How Well Is Minnesota Protecting Children During COVID-19?

MINNESOTA— A new report looking at the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on children shows how kids in Minnesota are faring compared with the rest of the country.

The report from Save The Children looked at data from a bi-weekly survey administered by the U.S. Census, with the aim of understanding the impact on children and where they have been most and least protected during the pandemic.

The group says it looked at food scarcity, lack of access to remote learning tools and difficulty paying for household expenses.

“When a family can’t meet its regular expenses – including housing – it creates a level of stress and trauma that further threatens a child’s ability to thrive,” the report says.

Minnesota ranked among the top 5 best in the child protection rankings.

Data from the end of 2020 shows that in Minnesota:

13.2 percent of children did not have enough to eat
5.5 percent of children had inadequate tools for remote learning
40.3 percent of families had difficulty paying the bills

Despite the rankings, the report notes that families in every state and at all income levels are suffering with poorer families struggling the most.

“Estimates suggest families making less than $25,000 per year are about 15 times as likely to struggle with hunger as families making $200,000 or more per year,” the report says. “Their children are 4 times as likely to lack internet for remote learning and to have no live contact with teachers.”

Black and Hispanic families are twice as likely to struggle with food insecurity compared to white families, the report says. It also says these families are 1.5 times more likely to have difficulty paying bills and lack access to tools for remote learning.These communities are also more likely to be affected by unemployment and school closures, according to the report.

Nationally, the report found:

• 17 million children don’t have enough to eat
• At least one out of every four children does not have the tools needed for distance learning
• Across the country, 69 percent of families are struggling with making ends meet

Read the full report here.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimated that in 2020, more than 50 million Americans would not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.