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Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Health
- Boston Globe
N.H. ranked first in nation for overall child well-being, per new report
'This critical data shows us that there is more that policymakers can do to better support the whole family, to help children thrive and grow up to contribute to our state,' said Rebecca Woitkowski, Child and Family Policy Director at New Futures. 'By ensuring that New Hampshire's children continue to have access to affordable health care, we can ensure that all children have the tools they need to start healthy and stay healthy.' Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up This is New Hampshire's third year in a row at the top of the Kids Count list. Advertisement After New Hampshire, Vermont came in second, followed by Massachusetts, Utah, and Minnesota. Here's how New Hampshire and Massachusetts ranked in the report's four categories. N.H. #2 in Economic well-being 20,000 children (8 percent) were in poverty 49,000 children (20 percent) whose parents lacked secure employment 66,000 children (26 percent) living in household with high housing cost burden Advertisement 2,000 children (3 percent) teens not in school and not working Mass. #25 in Economic well-being 167,000 children (13 percent) were in poverty 330,000 children (25 percent) whose parents lacked secure employment 455,000 children (34 percent) living in household with high housing cost burden 19,000 children (5 percent) teens not in school and not working N.H. #4 in Education 13,000 children age 3-4 not in school (48 percent) 64 percent of fourth graders not proficient in reading 68 percent of eighth graders not proficient in math 12 percent of high school students not graduating on time Mass. #1 in Education 64,000 children age 3-4 not in school (44 percent) 60 percent of fourth graders not proficient in reading 63 percent of eighth graders not proficient in math 10 percent of high school students not graduating on time N.H. #1 in Health 809 low birth-weight babies (6.8 percent) 9,000 children without health insurance (3 percent) 55 child and teen deaths (20 per 100,000) 22 percent children age 10 to 17 who are overweight or obese Mass. #2 in Health 5,081 low birth-weight babies (7.6 percent) 21,000 children without health insurance (1 percent) 245 child and teen deaths (17 per 100,000) 26 percent children age 10 to 17 who are overweight or obese N.H. #1 in Family and Community 64,000 children (27 percent) in single-parent families 9,000 children (4 percent) in families where household head lacks high school diploma 2,000 children (1 percent) living in high-poverty areas 186 teen births (5 per 1,000) Mass #13 in Family and Community 419,000 children (33 percent) in single-parent families Advertisement 116,000 children (9 percent) in families where household head lacks high school diploma 66,000 children (5 percent) living in high-poverty areas 1,311 teen births (6 per 1,000) Here's how the report ranked all of the states in the nation: New Hampshire Vermont Massachusetts Utah Minnesota North Dakota New Jersey Connecticut Iowa Nebraska Wisconsin Colorado Virginia Kansas Idaho Washington Maine Illinois Rhode Island Pennsylvania Maryland Montana Wyoming Hawaii Indiana South Dakota Missouri Oregon New York Delaware Ohio California Michigan North Carolina Florida Kentucky Tennessee South Carolina Georgia Alaska West Virginia Arizona Alabama Texas Arkansas Oklahoma Nevada Mississippi Louisiana New Mexico The report did not rank Puerto Rico or Washington, D.C. This article first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you'd like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, Amanda Gokee can be reached at
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Hampshire is facing many child care challenges. Red tape doesn't have to be one of them.
"Our state lawmakers have the power to remove unnecessary barriers Child Care Scholarship participants have experienced. " (Photo by) Child care in New Hampshire has become increasingly unaffordable for working families, creating a challenge that affects not only parents and children but our entire state economy. While the New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship Program exists to help families afford quality care, administrative red tape has caused this vital resource to be underutilized. Recent reports from both the UNH Carsey School of Public Policy and the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute confirm what many families already know: our Child Care Scholarship system is hampered by 'substantial paperwork and complicated application processes' that limit its reach and effectiveness. In a series of focus groups, participants applying for the Child Care Scholarship said they found the process 'particularly complicated,' and reported experiencing 'substantial stress' and investing 'significant time' in applying. As one parent described the process, 'You literally have to have all your ducks in a row for you to even apply.' This parent explained, 'You have to have the day care that they're going to, the hours that they're going to be, and then you have to have that all set up with your work.' Even with all those pieces in place, the parent described a frustrating 'runaround' in the application process. 'There's been a few times when I'm, like, OK, what do you need? Do you need blood at this point? Because it's just like I've given you everything at this point.' And while going through this process, the parent explained, 'You see those [child care] balances adding up and if you miss one thing and they deny [your application], then you have to redo it all over again hoping that [the child care provider won't say] you need to pay this until they can reimburse us.' Our state lawmakers have the power to remove unnecessary barriers Child Care Scholarship participants have experienced. Senate Bill 243, for example, would create a pilot program for 'presumptive eligibility,' allowing families who meet basic screening criteria to receive up to 60 days of scholarship funding while their full application is processed. This addresses a critical gap during which families could have to delay the start of a job while waiting for scholarship approval. Parents should not have to turn down employment opportunities because they can't afford child care while their paperwork is being processed. The bill would also require a study of the application process itself. In recent listening sessions across the state, New Futures learned that families applying for Child Care Scholarship funding face time-consuming requests for information and documentation, often beyond what's needed to determine eligibility for the scholarship program. Blended or foster families, parents