What Life Really Looks Like

[Dave Roberts]

I have referenced what is happening in the communities along the Virginia/North Carolina border. This week, the director of the local Social Services Department provided some graphics that rattled my complacency. I hope they will touch yours as well.

Here are some of the highlights:
135 child abuse referrals
365 juvenile intakes
213 juvenile substance abuse arrests
10.5% of all adults have a college degree
Per capita income $18,500 (compared to a state average of $33,040)
Non-marital births 77.2%
Percentage living in poverty 21.7%
Child poverty rate 28.6%
Births without prenatal care 35.2%
Adults who completed high school 71.8% (Source: Independent Messenger 3/5/2014, pp. 1-2)

This is a common statistic all across the South, but it may help explain some of my concerns as I look into the future and some of the political things for which I see a necessity. Context says a lot.

[Haruo]

[Dave Roberts]

[Haruo]

Thanks. Yeah, for an American place of 21,000 people over the course of one year, 3,300 being prisoners (who I thought could get a degree while waiting for parole) and therefore less likely to give unprepared-for birth... it's pretty scary.

[Dave Roberts]

[Haruo]

Shoot, and I always figured if I got locked up at least I could go back to school...

[Dave Roberts]