Since 2000, the total number of people living in Alabama has risen 9.4 percent, but the percentage of children has decreased.

Children now make up roughly one quarter of Alabama's population, according to the 2017 Alabama Kids Count Data Book. The study was released today by VOICES for Alabama's Children, a nonprofit that advocates for child well-being in the state.

On the other end of the spectrum, people over 65 make up the fastest-growing age group in Alabama.

Trends like that - an aging society with a shrinking pool of young workers - could put some of the state's industries at risk, according to the report.

"It's an issue that lawmakers and people living in Alabama need to take seriously," said Rhonda Mann, policy and research director for VOICES.

Alabama's child population is also growing more diverse, and more poor. Child poverty rates in Alabama have increased steadily since 2000.

The number of Hispanic children in Alabama is rising faster than any other child demographic group, increasing by more than 200 percent since 2000. Hispanic kids now account for 7.1 percent of Alabama's child population.

During the same time period, the number of white children declined 2.6 percent - the biggest proportional population decline of any major demographic group in the state. White children now make up about 58 percent of the child population in Alabama; in 2000 it accounted for 63 percent.

(2017 Kids Count Data Book, courtesy of VOICES for Alabama's Children)

Alabama's changing demographics highlight the need to address health and economic inequalities facing black and Hispanic children, said Mann.

"Children of color continue to be disproportionately impacted when we look at poverty, health outcomes and educational achievement," said Mann. "These are groups that are getting left behind as our state continues to move along."

Health

Access to healthcare is a major barrier for Alabama families, and nowhere is that better illustrated than in the decline in availability of obstetrical services.

In 1980, 45 of the 54 rural counties in Alabama had a hospital that offered obstetrics. By 2016, that number had fallen to just 16 of those 54 counties. That means some women may driver two hours or more to reach a hospital with a labor & delivery department - or even to see an obstetrician for monthly checkups.

Alabama's infant mortality rate, while far above the national average, has improved over the past few decades. Twenty-five years ago it was around 10.5 deaths per 1,000 births; now it's fallen to a rate of 8.3. Nationally, it's 5.8.

From the 2017 Kids Count Data Book, published by VOICES for Alabama's Children

But the statewide number masks a gaping disparity between white and black infants. The infant mortality rate for black babies has steadily risen over the past several years to 15.3. Black babies die at three times the rate of white babies in Alabama.

About 45 percent of black children and 45 percent of Hispanic children live in poverty in Alabama. About 18 percent of white children live in poverty. Children of color also lag behind their white peers in education and health outcomes.

"We can't leave any children behind," said Mann. "Until we figure out how to get everybody out of poverty, we've got to make sure we have programs in place to help our children learn and to be on the same starting level as our peers."

About 28 percent of children are enrolled in the state-funded First Class Pre-K program.

"That may not seem like many, but we started out in 2005 with just 2 percent," said Mann. "For 11 years in a row, First Class has maintained a quality program. Lawmakers continue to expand funding, and that is so critical because of gaps in educational achievement."

Child health insurance continues to be another bright spot for Alabama children, according to the Kids Count Data Book. About 96 percent of all Alabama kids are covered by some form of health insurance - many by the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), administered by the state.

"The CHIP program was one of the first state programs and people say it's one of the best," said Mann. "It meets a need for families in the middle who don't qualify for Medicaid. The family pay is based on income, where you pay according to what you can afford to pay."

From the 2017 Alabama Kids Count Data Book, compiled by VOICES for Alabama's Children

County Rankings

County rankings for 2016 remained roughly the same over the previous year.

The Data Book names Shelby County as the best county for children, based on nine indicators including health, education, safety and economic security. Shelby is followed by Madison, Limestone, Lee and Autauga to round out the top five.

The worst county for children was Wilcox County, followed by Greene, Perry, Dallas and Bullock to round out the bottom five.

"Those bottom counties are some of our most rural areas," said Mann. "The job growth is lacking, unemployment is high, poverty is high. If jobs are coming into the state, are they coming where they're most needed? If not, how do those unemployed get skills training and get transportation to get to the jobs where they can earn a higher wage?"

Child safety

On the positive side, the child death rate statewide has fallen in the past decade to 24.5 per 100,000 children. Juvenile violent crime is down, and juvenile incarceration decreased by 22 percent since 2008, when the state enacted reforms to the juvenile justice system.

Reports of child abuse and neglect increased from a rate of 7.8 in 2015 to 9.5 in 2016. That represents nearly 40,000 reports investigated, involving more than 10,000 indicated child victims.

About 8 percent of children in foster care in Alabama were adopted last year, a rate that's lower than the 9.6 rate in 2010 and 9.2 rate in 2015.

This year's Kids Count Data Book doesn't have education data, which wasn't available at the time the book was compiled. VOICES plans to release a separate supplemental report when the data becomes available.

The Alabama Kids Count Data Book has been compiled for the past 24 years by VOICES for Alabama's Children, which has been operating in the state for 25 years.