ATLANTA, Aug. 23, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Southern Institute on Children and Families:
What: News conference
When: Tuesday, August 24, 2004
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET
Where: CNN Meeting Room 5
Omni Hotel at CNN Center
Atlanta
Why: Compendium of research about life for children
in the South will be unveiled.
Who: Media may attend in person or listen to the press conference
by calling 1-800-595-5351 and entering conference ID number
9639499.
Children in the South continue to suffer from poverty, child abuse and poor educational performance at a rate significantly worse than other regions, according to a new compendium of research which will be unveiled Tuesday.
Some 5.2 million Southern children are growing up poor, and Southern children are also more likely to die from abuse and neglect, lack basic reading skills or lack child health coverage and child care, according to the 2004 Chartbook of Major Indicators: Conditions Placing Children in the South at Risk. The full report will be released by the Southern Institute on Children and Families at a news conference tomorrow in Atlanta.
The Southern Institute compiles information and develops strategies to engage the Southern business community in local, state, regional and national efforts to improve opportunities for children in the South. The involvement of business leaders around the issues presented in the 2004 Chartbook elevates the goal of improving the well-being of children and establishes a strong connection to the strategic economic growth and development of the Southern region.
The Southern Institute established the Southern Business Leadership Council in 2002 to facilitate business involvement and leadership in addressing issues that restrict opportunities for lower-income children and families in the South.
Identifying and implementing strategies to improve the productivity and stability of the lower-income workforce is a special focus for the Southern Business Leadership Council. The work of the SBLC will foster a deeper understanding and joint purpose in achieving public and private actions to better support today's workforce of lower-income parents and enhance the potential of tomorrow's workforce through expanded opportunities for child development.
The Southern Institute, funded through grants and contributions, educates through research of policies, systems and practices and directs national programs consistent with its mission, which is to generate greater awareness and equip community and business leaders and policymakers with knowledge to make informed decisions.
The states included in the work of the Southern Institute on Children and Families are: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
A PDF of the 2004 Chartbook and the press conference presentation slides may be downloaded at www.thesoutherninstitute.org
For more information on the Southern Institute on Children & Families: www.thesoutherninstitute.org
If interested in attending this event or for more information, including the complete press release, please contact:
Jamie Schaff Hayslett Group 770-522-8855 jschaff@hayslettgroup.com