AUGUSTA — A new report on Maine children’s health says the percentage of young children living in poverty rose by 2 percentage points between 2009 and 2010.

The Kids Count Data Book released today says 15,752 Maine children under 5 years old, or 23.5 percent, were living in poverty. That’s an increase from 14,626, or 21.4 percent, in 2009.

The report also says the percentage of Maine children up to 5 years old served by MaineCare increased from 55.5 percent in fiscal 2010 to 57.4 percent in 2011.

A Kids Count report for each state is released annually by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private charitable organization.

This year’s report looks closely at the effect of educational attainment on Maine students’ ability to get by in an increasingly technology-driven workplace.


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.