AUGUSTA — A report by a national charitable foundation says 22 percent of Maine children under age 5 live in poverty.

In a report released today, the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count report also says nearly 17 percent of all Maine children under 18 live in poverty.

The report also has a brighter side: The percentage of children who have access to a family doctor has risen from 58 to 66 percent over the last four years. The report says 6 percent of Maine’s kids are uninsured, which is half the national rate.

The Kids Count report says fewer teenagers are using drugs and alcohol, but the teen smoking rate is up from 14 to 18 percent over the last two years.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.