The last decade has seen an alarming increase in the number of Colorado children living in poverty, according to a study released Tuesday by the nonpartisan, nonprofit Colorado Children's Campaign. While the study finds an 85 percent rise in the number of poor children from 2000 to 2007, the study's authors warn "[t]he current economic downturn will exacerbate what already are troubling trends in Colorado -- namely, that too many children in the state live in poverty and these numbers are growing rapidly."