THE LEDGER-STAR
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 24, 1994 TAG: 9410240204
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
For the first time in three years, the pulse of America's social health is getting stronger.
The Index of Social Health, which tracks where the country stands on 16 key social problems, showed improvement in seven areas, including combatting high-school dropout rates, teen suicide and drug abuse.
``Improvements in these three categories have not occurred in the same year since the study began in 1970,'' said Dr. Marc Miringoff, director of the Fordham Institute for Innovation in Social Policy, which compiles the list.
``On the other hand, indicators such as child abuse and average weekly wages are at their worst recorded level.''
The latest index, released today, reflects conditions for 1992, the last year for which comprehensive statistics were available. For that year, the index registered at 41 out of 100, up two points from the previous year.
The social index uses statistics from the Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control, the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse, the National Center for Health Statistics, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Department of Labor, the American Association of Retired Persons, the FBI and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. ILLUSTRATION: U.S. SOCIAL HEALTH
IMPROVED:
Infant mortality
Teenage suicide
High school dropout rates
Drug abuse
Homicide
Food stamp coverage
Access to affordable housing
WORSE:
Child abuse
unemployment
Health insurance coverage
Average weekly earnings
Poverty among the elderly
Health costs for the elderly
The gap between the rich and the poor
UNCHANGED:
Traffic deaths
Children being raised in poverty
by CNB