For the first time in years, Ohio has fallen behind most of the country when it comes to comes to caring for its kids. That’s according to annual Kids Count Data Book released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
The survey looks at four measures of children’s well-being: economic stability, family stability, education, and health. For the most part, Ohio ranked toward the middle of the pack.
The state dropped one spot, to 26 overall, but made significant strides in some areas. The teen birth rate has dropped 36 percent since 2008. And teen drug and alcohol usage dropped 38 percent, even amid the growing heroin epidemic.
“It’s probably because the next generation of teens have seen what drugs and alcohol do to people and I think the message is being heard," said Ann Stevens, spokesperson for Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services.
Stevens says the organization is providing programs to prevent opiate abuse among teens.
Other states have improved their overall rankings by providing better access to healthcare and early education.