Become Informed

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Fact Sheets

Kid Bits - Facts in Brief About Children & Youth in the District of Columbia

Poverty

• In 2004, there were 11,103 children under age 5 with income below the poverty level in the past 12 months in the District of Columbia.



• In 2004, there were 22,057 children and youth between the ages of 6 and 17 with income below the poverty level in the past 12 months in the District of Columbia.



• In 2004, there were 31,075 children in homes headed by a female with no husband present with income below the poverty level in the past 12 months in DC.



• Between the 1990 and 2000 Census, the number of census tracks with concentrated poverty in the District more than doubled.

Population

• In 2004, there were 34,086 children under 5 years of age living in the District of Columbia.



• In 2004, there were 29,130 children between the ages of 5 and 9 living in the District of Columbia.



• In 2004, there were 29,496 youth between the ages of 10 and 14 living in the District of Columbia.



• In 2004, there were 17,832 youth 15 to 19 living in the District of Columbia.



• In 2004, there were 110,544 children and youth under age 20 living in DC.

Child Welfare

• In December 2004, there were 2,691 children in foster care in the District.



• Approximately 25% of District children in foster care will reach adulthood without finding a permanent home.



• In December 2004, 43% of the children in out-of-home care were age 14 or over.



• In the District of Columbia, 85% of children involved in the child welfare system have parents who have substance abuse problems.



• District youth leaving foster care without permanent homes are at increased risk for involvement in the criminal justice system, teen pregnancy and homelessness.

Child & Youth Health

• Currently, one in two children in the District of Columbia are at risk of hunger.



• In 2000, there were 11.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in the District of Columbia, down from 15.0 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 1999.



• Of the estimated 8,960 children and youth with a mental illness in the District of Columbia, only 448 will receive treatment in FY 2006.



• An average of 41% of the youth arrested in the District of Columbia in July 2005 had positive drug tests upon arrest. The results ranged from 17% for 12-yearolds to 69% for 17-year-olds.



• The Centers for Disease Control report that more than 8,000 adolescents need substance abuse treatment in the District of Columbia.

Early Care and Education

• There are 31,500 children eligible for the Child Care Subsidy Program in the District of Columbia.



• Between October 1, 2004 and January 31, 2005, 17,010 children were served in the Child Care Subsidy Program.