A recent report indicates many of Virginia’s children live in poverty – a major concern for the long-term health of the Commonwealth.
14% of Virginia’s children live in poverty. That’s below the national average, although pockets of Virginia have large percentages of children who live in poverty: Buchanan, Danville, and Emporia have the highest.
Aliana Havrilla with the County Health Rankings says she’s hopeful that an initiative from the Health Department known as the Virginia Plan for Wellbeing will be able to accomplish its goal of becoming the healthiest state in the nation by 2020.
“Within that plan it lifts up the link between health and poverty and its importance in making sure that everybody has an opportunity for stable housing, healthy food, transportation and access to health care,” she says.
Emily Griffey at Voices for Virginia’s Children says one way to address the problem is investing in school counselors and school social workers and school psychologists.
“The General Assembly took a small step forward on that this year and approved an additional $12 million for school counselors," says Griffey. "But there’s a long way to go to ensure that kids have more support staff that are able to meet their needs.”
One potential stumbling block for children in poverty: Virginia has some of the most restrictive rules in the country for families receiving social benefits. Critics say loosening some of these restrictions would help those most in need.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
