More than 40 percent of black children are growing up poor, mostly in families headed by women.

But the picture is much worse for black families headed by women.

There were 1,605 families headed by single parents; the rate of 27.6% was considered high for both the city and the county.

A major reason, the study said, was the prevalence of families headed by single women.

In 2000 there were 590 families headed by single parents, or 20.3%, a rate that was high for the county and the city.

Many families headed by a single woman get little or no child support.

There were 1,980 families headed by single parents, 26.3% of the total, considered high for both the city and the county.

Among the families headed by women, some groups grew more than others.

But in families headed by workers at large companies with 1,000 or more employees, 81 percent have such coverage.

The 2000 census found 5,325 families headed by single parents, a high rate for both the city and the county.