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The Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics' primary mission is to enhance data collection and reporting on children and families. "America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2015" provides the Nation with a summary of national indicators of children's well-being and monitors changes in these indicators. The reasons for this report are to: (1) improve reporting of Federal data on children and families; (2) make these data available in an easy-to-use, non technical format; (3) stimulate discussions among policymakers and the public; (4) and spur exchanges between the statistical and policy communities. There are many interrelated aspects of children's well-being, and only selected facets can be included in this report. This report draws on various overarching frameworks to identify seven major domains that characterize the well-being of a child and influence the likelihood that a child will grow to be a well-educated, economically secure, productive, and healthy adult. The seven domains are: (1) family and social environment; (2) economic circumstances; (3) health care; (4) physical environment and safety; (5) behavior; (6) education; and (7) health. These domains are interrelated and can have synergistic effects on well-being. Each section of the report corresponds to one of the seven domains and includes a set of key indicators. These indicators either characterize an aspect of well-being or an influence on well-being. Appended are: (1) Detailed Tables; and (2) Data Source Descriptions. [This report was written by the staff of the Forum, including Traci Cook, Forum Coordinator; Rebecca Chenevert and Jonathan Vespa, Census Bureau; Patricia Pastor, LaJeana Hawkins, and Katherine Ahrens, National Center for Health Statistics; Grace Kena and Lauren Musu-Gillette, National Center for Education Statistics; Matthew Davis, Environmental Protection Agency; Barry Steffen, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Barbara Oudekerk and Rachel Morgan, Bureau of Justice Statistics; Meena Karithanom, National Institute on Drug Abuse; Mary Mueggenborg, Administration for Children and Families; Alisha Coleman-Jensen and Matthew Rabbitt, Economic Research Service; Lisa Williamson, Bureau of Labor Statistics; Shelli Avenevoli, National Institute of Mental Health; James Singleton and Cindi Knighton, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Beth Han, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; and Hazel Hiza, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.]

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) serves as the foundation of America's national nutrition safety net. It is the nation's first line of defense against food insecurity and offers a powerful tool to improve nutrition among low-income individuals. SNAP is the largest of the 15 domestic food and nutrition assistance programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). This report describes the characteristics of SNAP households and participants nationwide in fiscal year 2012 (October 2011 through September 2012). It also presents an overview of SNAP eligibility requirements and benefit levels in fiscal year 2012. The appendices provide detailed tabulations of household and participant characteristics for the nation and by State, as well as a brief description of the sample design and the sampling error associated with the estimates presented in the report.

Problem/Condition: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication and by restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Symptoms typically are apparent before age 3 years. The complex nature of these disorders, coupled with a lack of biologic markers for diagnosis and changes in clinical definitions over time, creates challenges in monitoring the prevalence of ASDs. Accurate reporting of data is essential to understand the prevalence of ASDs in the population and can help direct research. Period Covered: 2008. Description of System: The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is an active surveillance system that estimates the prevalence of ASDs and describes other characteristics among children aged 8 years whose parents or guardians reside within 14 ADDM sites in the United States. ADDM does not rely on professional or family reporting of an existing ASD diagnosis or classification to ascertain case status. Instead, information is obtained from children's evaluation records to determine the presence of ASD symptoms at any time from birth through the end of the year when the child reaches age 8 years. ADDM focuses on children aged 8 years because a baseline study conducted by CDC demonstrated that this is the age of identified peak prevalence. A child is included as meeting the surveillance case definition for an ASD if he or she displays behaviors (as described on a comprehensive evaluation completed by a qualified professional) consistent with the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) diagnostic criteria for any of the following conditions: Autistic Disorder; Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS, including Atypical Autism); or Asperger Disorder. The first phase of the ADDM methodology involves screening and abstraction of comprehensive evaluations completed by professional providers at multiple data sources in the community. Multiple data sources are included, ranging from general pediatric health clinics to specialized programs for children with developmental disabilities. In addition, many ADDM sites also review and abstract records of children receiving special education services in public schools. In the second phase of the study, all abstracted evaluations are reviewed by trained clinicians to determine ASD case status. Because the case definition and surveillance methods have remained consistent across all ADDM surveillance years to date, comparisons to results for earlier surveillance years can be made. This report provides updated ASD prevalence estimates from the 2008 surveillance year, representing 14 ADDM areas in the United States. In addition to prevalence estimates, characteristics of the population of children with ASDs are described, as well as detailed comparisons of the 2008 surveillance year findings with those for the 2002 and 2006 surveillance years. Results: For 2008, the overall estimated prevalence of ASDs among the 14 ADDM sites was 11.3 per 1,000 (one in 88) children aged 8 years who were living in these communities during 2008. Overall ASD prevalence estimates varied widely across all sites (range: 4.8-21.2 per 1,000 children aged 8 years). ASD prevalence estimates also varied widely by sex and by racial/ethnic group. Approximately one in 54 boys and one in 252 girls living in the ADDM Network communities were identified as having ASDs. Comparison of 2008 findings with those for earlier surveillance years indicated an increase in estimated ASD prevalence of 23% when the 2008 data were compared with the data for 2006 (from 9.0 per 1,000 children aged 8 years in 2006 to 11.0 in 2008 for the 11 sites that provided data for both surveillance years) and an estimated increase of 78% when the 2008 data were compared with the data for 2002 (from 6.4 per 1,000 children aged 8 years in 2002 to 11.4 in 2008 for the 13 sites that provided data for both surveillance years). Because the ADDM Network sites do not make up a nationally representative sample, these combined prevalence estimates should not be generalized to the United States as a whole. Interpretation: These data confirm that the estimated prevalence of ASDs identified in the ADDM network surveillance populations continues to increase. The extent to which these increases reflect better case ascertainment as a result of increases in awareness and access to services or true increases in prevalence of ASD symptoms is not known. ASDs continue to be an important public health concern in the United States, underscoring the need for continued resources to identify potential risk factors and to provide essential supports for persons with ASDs and their families. Public Health Action: Given substantial increases in ASD prevalence estimates over a relatively short period, overall and within various subgroups of the population, continued monitoring is needed to quantify and understand these patterns. With 5 biennial surveillance years completed in the past decade, the ADDM Network continues to monitor prevalence and characteristics of ASDs and other developmental disabilities for the 2010 surveillance year. Further work is needed to evaluate multiple factors contributing to increases in estimated ASD prevalence over time. ADDM Network investigators continue to explore these factors, with a focus on understanding disparities in the identification of ASDs among certain subgroups and on how these disparities have contributed to changes in the estimated prevalence of ASDs. CDC is partnering with other federal and private partners in a coordinated response to identify risk factors for ASDs and to meet the needs of persons with ASDs and their families. (Contains 5 tables and 4 figures.)

