by KYW’s Dr. Marciene Mattleman

A new report from the Foundation for Child Development predicts that this year, as a result of the recession, more kids will have two unemployed parents and more will live in poverty.

Fewer teenagers will find jobs; more kids will commit suicide, be overweight and be victims of crime and half a million kids could become homeless.

It’s believed that these children may experience a decline in fortunes erasing 30 years of social progress. With fewer kids enrolled in prekindergarten programs, reading and math scores might be lower when they enter 4th grade and school resources will be fewer.

Already American children were last or close to last in terms of safety, health and family relationships compared with 20 other developed countries.

These dire statistics have brought forth many comments, one of which by Sanders Korenman, a professor of public policy at Baruch College, that there are not enough data to know how much kids will suffer. Regardless, it’s the perfect time for universities and communities to start to work together to avoid some of the harsh would-be outcomes.