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Tennessee’s “State of the Child” 2024 report shows some progress, but also highlights ongoing concerns.

The report from the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth examines kids’ health and mental health, education, family economics, and childcare.

It also looks at the state’s child welfare and youth justice data.

Kylie Graves is the director of policy and legislative affairs at the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth.

She said a key indicator they look at most frequently is the percentage of children living in poverty. She noted that the percentage of children living in poverty in Tennessee did go up slightly between 2022 and 2023.

“So in 2023 we had 19.7% of our children under 18 living below the federal poverty line,” said Graves. “For our kids under five, it was 20% – just a little bit above that. That did stay consistent between ’22 and ’23, so we saw no change in the under five poverty rate.”

Graves noted that the annual report provides a comprehensive overview of child well-being in the state.

She said it tracks progress, comparing it with previous years and other states, and highlights areas for growth.

Graves said the report consistently reveals the high cost of infant center-based child care for families in Tennessee.

“The average market rate is $13,126, and so it’s very expensive for a lot of families,” said Graves. “That does make it more expensive than in state tuition for all but one of our state universities.”

Graves pointed out that Tennessee’s education system is showing progress, with T-CAP scores rebounding post-pandemic – though most students are still only “approaching” expectations.

She said teen mental health is still a serious concern, with nearly one in four high school students reporting thoughts of suicide.