This paper explores the nation's changing child population based on data from the 2010 census. While the number of U.S. children increased only slightly, the demographic shifts within the population were considerable. Some areas of the country (Nevada and Texas) and some demographic groups (including children of mixed race) grew significantly, while the number of children in other areas (Vermont and New York) and in other groups (such as non-Hispanic whites) declined. Appended are: (1) State Changes in Child Population 1990, 2000, and 2010; and (2) Distribution of Children (under age 18) by Race and Hispanic Origin: 2010. (Contains 16 tables, 3 figures, 1 chart and 30 endnotes.)

The National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) provides a unique resource with which to analyze the health status, health care use, activities, and family and community environments experienced by children in rural and urban areas. The NSCH was designed to measure the health and well-being of children from birth through age 17 in the United States while taking into account the environments in which they grow and develop. Conducted for the second time in 2007, the survey collected information from parents on their children's health, including oral, physical, and mental health, health care use and insurance status, and social activities and well-being. Aspects of the child's environment that were assessed in the survey include family structure, poverty level, parental health and well-being, and community surroundings. The survey was supported and developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) and was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). This book presents information about the health and health care of children by location and by major demographic characteristics such as age, sex, race and ethnicity, and household income as compared to the Federal poverty level. Unless otherwise noted, all graphs provide information on all children from birth through age 17. Children were classified by race and ethnicity in seven categories: non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic (in homes where English is the primary spoken language), Hispanic (in homes where Spanish is the primary spoken language), non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native (alone or in combination with other races), multiracial, and single races other than those listed above. All comparisons presented in the text of this chartbook are statistically significant at the 0.05 level; however, unless otherwise specified, other differences presented in the graphs have not been tested for significance and should be interpreted with caution. The Technical Appendices at the end of this book presents information about the survey methodology and sample. [For related reports, see "Children with Special Health Care Needs in Context: A Portrait of States and the Nation 2007. The National Survey of Children's Health 2007" (ED530916); "The Health and Well-Being of Children: A Portrait of States and the Nation 2007. The National Survey of Children's Health 2007" (ED530918); and "The Mental and Emotional Well-Being of Children: A Portrait of States and the Nation 2007. The National Survey of Children's Health" (ED530917).]

"America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2011" is a compendium of indicators depicting both the promises and the challenges confronting our Nation's young people. The report, the 15th in an ongoing series, presents 41 key indicators on important aspects of children's lives. These indicators are drawn from the most reliable statistics, are easily understood by broad audiences, are objectively based on substantial research, are balanced so that no single area of children's lives dominates the report, are measured regularly so that they can be updated to show trends over time, and are representative of large segments of the population rather than one particular group. This year's report continues to present key indicators in seven domains: family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education, and health. The report incorporates several modifications that reflect the Forum's efforts to improve its quality and comprehensiveness. In addition to updating data sources and substantively expanding several indicators, the report presents a special feature on adoption. Appended are: (1) Detailed Tables; and (2) Data Source Descriptions.

