Report: Illinois kids caught in 'budget crossfire'

CHICAGO (AP) — A children's advocacy organization says Illinois children have been caught in a "budget crossfire," hit hard by a recession that left one in five of them living in poverty in 2010.

Voices for Illinois Children released its Illinois Kids Count 2012 report Thursday.

The report says the state's budget crisis is undermining gains made for young people, including cuts to investments in early childhood education and after-school programs.

The state also has wide racial disparities in terms of family income and academic achievement. African Americans and Latinos have the highest child poverty rates and lower educational achievement.

One bright spot was that Illinois has expanded health insurance coverage for children through Medicaid and other programs. Fewer than 5 percent of Illinois children lacked health insurance in 2010.