The latest Kids Count Data Book released in August contains some sobering and tragic news about Michigan’s children whose suffering continues to grow in these trying economic times.

While the nation as a whole saw a less than 20 percent increase in children living in poverty, Michigan experienced in 64 percent jump between 2000 and 2009, according to the report from Annie E. Casey Foundation. We now have almost a quarter of all kids in Michigan - over half a million – living in poverty.

Other troubling facts from the Kids Count report:

• Over a third (36 percent) of all Michigan kids had no parent working full-time in a year-round job in 2010, putting our state at the bottom of the list at 47th.
• 12 percent of Michigan kids has at least one unemployed parent in 2010 who was looking for work but unable to find any.
• 217,000 children were affected by foreclosure between 2007 and 2009.
• Infants were more likely to survive their first year in 39 other state.

Sadly, our state leaders’ recent actions make conditions worse instead of better for our children, including implementing a 48-month lifetime cap on cash assistance and weakening the Earned Income Tax Credit that helps many low-income families stay afloat.

Michigan’s kids desperately need the attention and support of our policymakers now with investments beginning at conception and extending through young adulthood. More specific policy actions are outlined in our 2011 Legislative and Administrative Policy Agenda “Creating Michigan’s Future: Ensuring Our Children are Ready to Learn and Lead.”

The 22nd annual data book “America’s Children, America’s Challenge: Promoting Opportunity for the Next Generation” includes national and state-by-state reports on key measures and statistical trends on the condition of America’s children and families.

Read more at about Kids Count