Each year since 1997, the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics has published a report on the well-being of children and families. The Forum's signature report, "America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being," provides annual updates on the well-being of children and families in the United States across seven domains: family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education, and health. This year's report reveals that health insurance coverage rates for children increased, the percentage of preterm births declined for the second straight year, average 8th-grade mathematics scores reached an all-time high, teen smoking was at its lowest since data collection began, and the adolescent birth rate declined after a 2-year increase. However, the percentage of children whose parents had secure employment was the lowest since 1996, and the percentage living in poverty was the highest since 1998. The percentage of children in food-insecure households was the highest since monitoring began. The Brief concludes with a summary table displaying recent changes in all 40 indicators. (Contains 15 figures and 40 footnotes.)

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) annually publishes an immunization schedule for persons aged 0 through 18 years that summarizes recommendations for currently licensed vaccines for children aged 18 years and younger and includes recommendations in effect as of December 15, 2009. The changes to the previous schedule are presented in this guide. The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act requires that health-care providers provide parents or patients with copies of Vaccine Information Statements before administering each dose of the vaccines listed in the schedules. (Contains 2 figures and 1 table.)

Over the past decade, Americans have become increasingly concerned about the high numbers--and costs--of high school dropouts. The time is now to build a similar consensus around this less-recognized but equally urgent fact: The pool from which employers, colleges, and the military draw is too small, and still shrinking, because millions of American children get to fourth grade without learning to read proficiently. And that puts them on the dropout track. This special report highlights the causes and consequences of low reading proficiency and proposes some essential steps toward closing the gap between those who can and cannot read proficiently, raising the bar for what people expect all American children to know and be able to do, and improving the overall achievement of children from low-income families. (Contains 3 tables, 1 figure, and 115 endnotes.)

"America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being" provides annual updates on the well-being of children and families in the United States across a range of domains. A more detailed report alternates every other year with a condensed version that highlights selected indicators. This year, the Forum is publishing the full report and will produce a brief report in July 2010. Three demographic background measures and 40 selected indicators describe the population of children and depict child well-being in the areas of family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education, and health. This year's report has a special feature on children with special health care needs. The indicators are organized into seven sections: (1) Demographic Background; (2) Family and Social Environment; (3) Economic Circumstances, Health Care; (4) Physical Environment and Safety; (5) Behavior, (6) Education, and (7) Health. Two appendices include: (1) Detailed Tables; and (2) Data Source Descriptions. (Contains 154 notes, 60 figures and 70 tables.) [This report was printed by the U.S. Government Printing Office in cooperation with the National Center for Health Statistics. For "America's Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2008," see ED501966.]

The broad array of data presented each year in the "KIDS COUNT Data Book" is intended to illuminate the status of America's children and to assess trends in their well-being. By updating the assessment every year, KIDS COUNT provides ongoing benchmarks that can be used to see how states have advanced or regressed over time. Readers can also use KIDS COUNT to compare the status of children in their state with those in other states across several dimensions of child well-being. The 10 indicators used to rank states reflect a developmental perspective on childhood and underscore our goal to build a world where pregnant women and newborns thrive; infants and young children receive the support they need to enter school prepared to learn; children succeed in school; adolescents choose healthy behaviors; and young people experience a successful transition into adulthood. In all of these stages of development, young people need the economic and social assistance provided by a strong family and a supportive community. As the "KIDS COUNT Data Book" has developed over time, some of the indicators used to rank states have changed because weaker measures have been replaced with stronger ones. Consequently, comparing rankings in the 2008 "Data Book" to rankings in past "Data Books" does not always provide a perfect assessment of change over time. However, Appendix 2 shows how states would have ranked in past years if the same 10 measures used in the 2008 Data Book had been employed. The table in Appendix 2 is the best way to assess state changes over time in overall child well-being. Contents of this "Data Book" include: (1) Counting What Counts: Taking Results Seriously for Vulnerable Children and Families; (2) Summary and Findings; (3) Child Well-Being in Puerto Rico; (4) National Indicator Maps: State Rates; (5) Profiles; (6) United States Profile; and (7) Profiles in alphabetical order for 50 states and the District of Columbia. Also included are: Definitions and Data Sources; Criteria for Selecting KIDS COUNT Indicators; Primary Contacts for State KIDS COUNT Projects; and About the Annie E. Casey Foundation and KIDS COUNT. Appended are: (1) Multi-Year State Trend Data for KIDS COUNT Key Indicators; and (2) Multi-Year State Trend Data for Overall Ranks. (Contains 3 tables and 42 endnotes.) For "KIDS COUNT Data Book, 2008," see ED502884.]

