Kids Count Report Advocates More Education

Wyoming children need more education about alcohol, drugs and sex. That’s according to Marc Homer of the Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance.

The group released a study last week which found that children in Wyoming are faring worse than they were a decade ago. The report considered factors such as teen alcohol use, child and infant mortality rates, the number of children qualifying for free meals at school, and availability of prenatal care for expectant mothers.

Homer says part of the solution is to warn kids about substance abuse.

“We also know that there should be education about teen pregnancy and birth control,” he said.

Homer added that some parts of the state need better access to quality child care.

He says making communities better for children doesn’t have to be expensive, and that kids in some of Wyoming’s wealthier counties aren’t doing any better than kids in poorer areas.