The number of children living in poverty in Montana has gone down since 2010. So has the number of children without health insurance. That's according to the latest update to the 2018 KIDS COUNT report.
The 142-page report looks at health, education, and household income related to kids on a statewide and a county-by-county level. It shows trends in key demographics like the number of minors in state care, and the number of children who receive state and federal assistance.
According to the new report, 45 percent of children pre-k through 12th grade were enrolled in a free or reduced-price lunch program in 2017.
New data shows that the number of children without health insurance in Montana continues to decrease, down to five percent in 2016, compared 12 percent in 2012.
Montana KIDS COUNT, the non-profit that issuedthe report, is located at the University of Montana and funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