This report uses data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) to describe the middle school experiences of the cohort. The ECLS-K followed the educational, socioemotional, and physical development of a nationally representative sample of kindergartners in public and private schools in the United States from the fall of 1998 through the spring of 2007. Information was collected from the children, their parents, their teachers, and school administrators. Since the base-year fall and spring kindergarten (1998-99) data collection, sample members participated in five more rounds of data collections: fall and spring of first grade, spring of third grade, spring of fifth grade, and spring of eighth grade.. This report uses data collected from the final round of the ECLS-K when most of the cohort was in the eighth grade and provides information about their academic achievement, school activities, and educational aspirations. This report is intended to provide a snapshot of the eighth-grade round of the ECLS-K and make the data available to encourage more in-depth analysis of the data using more sophisticated statistical methods. It focuses on multiple aspects of the cohort's middle school years in the spring of the 2007. It presents information about children's overall achievement in reading, mathematics, and science; attainment of specific reading proficiencies; attainment of specific mathematics proficiencies; participation in various school-sponsored activities; time spent on homework; and educational aspirations (table 6). Selected findings include: (1) Cohort members in eighth grade whose mothers had higher levels of education had higher scores on measures of reading, mathematics and science compared to their peers whose mothers had lower levels of education; (2) Sixty percent of cohort members in eighth grade reported that they participated in school-sponsored sports, 41 percent in school-sponsored drama or music activities, and 33 percent in a school club; (3) Cohort members in eighth grade spent, on average, about 5 hours a week doing homework: those attending private schools spent more time doing homework, in general, than did their peers in public schools; and (4) Nearly three-quarters of the cohort members in eighth grade expected to complete a bachelor's degree or higher. Two appendixes are included: (1) National Center for Education Statistics; and (2) Standard Error Tables. (Contains 6 footnotes and 13 tables.)

Each year since 1997, the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics has published a report on the well-being of children and families. This Brief highlights selected indicators from the more detailed report, which were chosen because they are easy to understand; are based on substantial research connecting them to child well-being; vary across important areas of children's lives; are measured regularly so that they can be updated and show trends over time; and represent large segments of the population, rather than one particular group. The indicators are organized into seven sections, each focusing on a domain relevant to children's lives: Family and Social Environment, Economic Circumstances, Health Care, Physical Environment and Safety, Behavior, Education, and Health. (Contains 15 figures and 42 footnotes.) [This report was printed by the U.S. Government Printing Office in cooperation with the National Center for Health Statistics. For "America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2007," see ED499561.]

Children and adolescents, up to approximately age 20, are more susceptible than adults to potential health risks from chemicals and environmental hazards. Hazardous chemicals can interrupt or alter the normal development of a child's body, leading to lasting damage. Since children are smaller than adults, similar levels of exposure to toxic chemicals will have a greater effect on children compared to adults. In addition, the prevalence of chemicals in the modern era means that children today are exposed to dangerous chemicals throughout their lives, beginning in the womb. Children generally rely on adults to protect them from the risks associated with exposure to dangerous environmental agents. Through education and training, however, children and adolescents can empower themselves about the risks associated with hazardous chemicals. Once young people are aware of the threats in their everyday lives, they can take action with the adults in their schools and communities to create safer conditions. This manual will inform you about health risks associated with exposure to chemicals and environmental hazards, especially mercury, and explain what you as a student can do to promote chemical safety in your school and community. A procedure for cleaning up a mercury spill safely is appended. (Contains 4 figures, 4 tables and 15 footnotes.) [This document was prepared by Battelle Memorial Institute under contract EP-W-04-021.]

This instructor's guide is a tool to help instructors promote the concepts of safe mercury and chemical management in schools. It contains three types of materials: (1) Guidance for the instructor/facilitator on conducting the training course (Section I); (2) A copy of all presentations with talking points as appropriate (Section II); and (3) Instructions for participant activities (Section III). Sections II and III are both arranged according to the four training session topics: (1) Importance of Mercury and Chemical Management for School Administrators and Teachers; (2) Hazardous Chemicals and Equipment in Schools; (3) Policies and Actions for School Administrators and Teachers; and (4) Be Smart About Mercury. The presentation slides (overheads) corresponding with Section II are contained on a CD included with this guide. (Contains 1 table and 2 footnotes.) [This document was prepared by Battelle Memorial Institute under contract EP-W-04-021.]

Since 1960, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided estimates of expenditures on children from birth through age 17. This technical report presents the most recent estimates for husband-wife and single-parent families using data from the 1990-92 Consumer Expenditure Survey, updated to 2007 dollars using the Consumer Price Index. Data and methods used in calculating annual child-rearing expenses are described. Estimates are provided for major components of the budget by age of child, family income, and region of residence. For the overall United States, child-rearing expense estimates ranged between $10,930 and $12,030 for a child in a two-child, married-couple family in the middle-income group. Adjustment factors for number of children in the household are also provided. Results of this study should be of use in developing State child support guidelines and foster care payments as well as in family educational programs. (Contains 13 tables.)

