday with a story focused on data and trends that will launch a series about child poverty in our community. As the series continues, we’ll look at what resources are available to those dealing with child poverty, what strains there are on the system, how we ended up in this situation and how other communities have dealt with the problem. And we’ll share personal testimonials about how child poverty manifests itself in this community. (If you’re interested in sharing your story, please let us know by emailing [email protected] or calling (260) 726-8141.)

Since our story about Jay County’s No. 1 ranking for child poverty a year ago, groups have talked behind the scenes about how to deal with the problem. But there has not been much in the way of action.

Dealing with such a vast issue as child poverty is daunting, perhaps even more so given that the community has been smacked in the face over the last few months by the rise in opioid use, overdoses and deaths.

But we can’t shy away from either dilemma. In fact, we should probably be dealing with them together because there is no doubt that they are connected.

Adult use of drugs is likely a key contributor to the child poverty issue. Money in such households is being spent on heroin or other substances instead of on children’s needs.

Equally, poverty can be a pathway to drug use. When a child grows up struggling, it’s difficult for them to see a path to a better life.

We hope this series sparks new conversations about child poverty in this county, and surrounding counties, and leads to meaningful plans to combat the problem.

We all want to create a better future for the next generation. In order to do that, we have to start by providing them a better present. — R.C.