Bledsoe

TCCY Index Rank 88

Child Population by Race/Ethnicity

HEALTH Low birth-

weight
White, Including
Hispanic 94.4% babies

Black, Including Hispanic 4.1% 8.00%

Native American/Alaskan 0.6%

Asian/Pacific Islander
Rank: 85 Rank: 22
0.9%
Children Child and
Hispanic, All Races 4.5% without teen
health insurance deaths

5.00% 45
per
100,000
ECONOMIC Rank: 92 Rank: 81
WELL-BEING
Rank: 67
FAMILY and
Child
Poverty 33.30% COMMUNITY
86
Rank: 89
Rank:

School Teen pregnancy

Median
14.3
suspension per
Household
Income $37,530 rate
Rank: 61
1,000
Rank: 74
4.10% Substantiated

$727
Fair Market Abuse and Neglect
per
Rent
Rank: 1
Rank: 62 11.1 1,000
Rank: 92

EDUCATION 27.10% 26.80% 87.90%

Rank: 84
Third to eighth Third to eighth High school
grade reading grade math graduation rate
proficiency proficiency

Rank: 76 Rank: 81 Rank: 79

 Bledsoe County
Bledsoe County
Demographics Tennessee
County Rate as a
percentage of
County
Rate Rank
Number Rate State Rate
Total population (state comparison is number not rate) 14,675 NA 6,651,120 0.2% 78
Population under 18 years of age 2,349 16.0% 22.5% 71.3% 94
Bledsoe County
Economic Well-Being Tennessee
County Rate as a
percentage of
County
Rate Rank
Number Rate State Rate
Youth unemployment 20 14.3% 15.5% 92.3% 38
Per capita personal income (state is dollars not rate) $20,353 NA $43,326 47.0% 95
Children receiving Families First grants (TANF) 164 7.0% 3.8% 185.4% 93
Children receiving SNAP 1,146 48.9% 32.3% 151.4% 91
Children under five receiving WIC 347 56.4% 33.7% 167.6% 80
Bledsoe County
Education Tennessee
County Rate as a
percentage of
County
Rate Rank
Number Rate State Rate
School age special education services 297 16.9% 11.9% 141.7% 91
TEIS participation (per 1,000 in age group) 5 13.37 20.6 64.9% 12
Cohort high school dropouts 2 1.4% 5.6% 25.0% 14
Event high school dropouts 10 1.6% 2.7% 59.3% 63
Economically disadvantaged students 792 45.8% 35.7% 128.2% 82
School expulsions (per 1,000 students) 0 0.0 2.0 0.0% 1
Chronic absenteeism 355 17.9% 15.8% 113.3% 71
Bledsoe County
Health Tennessee
County Rate as a
percentage of
County
Rate Rank
Number Rate State Rate
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (per 1,000 live births) 2 14.49 13.2 109.6% 51
Births to mothers who smoked during pregnancy 43 31.2% 13.4% 232.8% 91
Children on TennCare (Medicaid) 1,903 67.1% 51.7% 129.8% 83
Total TennCare (Medicaid) enrollees 3,460 23.6% 23.4% 100.6% 32
Births covered by TennCare (Medicaid) 107 77.5% 52.9% 146.6% 86
Children qualified for Medicaid/CHIP but uninsured 90 5.5% 4.7% 117.0% 83
Infant mortality (per 1,000 live births) 1 7.20 7.4 97.3% 47
Neonatal death (per 1,000 live births) 1 7.20 4.2 171.4% 79
Child deaths (per 100,000 children age 1 to 14) 1 57.10 21.8 261.9% 87
Teen violent deaths (per 100,000 children age 15 to 19) 0 0.00 50.5 0.0% 1
Adequate prenatal care 85 61.6% 52.4% 117.6% 31
Children under age six screened for lead poisoning 143 19.5% 18.5% 105.1% 44
Public school students measured as overweight/obese NA 40.5% 38.4% 105.5% 33
Teens with STDs (per 1,000 children age 15 to 17) <5 0.0 16.0 0.0% 1
Medical doctors by county (per 100,000 residents) 2 13.6 240.0 5.7% 90
Dentists by county (per 100,000 residents) 2 13.6 49.3 27.6% 78
Bledsoe County
Family & Community Tennessee
County Rate as a
percentage of
County
Rate Rank
Number Rate State Rate
Reported child abuse cases 212 9.0% 4.9% 183.7% 95
Commitment to state custody (per 1,000 children) 19 7.1 3.8 186.8% 74
Remaining in state custody (per 1,000 children) 19 7.1 4.8 147.9% 65
Juvenile court referrals 84 3.6% 4.5% 80.0% 31
Recorded marriages (per 1,000 residents) 87 5.9 8.6 68.6% 73
Recorded divorces (per 1,000 residents) 58 4.0 3.8 105.3% 47
Births to unmarried females 65 47.1% 43.6% 108.0% 72
Regulated child care spaces (state is number not rate) 580 NA 381,686 0.2% 68
Bledsoe County

At 88th, Bledsoe County ranks near the bottom of Tennessee counties in child well-being.
Some of the county’s strongest rankings are for its low housing costs and its below average
rate of babies born at low birthweight. The county’s biggest challenges are its high rate of
substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect, it’s relatively high rate of children who lack
health insurance, and the fact that a third of its children live in poverty.

Among the county’s higher rankings are a low rate of school suspensions and a near
average rate of pregnancy among girls age 15 to 17.

Additional opportunities for improvement include a high child and teen death rate, a low
high school graduation rate, and comparatively low rates of 3rd to 8th grade students
demonstrating math and reading proficiency on TNReady tests.

Policy/Practice/Program Options to Improve Outcomes. Many of these policies have multiple

models for delivery, including public-private partnership and non-profit leadership.

• Two-generation programs such as evidence-based home visiting have been shown

to reduce instances of child abuse and neglect.
• Most uninsured children in Tennessee qualify for either TennCare or CoverKids, so
high rates of uninsured children can be improved with outreach to make sure
families are aware of these insurance opportunities. According to Census Bureau
estimates, Bledsoe County has about 90 children who qualify for these health
insurance programs but who nonetheless lack insurance.
• With a high rate of child poverty, improving outreach to those who may qualify to
receive SNAP and WIC benefits to be sure they are aware of these services can help
ensure basic needs are met. Additionally, nutrition programs that provide food for
school-age children to take home can contribute to food security. Expanding
services through Family Resource Centers can also help reach these vulnerable
populations.
• Increased access to pre-K can help both math and reading proficiency in later
grades. Early assessment of reading skills coupled with appropriate interventions
where needed can improve reading proficiency, while increasing STEM
opportunities in elementary and middle schools can help improve 3rd to 8th grade
math proficiency.