More children living in North Carolina are now covered by health insurance. That's one of the positive findings in the annual health report card issued today by NC Child.
The group says teen pregnancy rates are falling, which is also good news.
But NC Child’s Director of Policy Rob Thompson says the emergence of e-cigarettes is a growing problem.
“We're also seeing continuing challenges with obesity with over one third of children between 10 and 17 either obese or overweight and lastly, child poverty which has a significant impact on health outcomes for kids.”
Thompson says increased poverty means more kids are eligible for public health insurance programs like Medicaid and Health Choice.
It's the twentieth year the organization has rated the well-being of kids in North Carolina.