A Snapshot of Rutherford County Children & Youth: a follow up and action steps you can take
At our September program, staff from the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth (TCCY) shared data and insights about our state’s children and youth, including data specifically about young people in Rutherford County.
Some of the highlights of the presentation include state statistics related to:
Click the image above the view the TCCY presentation to our League. Local data starts on p. 33.
mental health
infant and maternal care
disparities in maternal mortality related to race and ethnicity
uninsured Tennessee children
instability of foster care
domestic violence, including dating violence
The Rutherford County data shows that, at 4th in the state, Rutherford County ranks among the top counties in child well-being. However, the data also shows opportunities to improve child poverty rates, high housing costs, and a high rate of school suspensions.
View the presentation slides shared by Richard Kennedy and Kylie Graves of the TCCY. Rutherford data beings on page 32.
Some of this program intersected with our United for ALICE program earlier this year—see the United for ALICE follow up and action steps you can take to learn more.
Further actions you can take to support our community
TCCY recommendations included in the presentation encourage our advocacy in the community and to legislative and local leaders for:
Improving outreach related to food security
Expanding services through family resource centers
Establishing pro-active housing policies to ensure affordable housing and improve negative outcomes related to high housing costs
Increasing and expanding access to pre-K
Early assessment and intervention to improve reading skills
Increasing STEM opportunities in elementary and middle schools
Making high school students aware of community college and technical school benefits available to them through the Tennessee Promise program
Supporting two-generation programs that reduce child abuse
Support comprehensive sex education classes that include both encouragement of abstinence and information on birth control
Reducing suspension rates through clear definitions of suspendable behavior and a focus on restorative discipline that keeps children in school
Improving outreach to families to improve enrollment of uninsured children in either TennCare or CoverKids (most uninsured children qualify for one of these plans)
Encouraging families who own firearms to reduce risk to children and teens by following safe gun storage practices. Homicide and suicide are the fastest-growing cause of child and teen deaths, often due to a firearm.
Other ways you can learn and advocate include:
Access TCCY county profiles at TN.gov/TCCY/CountyProfiles
Access the State of the Child at TN.gov/TCCY/StateoftheChild
Find more data at DataCenter.KidsCount.org
Also explore ALICE data and the United Way's United for ALICE campaign here
Support the United Way's Welcome Home Baskets and Hotel Food Baskets
Join the League (student memberships are free!) or keep up with League news by joining our email list here.
Vote! Find out where and how here - we especially recommend the GoVoteTN app.
Refer those in need to the 211 Helpline that serves 42 middle Tennessee counties with resources and referrals