LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The Michigan League for Public Policy reported on Monday that Branch County was one of 80 counties in the state that has seen an increase in child poverty since 2006.
According to the Kids Count in Michigan Data Book, over 23 percent of children in Branch County lived in poverty during 2014 which was an increase of 13 percent from nine years ago.Branch County was 52nd among the 83 counties in Michigan for child well being while it was ranked 37th for child poverty.
Statewide figures showed a 23 percent increase in the rate of child poverty in Michigan between 2006 and 2014.
Child abuse and neglect also went up by 29 percent during that same time period. The statewide rate of child abuse and neglect was 14.7 per 1,000 kids in 2014 while the rate in Branch County was 33.4 per 1,000 children.
The Michigan League for Public Policy has been compiling and releasing the annual Kids Count Data Book for 25 years.
