OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. — The Kids Count in Michigan Date Book has named Ottawa County the second best county in the state for a child’s well being.
The study looked at economic security, health, family and community and education in all 83 counties to determine the overall child well-being rankings.
Livingston, Ottawa , Clinton, Oakland and Washtenaw counties were the top in the state; whereas, Lake, Clare, Muskegon, Calhoun and Oceana counties were at the bottom for child well-being.
Kent County ranked 18th in the state and Kalamazoo County ranked 38th.
Ottawa County earned that second spot as the county experienced a 32.6 percent drop in children in poverty, a 52.4 percent decrease in children, ages 0-5, enrolled in a food assistance program, a 42.8 percent decrease in births to teens and a decrease in students not graduating on time.
Statewide the study revealed that in 2016 over 444,000 children were still living in poverty and during the 2016-17 school year more than 679,000 students received free or reduced-price school lunches.
Overall the study reported a 11.5 percent less children living in poverty statewide.
See how your county ranked in this statewide study.