The broad array of data we present each year in the "KIDS COUNT Data Book" is intended to illuminate the status of America's children and to assess trends in their well-being. By updating the assessment every year, KIDS COUNT provides ongoing benchmarks that can be used to see how states have advanced or regressed over time. Readers can also use KIDS COUNT to compare the status of children in their state with those in other states across several dimensions of child well-being. The 10 indicators used to rank states reflect a developmental perspective on childhood and underscore our goal to build a world where pregnant women and newborns thrive; infants and young children receive the support they need to enter school prepared to learn; children succeed in school; adolescents choose healthy behaviors; and young people experience a successful transition into adulthood. In all of these stages of development, young people need the economic and social assistance provided by a strong family and a supportive community. As the "KIDS COUNT Data Book" has developed over time, some of the indicators used to rank states have changed because weaker measures have been replaced with stronger ones. Consequently, comparing rankings in the 2008 "Data Book" to rankings in past "Data Books" does not always provide a perfect assessment of change over time. However, Appendix 2 shows how states would have ranked in past years if the same 10 measures used in the 2008 Data Book had been employed. The table in Appendix 2 is the best way to assess state changes over time in overall child well-being. Contents of this "Data Book" include: (1) "A Road Map for Juvenile Justice Reform" essay; (2) Summary and Findings; (3) Child Well-Being in Puerto Rico; (4) National Indicator Maps: State Rates; (5) Profiles; (6) United States Profile; and (7) Profiles in alphabetical order for 50 states and the District of Columbia. Also included are: Definitions and Data Sources; Criteria for Selecting KIDS COUNT Indicators; Primary Contacts for State KIDS COUNT Projects; and About the Annie E. Casey Foundation and KIDS COUNT. Appended are: (1) Multi-Year State Trend Data for KIDS COUNT Key Indicators; and (2) Multi-Year State Trend Data for Overall Ranks. (Contains 3 tables and 82 endnotes.) [For "KIDS COUNT Data Book, 2007," see ED497926.]

This E.D. TAB presents information about the biological fathers of children born in the United States in the year 2001. It is the first publication of findings using the data collected from fathers during the base year collection of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B). It presents information on the demographic characteristics of resident fathers, their attitudes about fathering, and their engagement in their child's development. Technical notes and a glossary are appended. (Contains 14 tables.)

This 2004 Annual Report to Congress has two volumes. Volume 1 focuses on the children and students being served under IDEA and provides profiles of individual states' special education environments and early intervention settings. It also includes tables of states rank-ordered by their reported data on exiting, dropouts, educational environments, and early intervention services and settings; these tables are used by OSEP as pat of its monitoring system. This report, Volume 2, contains the state-reported data tables. OSEP's goal in separating the text of the report from the extensive tables is to make the report usable to all readers. [For the first volume, "26th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2004. Volume 1," see ED494709.]

Each year since 1997, the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics (Forum) has published "America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being," a report that includes detailed information on the well-being of children and families. This Brief highlights selected indicators from the more detailed report, which were chosen because they are easy to understand; are based on substantial research connecting them to child wellbeing; vary across important areas of children's lives; are measured regularly so that they can be updated and show trends over time; and represent large segments of the population, rather than one particular group. The first section of the Brief, Population and Family Characteristics, describes the context in which children live (including aspects such as changes in children's family settings and living arrangements). The sections that follow highlight indicators of child well-being in four key areas: Economic Security, Health, Behavior and Social Environment, and Education. (Contains 11 figures and 19 footnotes.)

Recent increases in child obesity have sparked concerns about competitive foods--foods sold to students at school that are not part of federally reimbursable school meals. The nutritional value of these foods is largely unregulated, and students can often purchase these foods in addition to or instead of school meals. Nearly 9 out of 10 schools sold competitive foods to students in school year 2003-2004, and the availability of competitive foods sold in middle schools and through a la carte lines has increased over the last 5 years. Schools often sold these foods in or near the cafeteria and during lunch, and the competitive foods available ranged from nutritious items such as fruit and milk to less nutritious items such as soda and candy. High and middle schools were more likely to sell competitive foods than elementary schools. The six school districts visited all recently took steps to substitute healthy items for less nutritious competitive foods. In each district, committed individuals took actions to initiate and lead change while also involving those affected. However, districts faced several barriers to change, including opposition due to concerns about revenue losses. In recent years, federal, state, and local governments have increasingly focused on the role that competitive foods play in children's diets. The April 2004 report on competitive foods, revealed that increasing numbers of state legislatures are enacting and proposing legislation to restrict the availability of competitive foods in schools. In addition, school districts and schools themselves are taking steps to limit the availability of competitive foods. Appended are: (1) Scope and Methodology; and (2) GAO Contacts and Staff Acknowledgments. (Contains 8 tables and 10 figures.)

