Based on my research, I discovered that 27% percent of South Carolina’s children were poor in

2014. This is slightly higher Georgia’s poverty rate of 26%. South Carolina ranked 46th in child
poverty among states while Georgia ranked 44th. Children in South Carolina seem to be in more
poverty as compared to Georgia. However, in 2013, 89.8 percent of eligible children in South
Carolina participated in Healthy Connections or Healthy Connections Kids, South Carolina’s
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In Georgia, 85.2 percent of eligible children
participated in Medicaid or PeachCare for Kids. More children in South Carolina participated in
their state funding for children. South Carolina has a slight edge over Georgia when it comes to
funding for kids. In 2013, the average cost of center-based child care for an infant was $6,372 in
South Carolina. However, Georgia had an average annual cost of child care for an infant is
$7,025 in 2014. Although South Carolina’s kids cost slightly less, they are more in poverty as
compared to Georgia. South Carolina is ranked 46th in child poverty and the 89.8% percentage of
eligible children in funding suggests that South Carolina must provide more funding than
Georgia due to their larger percentage of poverty kids.

Two organizations that children in South Carolina should utilize are Children’s Trust of South
Carolina and United Way Association of South Carolina. Families in South Carolina should
access quality childcare by looking as soon as possible. If a family thinks that they may not be
able to financially provide for an expecting baby, they should begin searching for as many
options as possible. Next, the family needs to call organizations and visit the on-site organization
to ask any questions that may have. These childcare organizations are to help families and
provide for children. Lastly, families should access quality childcare by utilizing South
Carolina’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In 2012, 63,000 uninsured children ages
0-18 were eligible for the insurance program but did not utilize it. It is imperative that families
utilize any insurance program that can benefit children.