By Joyce Kryszak
Albany, NY – Child poverty in New York State dropped to its lowest levels in 21 years.
A report released Monday says child poverty fell to 19 percent in 2000, down from 26 percent in 1994. The state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance complied the report using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and state Health Department. Brian Wing, commissioner of the OTDA, says the decline in child poverty is being attributed to welfare reforms implemented in 1995 by Governor George Pataki. Wing says employment rose among the most vulnerable families in the state.
"What's most striking in these findings is that the data clearly show that these success can not be solely attributed to the growth of New York State's economy," Wing said. "Previous periods of economic prosperity had no where near the results described in this report."
Wing says the state has made substantial progress in helping families transition to employment by providing education, job training and job placement assistance.
But at least one group is disputing the report. The Hunger Action Network says it was the 90's economic boom not welfare reform that accounts for the apparent drop in child poverty.