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Child Poverty High in Rural America

September 7, 2007

On Aug. 28, 2007, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey show that 22 percent of rural children are living in poverty, up from 19 percent in 2000. On average, rates are highest in the nonmetropolitan South (27 percent) and have climbed the most in the nonmetropolitan Midwest (by 3.9 percentage points). The child poverty rate is the most widely used indicator of child well-being because poverty is closely linked to undesirable outcomes in areas such as health, education, emotional welfare, and delinquency.

Food Stamp and School Lunch Programs Alleviate Food Insecurity in Rural America

July 9, 2007

In 2004, 13 percent of American rural households were "food insecure," meaning that at some point during the year they did not have access to enough food for all household members, and 4 percent of rural households experienced hunger. The Food Stamp and the National School Lunch programs play a vital role in helping poor, rural Americans obtain a more nutritious diet and alleviate food insecurity and hunger. Congress is currently debating the 2007 Farm Bill. One of the provisions in that bill addresses domestic food and nutrition assistance and includes reauthorization of the Food Stamp Program and the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program, among others. The Food Stamp Program is a central component of the nation's policy to alleviate hunger and poverty and helps low-income families and individuals purchase a nutritionally adequate diet. The Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program distributes fresh fruits and vegetables to elementary, middle, and high school children in participating schools, and is administered by each state's National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, which are funded under the Child Nutrition Act. This fact sheet looks at the extent to which rural America depends on food stamps and free or reduced price lunches, and describes characteristics of beneficiaries of these federal nutrition assistance programs.

Children's Health Insurance in New Hampshire: An Analysis of New Hampshire Healthy Kids

March 26, 2007

New Hampshire has been successful in achieving one of the lowest uninsurance rates for children in the country -- 6 percent in 2005 (US Census). The extent to which New Hampshire Healthy Kids has contributed to New Hampshire's success in achieving this low rate is the focus of this brief. The social and economic environment in New Hampshire is conducive to health insurance coverage for children in several important respects. There is consensus among the general public that children should be covered, the state has a very high rate of employer-sponsored insurance, and the combined Healthy Kids programs provide a key safety net for low and moderate income families and children.

Child Poverty in Rural America: New Data Shows Increases in 41 States

November 8, 2006

On August 29th, the U.S. Census Bureau released new data on child poverty that show a disturbing increase in rural child poverty rates in many states. The child poverty rate is the most widely used indicator of child well-being because poverty is closely linked to undesirable outcomes in areas such as health, education, emotional welfare, and delinquency. Changes in child poverty signal important changes in children's quality of life and life chances.

Values and Religion in Rural America: Attitudes Toward Abortion and Same-Sex Relations

November 1, 2006

This issue brief uses cumulative data from the nationally representative, General Social Survey (1972-2004) (Davis & Smith 2004), to explore how rural Americans differ from their urban and suburban peers on religious involvement and in their attitudes toward politically contested moral issues, namely, abortion and same-sex relations. The data indicate that rural Americans are slightly more religious than their metropolitan neighbors as indicated by weekly church attendance and having had a born-again experience. Rural Americans, however, do not comprise a homogeneous group. There are significant regional differences, with rural Southerners much more likely than their rural counterparts in Eastern, Midwestern, and Western parts of the country to be highly religious. And while rural Americans are more likely to oppose abortion and same-sex relations than their non-rural neighbors, there is also evidence of variation in their attitudes toward these issues. Like Americans as a whole, rural Americans vary their opinion on abortion depending on the specific circumstances. Generation also matters, and this is especially evident in the fact that younger individuals are more tolerant of same-sex relations than their parents and grandparents. It is also noteworthy that religiosity trumps rural/non-rural location when it comes to social conservatism. Highly religious rural and non-rural Americans alike are much more likely to oppose abortion and same-sex relations than their less religious counterparts. Acknowledging and responding to these important nuances in the cultural values of rural Americans may improve the ability of both Democrats and Republicans to develop connections throughout rural America. In sum, it would bea mistake to categorize rural Americans as a single voting bloc. Rural America is diverse, and behavior, attitudes and beliefs vary by region.