20/20
Home > 20/20

Meet the Children of the Mountains

Children in Central Appalachia struggle to overcome poverty, family struggles.

Inside a Hidden America

Photo: Isolated pockets in Central Appalachia have three times the national poverty rate, an epidemic of prescription drug abuse and the shortest life span in the nation. Diane Sawyer reports.
Photo: Courtney, 12, has two dreams: a house for her family and boots with a little fake fur worn by children she's seen on TV.
Photo: Angel, shown here with her daughter Mary, used to be addicted to drugs and would disappear for days at a time.
Photo: Courtney and her sister Sable live in Appalachia.
Photo: Dr. Edwin Smith's mobile dental clinic.
Photo: Shawn Grim, 18, is the star running-back for the Johnson Central Golden Eagles.
Photo: Shawn in the doorway of his family's trailer in Flat Gap, Ky.
Photo: Shawn's family's hollow.
Photo: Erica, 11, lives in Appalachia.
Photo: Erica, 12, and Diane Sawyer.
Photo: Erica cries after social services forces her mother, Mona, into rehab.
Photo: 18-year-old Jeremy decided to become a coal miner.
Photo: Jeremy shows Diane Sawyer the work he has to do underground
Photo: Diane Sawyer meets up with a group of miners working three-and-a-half miles inside the belly of the mountain.
Photo: Diane Sawyer is shown here with one of the many children of the mountains.
Photo: Diane Sawyer meets up with a group of miners working three-and-a-half miles inside the belly of the mountain.
Diane Sawyer meets up with a group of miners working three-and-a-half miles inside the belly of the mountain. Even though there are dangers, the job pays a good wage. Still, one man conceded that he wouldn't want his children to become miners. (ABC News)
Slideshows
ABC News on Facebook
ABCNews.com
External links are provided for reference purposes. ABC News is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. Copyright © 2013 ABC News Internet Ventures. Yahoo! - ABC News Network
Back to top

Sections

Shows

Tools

About