Civic Groups List Threats to Children

Grinding poverty, violent crime and absent parents are some of the gravest threats facing American children, according to a new report by children’s advocacy groups and civic organizations.

“The problems confronting our children truly are challenges to all of America,” said Mary Ellen Maxwell, president of the National School Boards Assn. “Either we meet these challenges or they will become obstacles to our future.”

The report is the result of combined efforts of the school board group; the National League of Cities; Hollywood, Fla.-based Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital; and Youth Crime Watch of America, a national nonprofit organization.

The report--”Ten Critical Threats To America’s Children: Warning Signs for the Next Millennium”--will be presented today during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington.

Among other critical threats listed against the nation’s children are abuse and neglect at home, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, inadequate child care, lack of health care, poor schools and dangers in the environment.

For each problem detailed in the document, there is an accompanying list of solutions.

Some prescribed in the report--like raising the minimum wage and universal health care--are potential political hot-button issues.

Ron Sachs, spokesman for the coalition that put together the report, said its purpose is to bring awareness to the problems, not to advance specific legislation.

“What these groups have done is to say there needs to be a national agenda on children’s issues,” Sachs said. “These problems . . . are chronic; they are pervasive.”