by Mid-Hudson News Staff

MONTICELLO – Sullivan County has the third highest barriers to well-being in the state, according to a report released this week by the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York (CCC).

The CCC’s new “The Road to Equity: Child & Family Well-being in New York State” examined county-level data on economic security, housing stability, health care, education, youth, and communities. In CCC’s index ranking of counties in the state, Sullivan County ranks third out of 62 on a scale where one denotes the greatest barriers to well-being and 62 denotes the fewest barriers.

Neighboring Orange County ranks 38^th and Ulster County is 45^th.

“Across New York, far too many families are already struggling with economic and housing insecurity, and the growing economic uncertainty at the national level threatens to worsen these challenges,” said Rimsha Khan, author of the report and Senior Research Specialist of Data Systems at CCC. “Our Child and Family Well-being in New York State index not only highlights the regional disparities preventing family well-being but also emphasizes the critical need for strengthening safety nets and investing in solutions that promote long-term equitable economic security for all families.”

Sullivan County’s high ranking for barriers is driven primarily by education and youth well-being indicators. The high school graduation rate for students in Sullivan County is 76 percent compared to the state average of 85 percent. Per the CCC report, Sullivan County also has above-average barriers to youth well-being, as measured by the share of disconnected teens ages 16-19 (not working or in school) as well as a high teen birth rate.