The Real Facts of Life for Children of Color in Washington State, 1999

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Contacts:

Richard N. Brandon, Ph.D., Project Director,
Washington Kids Count, U.W.
Wk: (206) 543-8483

Paola Maranan, Public Policy Director,
The Children's Alliance, (206) 324-0340

Public Leaders Say State Policies Fail Children of Color

U.W. report provides first-ever look at the lives of children of color in Washington

According to leaders of color in our state, and a report released today by Washington Kids Count and The Children's Alliance, Washington state and its communities are failing to meet the needs of children of color. While most are healthy and succeeding, far too many lag in academic achievement, live in dangerous neighborhoods and lack economic support. This data is presented in Facts of Life for Children of Color in Washington State, a first-time examination of the economic well-being, education, health and safety of our state's children of color. The report also dispels common myths about children and families of color and offers effective ways to pinpoint problems and meet their needs while building on community assets.

King County Executive Ron Sims is gathering regional leaders to discuss the report at a luncheon today at noon at the King County Courthouse.

"The conditions highlighted in this report present a formidable and critical challenge for our region," Sims said. "The promise of our region's future depends on making sure that all of our children reach adulthood successfully. We have an opportunity to take strategic action to improve these outcomes -- it's an opportunity we can't afford to lose."

According to Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, the report provides a perspective that is sorely lacking in our state and nation by providing a comprehensive and critical look at the welfare of children of color. "Many of the findings are already well known within communities of color, but too often we have not had the empirical data to either bolster or validate our concerns," she explained. "This report gives us the momentum to move forward with policy responses in the legislature."

"We now have real facts -- not assumptions -- that will allow us to tailor specific and effective policy solutions to the problems children of color face in our state," said Dr. Richard Brandon, director of the U.W.'s Washington Kids Count project. "For example, all children can succeed in school if we set high expectations, provide teachers and curriculum that reflect the diverse nature of the student body, and provide resources and encouragement for parents to become active partners in learning."

"This report presents policymakers with specific information and, more importantly, a specific challenge: To do whatever they can to meet the needs of children of color that we are shamefully leaving behind. We cannot afford the social, economic or moral consequences of our negligence," stated Paola Maranan, public policy director at The Children's Alliance.

Below are key findings from Facts of Life for Children of Color in Washington State as well as possible policy solutions:

Social & Economic: Most children of color in Washington live in solid families with more than one adult present and working, often at multiple low-paying jobs. The percentage of adults working full time is greater for people of color than for whites, however, differences in wages, benefits and business opportunities produce great disparities of income and wealth between the two groups. The average income for people of color is $25,000; one-third lower than the $37,000 average for whites. One in eight Hispanic and Native American children lack health coverage; twice the rate of white children.

Call for Action: Since most low-income parents are working, we must ask how wages and benefits for parents of color can be raised to levels where their children can count on adequate economic resources.

Education: Washington students of color place a high value on learning (57%), but only a little more than a third of students of color (39%) report that their schools are giving them meaningful and important work. Across grade levels, 10 to 15% fewer students of color are meeting basic standards for math, reading and writing than their white counterparts.

Call for Action: Since students of color place a high value on learning, improving test scores requires us to focus not on the attitudes of children, but on the encouragement, role models, and resources they are given.

Health: Rates of harmful substance abuse are no higher for adolescents of color than whites, and half never use them. However, the rates of harmful substance use remain alarming for all groups of children. Teen substance abuse is much higher for youth who are depressed -- as many as half of adolescents of color report signs of depression compared to one-third of white students.

Call for Action: To prevent adolescent depression and the use and abuse of harmful substances, we must turn our attention to working with parents as well as teens.

Safety: One in three Washington girls and one in five boys say they have been physically or sexually abused at some point in their lives. Hispanic, Native American, and African American youth self-report higher rates of abuse than white, Asian or Pacific Islander youth. Adults of color are equally or more protective of children than white parents. When parents of color are given opportunities to receive parenting help they seek it eagerly, but they resent the lack of understanding of their families and culture by many family service professionals, who may mistake different parenting approaches for abuse.

Call for Action: We must examine economic stress, parenting skills, and other family and community conditions that cause higher rates of abuse and neglect for some children of color. We must also increase the number of family support and prevention programs.

For more information about public policies affecting Washington children, please contact The Children's Alliance, a voice for Washington's children, youth and families, at 206.324.0340, or online at www.childrensalliance.org.