Kids Count Report So-So for Tennessee Children

A report from the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth shows the state has moved to help children in its custody...  but there's work still to do.

Recommendations in the Kids Count report released today include smoother transitions for children, like moving from one foster home to another, also increasing substance abuse treatment and mental health services.

State Senator Bo Watson says that's because dropout rates are closely measured.  "From the state level all the way down to the local level there's been a real push to reduce the number of dropouts because we know that if you drop out of high school your chance for individual prosperity is greatly diminished," he added Tuesday.

Kids Count also noted cuts in the percentage of youth who are neither in school or working.