Report Reveals How Cannon Kids Count

Some interesting and encouraging information about kids in Cannon County, and the county in general, can be found in a report released recently by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth.

For instance, Cannon County had zero infant and child deaths in 2006 and 2007, no teenagers with sexually transmitted diseases during those years, and no school explusions, according to data included in the “Kids Count -- the State of the Child in Tennessee” report.

Parts of the information revealed in the report, and on the Kids Count web site, is not all positive for the county. The number of dentists dropped from four in 2006 to two the following year, and the number of doctors from nine to six during those years.

One statistic some might view as surprising is the number of Hispanics under 18 in Cannon County outnumbers the Black / African American population.

Following is a list of the major data on Cannon County contained in the report:

• Total Population -- 13, 555 in 2006, 13,595 in 2007

• Population Under Age 18 -- 3, 430 in 2006, 3,129 in 2007

• Total Hispanic Population -- 262, 257

• Hispanic Population Under Age 18 -- 74 in 2006, 82 in 2007

• White Population Under Age 18 -- 2, 949 in 2006, 3,067 in 2007

• Black/ African American Population Under Age 18 -- 50 in 2006, 59 in 2007

• Asian/ Pacific Islander Population Under Age 18 -- 3 in 2006, 8 in 2007

• American Indian/ Alaskan Native Population Under Age 18 -- 6 in 2006, 9 in 2007

• Number of Unemployed Youth -- 30 in 2006, 8.3 percent of youth ages 16-19 as a percent of labor force.

• Recorded Marriages -- 115 in 2006.

• Recorded Divorces -- 52 in 2006.

• Births to Unmarried Females -- 65 in 2006, 40.6 percent of total live births

• Birth to Teens -- Nine in 2006, 31.6 percent. (This indicator includes 15-17 year-olds who gave birth in calendar year 2006, regardless of birth outcome. The rates are per 1,000 females in the specified age group.)

• Per Capita Personal Income -- $27, 596 in 2006, up from 26,465 in 2005.

• Median Housing Cost -- $112,100 in 2006.

• Fair Market Rent -- $899 in 2007, for three-bedroom existing housing units.

• Low Birthweight Babies (Live born babies weighing less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds or 5 lbs., 8 oz.) as a percent of total live births. Data reflect a given calendar year.) -- Cannon 15, 9.4.

• Number of Babies Born -- 156 in 2006, 172 in 2007

• Number of Infant Deaths -- zero in 2006 and 2007

• Number of Child Deaths -- zero in 2006 and 2007

• Number of Teen Violent Deaths -- Two in 2006, one in 2007

• Number of Babies Born -- 156 in 2006, 172 in 2007

• Percent of Babies Born That Received Adequate Prenatal Care -- 62.8 percent in 2006, 59.9 percent in 2007

• Number of Dentists -- 4 in 2006, two in 2007

• Dentists Per 100,000 -- 29.8 percent in 2006, 14.8 percent in 2007

• Number of Teens with STDs -- none in 2006 or 2007

• Number of Medical Doctors -- nine in 2006, six in 2007

• Medical Doctors Per 100,000 -- 67.0 percent in 2006, 44.3 percent in 2007

• Number of Substantiated Child Abuse/Neglect Cases -- 30 in 2006, 10 in 2007

• Substantiated Child Abuse/Neglect Rate -- 8.7 in 2006, 3.2 in 2007

• Children on Families First -- 159 in 2006

• Number of Reported Child Abuse Cases -- 155 in 2006, 4.5 percent of the 0-17 year age population statewide.

• Number of Juvenile Court Referrals -- 177 in 2006, 5.2 percent of the 0-17 population statewide.

• Number of Youth Committed to State Custody -- 15 in 2006, 19 in 2007

• Number of Youth Remaining in State Custody -- 25 in 2006, 16 in 2007

• Children Under Age 6 in WIC -- 250 in 2006, 22.9 percent. The rate is the percent of 0-5 year old population.

• Total Food Stamps -- 2, 918, representing 21.5 percent of population

• Children Receiving Food Stamps -- 829 in 2006, 24.2 percent of 0-17 year age group

• Regulated Child Care Spaces -- 329 in 2006

• Event Dropouts -- 26 in 2006, 3.3 percent. The number of students younger than 18 who drop out of school during grades 9 to 12. The rate is a percent of 9 to 12 grade net enrollment. Data are for school year 2006-07.

• School Expulsions -- none in 2006-07. School year 2006-07 data reflect number of expulsions for school-age population. The rate is per 1,000 net school enrollments.

• School-Age Special Education -- 312 in 2006-07, 13.1 percent. This indicator shows 6 to 21 year old public school students who were eligible for special education services as of December 2006. The rate is the percent of net enrollment for the same year. Children classified as gifted or as having a functional delay are not included in the numbers. Special state schools are not included in data.

• Free & Reduced Lunch Participation -- 801