AUGUSTA (AP) – Advocates for children Tuesday released an annual data book known as Maine Kids Count, noting areas where the state ranks positively in terms of children’s well-being and areas of continuing concern.

The new publication was hailed as a useful policy tool by Gov. John Baldacci, Attorney General Steven Rowe, Senate President Beth Edmonds and House Speaker John Richardson.

According to the annual report, most current data show that Maine’s maternal and child health indicators continue to top national averages, with births to single mothers on the decline, prenatal care and immunizations high, and low birthweight births and infant mortality low.

Data in the report in places dates back some time.

The report pegged the proportion of Maine children living in low-income families at about two out of five – 107,000 children – and said the number of children under the age of 5 living in poverty has been increasing – 18 percent of children under 5 in 2002 – in a state where one-third of all jobs fail to pay what advocates describe as a livable wage.

With expansion of health insurance a focus of state government, the report found that the percent of Maine children without health insurance has stayed around 7 percent. Of an estimated 21,000 children 18 and younger uninsured, the report said a majority – 12,000 – are eligible for MaineCare, the federal-state Medicaid program.

The report was issued by the Maine Children’s Alliance. Alliance President Elinor Goldberg said in a statement that there has been “significant progress” on maternal and child health in Maine that should encourage further efforts on other challenges.

The report noted, for instance, that Maine’s child and teen suicide rate has run higher than the national rate.

“Ensuring that all Maine children have equal opportunity to live full and healthy lives is absolutely possible, but will take responsible planning today and requires the commitment of all of us,” said report author Lynn Davey.