with disabilities that exempt them from the program's work requirements, families with limited technology, and families with a primary language other than English can face additional hurdles in the application process. This study will ensure eligible families aren't unreasonably discouraged from participating in the program. And, the bill aligns scholarship processes with the realities of modern child care businesses. Currently, providers waste valuable time reporting detailed attendance data despite the fact that payments are now based on enrollment, not attendance. The legislation would streamline these processes and also create a system of up-front payments for child care providers — just as they receive from non-scholarship families — offering greater economic stability and encouraging more providers to accept scholarship families. Such updates to the Child Care Scholarship program would address problems that are preventing an existing program from reaching its full potential. The benefits of these improvements would extend far beyond administrative convenience. When more families can access the scholarship program, more children receive quality care linked to positive developmental outcomes, child care businesses receive much-needed support, and parents can participate more fully in our state's workforce. And importantly, the federal government more than matches every state dollar spent on the program. At a time when child care costs are crushing family budgets and limiting our workforce, we can't afford to let administrative barriers restrict access to this important program. Cora Hoppe, the executive director of the Rochester Child Care Center, has noted that when families secure a scholarship: 'The sense of relief is huge. I don't see parents coming in panicked about paying their bill or afraid to see me. [Parents] can build better relationships with the teachers and administration because they're not worried about [paying their bill].' The New Hampshire Legislature has an opportunity to make our Child Care Scholarship program work as intended — supporting children, families, providers, and our economy.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
High health care costs burden New Hampshire families in more than just dollars
Rising health care costs pose an equity concern. (Getty Images) In New Hampshire, a majority of our friends and neighbors are delaying or skipping medical care simply because they can't afford the costs. As a state, this is more than troubling – it's tragic. The New Hampshire Consumer Healthcare Experience Survey, a recent survey that New Futures conducted in partnership with the Healthcare Value Hub at Altarum, revealed alarming statistics about the health care landscape in our state. To put it simply, Granite Staters are struggling to afford health care and they worry about rising health care costs. The consequences of high costs reach far beyond individual suffering. When our residents delay preventive care or skip necessary treatments, minor health issues can escalate into major ones, ultimately driving up costs for everyone and straining our entire health care system. More than 40% of survey respondents reported they are already struggling to pay their medical bills, creating a cascade of financial hardship that ripples through our communities. The burden of surprise medical billing further compounds this crisis. Thirty-two percent of New Hampshire residents have been blindsided by unexpected medical bills in the past year, and even more alarming, 1 in 5 of these billing issues remain unresolved. Some of our residents are even going without health insurance due to high costs. Nearly half of uninsured Granite Staters cited high costs as the main reason for going without health insurance, far exceeding other reasons like not needing coverage or not knowing how to get it. These aren't just statistics – they represent thousands of New Hampshire families putting off critical medical care, rationing or skipping life-saving medications, and making impossible choices between their health and other essential needs. To further complicate this issue, hospital mergers have the potential to reshape our health care landscape. The recent approval of Catholic Medical Center's sale to HCA Healthcare, a for-profit organization based in Nashville, Tennessee, adds another layer of uncertainty to an already challenging situation. Hospital mergers can bring changes to health care delivery and raise important questions about the ongoing cost and quality of care available in our communities. Further, rising health care costs pose an equity concern. One in 3 (or 33%) respondents of color skipped needed medical care due to a distrust of or feeling disrespected by health care providers, compared to 19% of white respondents. People with disabilities and members of their households were also more likely to ration medication, delay or go without care, or find medical bills burdensome due to cost compared to those who did not have a disability or live with someone who does. This crisis crosses political lines. The survey reveals overwhelming bipartisan support for solutions to address health care affordability struggles. Of residents surveyed, more than 92% indicated the government should take action to cap out-of-pocket costs for life-saving medication; 92% indicated the government should require drug companies to provide advanced notice of price increases; and 91% agreed the government should expand insurance coverage options so that everyone can afford health insurance. Each of these categories earned support from 96% of Democratic respondents and 87% of Republicans. It's clear that our residents are united in calling on their elected officials to prioritize practical solutions to reduce overall health care costs for New Hampshire families. As our legislators prepare to build the 2025-2026 state budget, we face a crucial choice in where we invest our money. The data is clear. The public sentiment is clear. Now we need our state leadership to be equally clear in their commitment to addressing this crisis. The solution requires sustained and strategic investment in our people and families, as our health and well-being are our most critical assets. As we enter the budget process, I call on our legislators to prioritize foundational health investments that span all stages of life, from our youngest residents to our oldest. The time to act is now. If we continue this destructive trend, the cost will come not only in dollars but also in lives and the health of our communities. We must secure a state budget that prioritizes not only individual health and well-being, but the long-term resilience and prosperity of the entire Granite State. The health of our people and our state depend on it.
