Does Kentucky Have the Most Underprivileged Children? [RANKING]

WalletHub released its report on the States with the Most Underprivileged Children in 2019 and Kentucky ranks poorly in many categories. There's still so much work to be done.

August is Child Support Awareness Month

Back in March, a report was released from the United States Children's Bureau and Kentucky was ranked first in the country for child abuse rates in 2017. When you're fortunate enough to grow up in a loving home, it's hard to wrap your head around the numbers. How can this continue to happen in our backyard? It's just so devastating.

"The U.S., in fact, has the seventh highest rate of child poverty — over 29 percent — among economically developed countries. And according to the Children’s Defense Fund, a child is abused or neglected every 47 seconds and the total costs of maltreatment per year reach $80.3 billion."

To determine where children are most disadvantaged, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 26 key indicators of neediness. Kentucky comes in 17th of "States with the Most Underprivileged Children."

Here's the breakdown:

We have a lot of work to do to improve these rankings. Our life, children and future depend on it. I'll be the first to admit that I have WORK to do. I look in the mirror every day and know that I can do more. How about you?

If these numbers are startling to you, there is a way that you can help children in our area. You can volunteer to become a trained, court appointed special advocate with CASA of Ohio Valley. They are beautiful people who take care of abused and neglected children in our area. Go to www.casaov.org to find out more.

Here's how other states rank: