Children in Monroe County

• Rochester is the 11th worst city in the United States for child poverty; 38% of children under the age of 12 live in poverty.
  
  
• The infant mortality rate (one of the most important measures of children’s health) in Monroe County is higher than other counties in Upstate New York and higher than the overall rate in New York State. The infant mortality rate in some areas in Rochester is comparable to the infant mortality rate in third world countries.
  
  
• There were 6300 cases of child abuse reported in Monroe County in 2004. This is the highest level of reports of child abuse seen in Monroe County in over a decade and represents a 6% increase alone from 2003. The rate of reported child abuse is higher in Monroe County than other counties in New York State.
  
  
• 16% of children in Monroe County under the age of 12 exhibit at least one severe behavior problem or developmental problem.
  
  
• 64% of children (over 35,000) under the age of 6 in Monroe County are in need of child care because they live with two working parents or live with a single parent who is working.
  
  
• Monroe County has a higher rate of children in foster care than that of similar counties in New York State.
  
  
• Approximately 7% of children in the City of Rochester do not have health insurance.
  
  
• Once every 12 hours a child is hospitalized in Monroe County because of an injury.
  
  
• For children entering the Rochester City School District in the 2001-02 school year, 37% had moved to another residence at least once in the past 6 months.
  
  
• 17% of children 11-14 years old in Monroe County are overweight.
  
  
• Half of all students who enter Rochester City high schools do not graduate. 88% (about 16,500) of Rochester City School District elementary school students and 18% (about 6,400) of suburban elementary school students qualify for free or reduced price school meals because their parents may not be able to provide adequate food based on their income.