Report: More Alabama Children Live in Poverty

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A new report from a child advocacy group shows Alabama's children are making improvements in early education, fewer are being born to unwed teens, and less are dying from preventable causes. But the report also shows more are living in poverty and much remains to be done for Alabama to catch up with most other states. The Montgomery-based advocacy group VOICES for Alabama's Children issued the Kids Count Data Book with the help of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The foundation ranks Alabama 44th among the states in child well-being. VOICES' executive director, Melanie Bridgeforth, says the future of the state depends on how it invests in its children, and she wants the data book to prompt discussion among state leaders.