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School Board Journal
May / June, 1996

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Life is harder for children today: Survey

Most believe that the problems are the result of parents failing to take full responsibility for raising their children properly. And, most believe that teachers and schools are doing more to help children at risk than any other group, including families. On a list of those perceived as helping children at risk, schools and teachers ranked first, listed by 84 percent as doing a lot, or doing something, to help. Schools ranked higher than charities, parents, churches, and government, among others.

In light of those findings, it's not surprising that education ranks at the top of the agenda for 83 percent of respondents, tying with crime and violence prevention.

The random telephone survey of 854 Illinois adults, commissioned by The Chicago Community Trust, shows that more than 40 percent of Illinoisans believe that nearly one-fourth of the children in their communities are "at risk" of failing to become successful members of society as adults. Nearly a fourth of those surveyed say half or more of the children in their communities are at risk. In Chicago, 58 percent of those surveyed think half or more of the community's children are at risk.

To ensure a bipartisan approach, two independent public opinion research firms one Democratic and one Republican undertook the research jointly.

Those responding to the survey say that helping at-risk children is near the top of the list of issues the state needs to address, ranking closely behind improving education and fighting crime and violence. Helping at risk children ranked third in importance on a list of eight issues facing the state, higher than such concerns as controlling taxes and government spending and reducing unemployment.

Concern, hope

Although they're concerned, most people have not lost hope. Some 65 percent did not agree with the statement: "No matter what the government and society try to do, the problems of families and children at risk are too big to be solved." Only 26 percent agreed with that statement.

"Throughout the state, Illinoisans are saying they expect a great many young people in their communities to face a daunting series of challenges. While some regional variations occur, the similarities are more notable than are the differences," the researchers say. "The problems of drugs, pregnancy, violence, inadequate education and lack of parental support, in fact, have little respect for geographic boundaries or socioeconomic status."

The survey defines children at risk as "young people who face poverty, child abuse, malnutrition or other serious problems and therefore may not be able to grow up healthy and be successful as adult members of society."

Survey findings

Highlights of the survey findings include the following:

• People perceive the problems facing children and youth in Illinois as serious, extensive and pervasive, touching all communities.

• A sizable constituency of adults is committed to addressing the problems facing children at risk in Illinois. Overall, one in four Illinoisans regards helping children at risk as an "absolutely top priority." And, more than 60 percent believe that children, youth and families who are at risk should get a lot of help (18 percent) or as much help as possible (44 percent) from government and society. Just over one in three would provide some, very little or no help.

• Some 57 percent of the respondents statewide believe the problems confronting children at risk are the result of the failure of too many parents to take full responsibility for raising their children properly, rather than the result of poverty, unemployment, and other social factors beyond parents' control. In the Cook County suburbs, 64 percent blame the parents. Nearly 70 percent would focus funding and programs to help the entire family unit rather than solely on the children.

• The public holds charities and nonprofit agencies in high regard and clearly favors programs for at-risk children and families that are run by private nonprofit organizations over those administered by government agencies. Nearly three-fourths think private groups should run programs for children at risk; only 20 percent think government agencies should.

• An overwhelming 82 percent of those surveyed think it's a good idea for government to provide funds to charities and nonprofit social service agencies working with children and families. However, 46 percent said they did know that the government already provides funding to such agencies to run programs such as foster care and child care. This, the researchers say, "suggests that many people may not be aware that cuts in government spending on social welfare programs affect not only the programs that are government-run but those that are administered by private agencies as well."

• When asked to rate arguments for and against helping children and families at risk, 92 percent agreed with the statement: "Stepping in early when kids are young helps prevent problems that are more difficult to deal with when they get older, such as dropping out of school or getting involved in crime." Nearly 60 percent said it's most important to focus available money and other resources on children aged ten or younger.