This report provides the Nation with a summary of national indicators of child well-being and monitors changes in these indicators over time. In addition to providing data in an easy-to-use, non-technical format, the purpose of the report is to stimulate discussions among policymakers and the public, exchanges between data providers and policy communities, and improvements in Federal data on children and families. The first part of the report, Population and Family Characteristics, presents data that illustrate the changes during the past few decades in nine measures depicting the context of children's lives. These background measures provide basic information about children in the United States and the social and demographic changes occurring in the child population. The second part of the report, Indicators of Children's Well-Being, contains data on four key areas of child well-being: economic security, health, behavior and social environment, and education. The following are appended: (1) Detailed Tables; and (2) Data Source Descriptions. (Contains 123 figures and 139 endnotes.)

This report is the seventh to present nation-wide data on the well-being of U.S. children. The statistical portrait is based on indicators of child well-being and on contextual measures describing the changing population and family context. Part 1 of the report, "Population and Family Characteristics," presents data that illustrate the changes that have taken place during the past few decades in nine measures depicting the context of children's lives, including children as a proportion of the population, racial and ethnic composition, and family structure and children's living arrangements. Part 2 of the report, "Indicators of Children's Well-Being," presents data on 25 key indicators in the areas of economic security, including secure parental employment, and access to health care; health, including a new "overweight" indicator; behavior and social environment, including substance abuse, and youth as victims or perpetrators of violent crimes; and education, including families reading to young children and high school academic course taking. For each background measure in part 1 and indicator in part 2, three components are presented: statements about why the measure or indicator is important, figures showing important facts about trends or population groups, and highlights with information on the current status, recent trends, and important differences by population groups noted. This year's report reveals significant progress in several dimensions of well-being: adolescents are more likely to take honors courses, children overall are less likely to die in infancy or in adolescence, young women have continued the downward trend of giving birth in adolescence, and after a decade-long decline, the share of children with married parents has remained unchanged since 1996. Less progress has been realized in the economic security of children. The poverty rate remains stable, the percentage of children with a parent employed full-time declined slightly, and the percentage of households with children that encountered housing problems maintained the same rate since 1995. A special section of the report details changes in the lives of American children from 1990-2000 for selected measures of population and family characteristics, economic security, and education. The report's appendices include detailed data tables and data source descriptions. (HTH)

This Kids Count data book examines national and statewide trends in the well being of the nation's children. Statistical portraits are based on 10 indicators of well being: (1) percent of low birth weight babies; (2) infant mortality rate; (3) child death rate; (4) rate of teen deaths by accident, homicide, and suicide; (5) teen birth rate; (6) percent of teens who are high school dropouts; (7) percent of teens not attending school and not working; (8) percent of children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment; (9) percent of children living in poverty; and (10) percent of families with children headed by a single parent. Following an essay on the high cost of being poor, the bulk of the data book is comprised of national and state profiles. These profiles include information on demographics, education, economics, child health, children in low-income working families, trend data, and national rankings for each indicator. Among the findings, the data indicate that (1) two indicators, percent of low birthweight babies and percent of families with children headed by a single parent, have changed for the worse nationally; the child death rate has improved among each racial and ethnic group; (3) accidents continue to account for at least three times as many teen deaths as any other source; and (4) growth in the ranks of poor children over the past few decades has not been due to an increase in the number of welfare-dependent families but rather an increase in the number of working poor families. The report's three appendices provide standard scores and national rankings, multi-year trend data for Kids Count indicators, and multi-year national composite ranks. Definitions, data sources, criteria for selecting Kids Count indicators, and contacts for specific state projects conclude the data book. (HTH)

This report is the sixth to present nationwide data on the well-being of U.S. children. The statistical portrait is based on indicators of child well-being and on contextual measures describing the changing population and family context. Part 1 of the report, "Population and Family Characteristics," presents information illustrating trends in eight key demographic measures, including children as a proportion of the population, racial and ethnic composition, and difficulty speaking English. Part 2, "Indicators of Children's Well-Being," presents data on 24 key indicators in the following areas: (1) Economic Security, including child poverty, family income, parent employment, housing problems, and health care access; (2) Health, including activity limitation, immunization, low birthweight, mortality rates, and adolescent births; (3) Behavior and Social Environment, including cigarette smoking, alcohol use, illicit drug use, and crime victimization; (4) Education, including family reading, early childhood education, achievement, high school completion, and youth neither enrolled in school nor working; and (5) Special Feature: children of at least one foreign-born parent. For each background measure or indicator, three types of information are presented: reasons the measure or indicator is important to understanding children's well-being, figures illustrating trends or population group differences, and highlights with information on current status,recent trends, and important population group differences. Additional indicators needed are also noted. The report's two appendices present detailed data tables and data source descriptions. Among the key findings, the report notes that children are projected to remain a stable percentage of the total population, while the ethnic diversity of U.S. children continues to increase. The poverty rate for children living with family members reached a high of 22 percent in 1993 and has since decreased to its lowest rate since 1979. In 2000, the rate of births to adolescents was at a record low. Cigarette use among adolescents shows indications of decline. Bachelor's degree attainment remained at an all-time high, and in 2001, 19 percent of children had at least one foreign-born parent. (Contains 76 endnotes.) (EV)

