News

State of the Child In Chemung County

Updated Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Written By: Laura Caso

ELMIRA (WENY)---Local leaders say, it's all about the kids.

Today, local advocates for children, released the annual report by the 'Every Child Matters Coalition' of Chemung County.

According to the data, a larger percentage of Chemung county families are living in poverty today than in the United States and New York. Poverty rates for female households with children under 5 stands at 62.4% in Chemung County compared to 40.6% in all of New York State.

Another area of concern, the County's subsidary program, which had to cut 250 families because there isn't enough state money to fund it. Now, daycare centers are closing, and more jobs are gone.

Coalition leaders say community commitment is needed.

Former Director of Child Care Council, Ellen Wohl, said, "People should volunteer, whether in a soup kitchen or donation of time, or volunteering in a literacy program. There are many ways the community can get involved."

Elmira City School Superintendent, Joseph Hochreiter said, "We are really coming to a benchmark at a time where school's cannot provide everything. Obviously, some of the financial decision not only our district has made but others have made, we need to preserve the classroom and we need to partner with parents and community agencies to to support us on each end."

There is some good new though. Hochreiter says the Elmira drop-out rate is the lowest in 8 years.