LANSING, MI (AP)-- A report from an advocacy group says the number of Michigan children living in
poverty was up by 23 percent from 2006 to 2014 and that child poverty increased in 80 of the state's 83 counties.
The Kids Count in Michigan Data Book 2016 is being released Monday by the Michigan League for Public Policy, a Lansing-based nonpartisan policy institute.
The report also shows that the rate of child abuse and neglect was up 29 percent across Michigan from 2006 to 2014. It says that research shows poverty can expose children to lead and increase the likelihood of low birthweight, infant mortality, poor school performance and low graduation rates.
The federal government lists an annual income of $24,300 for a family of four as the poverty threshold.