This KIDS COUNT data book examines national and statewide trends in the well being of the nations children. Statistical portraits are based on 10 indicators of well being: (1) percent of low birth weight babies; (2) infant mortality rate; (3) child death rate; (4) rate of teen deaths by accident, homicide, and suicide; (5) teen birth rate; (6) percent of teens who are high school dropouts; (7) percent of teens not attending school and not working; (8) percent of children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment; (9) percent of children living in poverty; and (10) percent of families with children headed by a single parent. Among the findings, the data book shows that between 1990 and 1999, all but one state saw an increase in the percent of low birth weight babies, and all but four states had an increased percent of families with children headed by a single parent. The percent of teens who are high school dropouts was unchanged in the nation as a whole and decreased in 24 states. The remaining seven indicators showed improvement. The bulk of the data book is comprised of national and state profiles. These profiles include information on demographics, education, economics, child health, children in low-income working families, trend data, and national rankings for each indicator. Three appendices provide standard scores and national rankings, multi-year trend data for KIDS COUNT indicators, and multi-year national composite ranks. Definitions, data sources, criteria for selecting KIDS COUNT indicators, and contacts for specific state projects conclude the data book. (KK)

Despite the ongoing devolution of policymaking from the federal to the state and local level, there remains a belief that there is a single agenda for children. In summer 2001, the National Association of Child Advocates (NACA) surveyed its membership to determine if a national agenda for children exists. This paper identifies the key issues affecting children in their states and outlines how child advocates propose to address them in 2002. The introduction details emerging trends influencing child advocacy and discusses overarching issues affecting children. The bulk of the report is comprised of profiles for 49 states (all except Alaska) and the District of Columbia. Each profile lists member organizations for the state, provides key statistics, lists top issues affecting children and families, and identifies the top child advocacy priorities for 2002. The findings revealed that while there are some common issues, such as ensuring that all children have access to affordable quality health care, the strategies necessary for reaching that goal vary considerably. Differing demographic, political, economic, historic, and social circumstances in each state create unique environments requiring individualized responses. The report concludes by noting that there may be consensus about children's most fundamental needs, but setting priorities and choosing strategies to improve child well-being are processes that differ significantly nationwide, with every state and city creating a unique environment for advocacy and change. The report's seven appendices include a description of the study methodology and the statistical analyses used, a glossary of key terms, and a list of NACA members. (KB)

This report is the fifth to present nationwide data on the well-being of America's children. The statistical portrait is based on indicators of child well-being and on contextual measures describing the changing population and family context. Part 1 of the report, "Population and Family Characteristics," presents information illustrating trends in eight key demographic measures, including children as a proportion of the population, racial and ethnic composition, and difficulty speaking English. Part 2, "Indicators of Children's Well-Being," presents data on 24 key indicators in the following areas: (1) Economic Security, including child poverty, family income, parent employment, housing problems, and health care access; (2) Health, including activity limitation, immunization, low birthweight, mortality rates, and adolescent births; (3) behavior and social environment, including cigarette smoking, alcohol use, illicit drug use, and crime victimization; (4) education, including family reading, early childhood education, achievement, high school completion, and youth neither enrolled in school nor working; and (5) Special Features, asthma prevalence, and youth employment. For each background measure or indicator, three types of information are presented: reasons the measure or indicator is important to understanding children's well-being, figures illustrating trends or population group differences, and highlights with information on current status, recent trends, and important population group differences. Additional indicators needed are also noted. The report's two appendices present detailed data tables and data source descriptions. Among the key findings, the report notes that children are projected to remain a stable percentage of the total population, while the ethnic diversity of America's children continues to increase. The poverty rate for children living with family members reached a high of 22 percent in 1993 and has since decreased to its lowest rate since 1979. Unintentional injuries continue to be the leading cause of death for children and youth ages 1 to 19. In 1999, the adolescent birth rate was at a record low. Cigarette use among adolescents shows indications of decline, with rates of heavy drinking remaining largely unchanged from 1999. Long-term trend mathematics and reading assessment scores for 1999 showed improvements in mathematics since 1982 but not in reading. Asthma is the most common chronic childhood illness in the United States, and the percentage of children diagnosed with asthma appears to be growing. Working while in school is prevalent among older high school students. (Contains 76 endnotes.) (KB)

