Children in Utah are safer and healthier than kids in most other states.

The annual "Kids Count" report on the overall health and welfare of America's children was released today.

The statistics show Utah ranks high in the overall well-being of children, but if you look closer, the study shows a disturbing trend.

News Specialist Lisa Conley has details.

If you look at the numbers compared to other states, it looks like kids are faring pretty well in Utah. But compared to our own statistics from last year, we're just not measuring up.

The rest of the nation is improving in several areas of child well being, but Utah is lagging behind, with numbers slipping in some important categories.

Terry Haven/Utah Kids Count Coordinator: "OUR PRIORITIES ARE JUST REALLY NOT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. AND WE REALLY NEED TO BE ASKING THE QUESTION, 'HOW ARE OUR CHILDREN?'"

In some ways, not well.

In Utah, the death rate for all children is up. So is the teen death rate, and number of teens getting pregnant.

There is also an increase in the rate of kids not attending school or working.

Also up are the number of children living in poverty--82,000 of them to be exact. That's 12% of our families.

Child advocates say policy and priorities have to change.

Terry Haven: "IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON ROADS THAN ON OUR CHILDREN, THEN GIVE ME A GOOD REASON WHY. AND YOU'D BETTER BE ABLE TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES WHEN THAT HAPPENS."

The kids in the most trouble are those who live beneath the poverty line.

Ashley is the mother of two young children and expecting a third. Her husband works while she stays with the kids.

Every day is a struggle to keep their heads above water.

They make less than $16,000 a year. And for a family of four in Utah, that's poverty.

Child advocates say there are a number of social programs that can benefit families like the Allreds, but for now, they are generally underfunded.