CARBONDALE - Four of Southern Illinois most populated counties - Jackson, Williamson, Perry and Franklin - far exceed the state's child poverty rate, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics.

That fact and other grim numbers were talked about Thursday during an Illinois Kids Count 2012 News Conference at The Women's Center.

"It's a wakeup call," said Jo Poshard, a conference speaker known for her work with Poshard Foundation for Abused Children.

According to statistics compiled for Illinois Kids Count 2012 and Voices for Illinois Children, the state's child poverty rate at 19 percent is surpassed by child poverty rates in Jackson County at 33 percent; Williamson County at 26 percent; Perry County at 24 percent; and Franklin County at 29 percent during 2009 and 2010.

"It's a difficult time to be a child. Children are caught in the crossfire," Poshard said as she explained diminished funding for assistance to children because of the state budget crises.

An example of state funding cuts in light of serious children issues are cuts to mental health programs designed for Illinois public school children. Recent surveys conducted of the public school children show 15 percent have contemplated suicide while 9 percent had attempted it, Poshard said.

Joining Poshard and Women's Center executive director Cathy McClanahan in the news conference was Stephen Schauwecker, executive vice president at First Southern Bank and Catherine Mitchell of Carbondale, a mother of four children who have received help from state-funded assistance programs.

"The voices report is an eye-opener and a challenge to our community. I think we're up to the challenge. We need to put out the word that we need help," Schauwecker said about the need for community involvement.

Mitchell said child programs at local community centers where she enrolled her children were important to their development. Such programs include I Can Read!, where her children enrolled at Eurma C. Hayes Center.

"Everyone needs to get on track with this," she said about the importance of getting information out.

Illinois Kids Count is a state-level project funded through a private foundation. It provides annual data to policy makers, the Illinois State Board of Education, other agencies and the public.

scott.fitzgerald@thesouthern.com

618-351-5076