More single
parents, lower quality
of kids’ lives

Hawaii's standing slips in
a national study that ranks
children's well-being

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

The growing number of single parents has lowered Hawaii's ranking for children's well-being from 13th to 16th place, according to a national study.

Officials said the 24 percent increase of single parents from 1990 to 1998 is due primarily to unmarried pregnancies.

"It's more acceptable to have a single-parent household than in the past," Loretta Fuddy, chief of the Family Health Services Division of the state Department of Health. "In some ways, people are not rushing into a marriage simply because of the birth of a child."

Other indicators contributing to Hawaii's lower ranking is the increased percentage of low-birth-weight babies, infant mortality, children living with parents who are not employed full time year-round, and children's families living below the poverty line.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation released its 12th annual Kids Count Data Book today. It is based on a sample size of 60,000 respondents nationwide who participated in a population survey maintained by the U.S. Bureau Labor of Statistics.

One of the 10 studied areas was single parents who had children below the age of 18.

Nationwide the percentage of families with children headed by a single parent increased to 27 percent in 1998 from 24 percent in 1990. Hawaii's single parents increased to 26 percent in 1998 from 21 percent in 1990.

The 2000 Census shows large numbers of single mothers with children under the age of 18 in Makaha Valley. Other areas include Nanawale Estates and Mountain View, Hawaii.

Although there is an increased number of single mothers in Hawaii, more single fathers are heading the household than in the past, Fuddy said.

Patty Johnson, director for program services for Child & Family Services, said some single parents separate from their partner for reasons such as substance abuse or domestic violence. In these situations it is difficult for the mother to tend to her child's needs, said Johnson.

"They make a decision to strike out on their own to protect their young one." Although the study reflects the increased number of single parents, Johnson said, "We see this as a strength ... putting the safety of their child first."

However, single parents tend to experience a greater amount of stress than families with two parents. Possible factors such as income, child care and stricter welfare regulations attribute to the strain of raising a child by themselves.

"It's always stressful for someone to raise a child on their own," she said. Johnson pointed out that a number of extended families living in the same household in Hawaii offer a huge amount of family support for single parents compared with the mainland.

Marcia Hartsock, project coordinator for Kids Count at the University of Hawaii Center of Family, said: "In the old days it was a matter of shame when a young woman gets pregnant. Then we kind of swung the pendulum. ... Anything goes."

But Hartsock said: "I do feel strongly that men and women do bring different things to the household. One person can't be everything to another."

"Our needs are complex," she said.

Problems Major problems affecting children in Hawaii from 1990 to 1998: >> Low-birth-weight babies increased to 7.5 percent from 7.1 percent. >> The infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) increased to 6.9 percent from 6.7 percent. >> The percentage of children living with parents who do not have full-time year-round employment increased to 28 percent from 25 percent. Improvements Major improvements affecting children in Hawaii from 1990 to 1998: >> High school dropouts (ages 16-19) have decreased to 5 percent from 7 percent. The low percentage of dropouts throughout the state ranked Hawaii No. 1 along with North Dakota and Wisconsin. >> Hawaii's teen birth rate (births per 1,000 females aged 15-17) has decreased to 30 percent from 32 percent, mirroring the national percentage. >> The child death rate (deaths per 100,000 children ages 1-14) has decreased to 18 percent from 26 percent. >> Teen deaths by accident, homicide and suicide (deaths per 100,000 teens ages 15-17) has decreased to 38 percent from 51 percent.