These are all positive trends. The state slipped, however, in the percentage of low birthweight babies, rate of teen deaths, and percentage of families with children headed by a single parent, the report said. Every other state is trying to do things, too.
Nobody is satisfied where they are with their children.
State Rep. Carol Chumney, chairwoman of the House Children and Family Affairs Committee, said the report shows that kids are not the top priority in Tennessee. If we are 45th, then the well-being of children is not a top priority. Chumney said child care is not just a governmental issue, but a business issue as well. She said businesses can make a greater effort to provide benefit packages to workers that include a child-care component. O'Neal said the state's No. 1 need is more money for quality early childhood education.