This Kids Count report examines national and statewide trends in the well-being of the nation's children. The statistical portrait is based on 10 indicators of well being: (1) percent of low birth weight babies; (2) infant mortality rate; (3) child death rate; (4) rate of teen deaths by accident, homicide and suicide; (5) teen birth rate; (6) percent of teens who are high school dropouts; (7) percent of teens not attending school and not working; (8) percent of children living with parents who do not have full-time, year-round employment; (9) percent of children living in poverty; and (10) percent of families with children headed by a single parent. Among the findings, the report shows that between 1990 and 1998, all but one state saw an increase in the percent of low birth weight babies. The percent of families with children headed by a single parent increased in most states, while the percent of children living in poverty remained unchanged. The remaining seven indicators showed improvement. The bulk of the report is comprised of national and state profiles. These profiles include information on demographics; education and economics; child health; juvenile justice; children in working poor families; and trend data. State profiles include national rankings for each indicator. Three appendices provide standard scores and national rankings, multi-year trend data for Kids Count indicators, and multi-year national composite ranks. Definitions, data sources, criteria for selecting Kids Count indicators, and contacts for specific state projects are included. (SD)

This document provides statistical information on the incidence of U.S. motor vehicle-related accidents and fatalities involving children. Data include: (1) total traffic fatalities among children 0-14 years old, by age group, 1991-2001; (2) total pedestrian fatalities among children 0-14 years old, by age group, 1991-2001; (3) total pedalcyclist fatalities among children 0-14 years old, by age group, 1991-2001; (4) restraint use by passenger vehicle occupants involved in fatal crashes by age group, 2001; (5) children under 5 years old fatally injured in passenger vehicle crashes, by age group and type of restraint, 2001; and (6) restraint use by children under 5 years old. According to the data, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children of every age from 4 to 14 years old, and the 0-14 age group accounted for 5 percent of traffic fatalities in 2001. (HTH)

This report is the fourth to present nationwide data on the well-being of America's children. The statistical portrait is based on indicators of child well-being such as family income and mortality rates. Part 1 of the report, "Population and Family Characteristics," presents information illustrating the changes that have occurred during the last few decades in six key demographic measures, including children as a proportion of the population, racial and ethnic composition, difficulty speaking English, and child care utilization. Part 2, "Indicators of Children's Well-Being," presents data on 25 key indicators in the following areas: (1) Economic Security, including family income, secure parental employment, housing, food security, and access to health care; (2) Health, including activity limitation, immunization rates, and infant, child, and adolescent mortality rates; (3) Behavior and Social Environment, including cigarette smoking, alcohol and illicit drug use, and youth victims and perpetrators of serious violent crimes; (4) Education, including family reading to young children and youth neither enrolled in school nor working; and (5) Special Features, beginning kindergartners' knowledge and skills and youth participation in volunteer activities. For each background measure or indicator, three types of information are presented: reasons the measure or indicator is important to understanding children's well-being, figures showing important facts about trends or population groups, and highlights with information on current status, recent trends, and important population group differences. Additional indicators needed are also noted. Two appendices contain detailed data tables and data source descriptions. Among the key findings, the report notes that although the child poverty rate remains similar to that in 1980, the percentage of children experiencing housing problems or food insecurity increased. Child death rates continue to drop. The percentage of children with low birthweight has steadily increased since 1984, probably due to the rising number of multiple births. Teen birth rates are the lowest in 40 years. Heavy drinking among adolescents has remained stable over the past few years. Violent crimes committed by youth have dropped sharply. Preschool enrollment increases have been the largest among children in poverty, children with mothers not in the labor force, and black, non-Hispanic children. The overall high school completion rate declined, especially among Hispanics. (KB)

The Water in Africa Project was realized over a 2-year period by a team of Peace Corps volunteers, World Wise Schools (WWS) classroom teachers, and WWS staff members. As part of an expanded, detailed design, resources were collected from over 90 volunteers serving in African countries, photos and stories were prepared, and standards-based learning units were created for K-12 students. Intended for third to fifth grade students, this unit uses children's interactions with water to help them compare and contrast their lives with those of children in Kenya and Tanzania. It looks at the ways access to water helps define children's roles in the family, and how this shapes culture. The unit contains many photos of daily activities in Kenya and Tanzania. Students will write essays and create pictures to demonstrate their understanding of the concepts. The unit can be used in language arts, geography, art, or mathematics classes. Four to six 40-minute classes are suggested for completion. The unit lists materials needed, outlines applicable standards, poses discussion questions, and gives student objectives. It details day-by-day procedures for the teacher, suggests assessment and follow-up/enrichment activities, and lists nine print and on-line resources. (BT)

This document provides statistical information on the incidence of U.S. motor vehicle-related accidents and fatalities involving children. Data include: (1) total traffic fatalities among children 0-14 years old, by age group, 1990-2000; (2) total pedestrian fatalities among children 0-14 years old, by age group, 1990-2000; (3) total pedalcyclist fatalities among children 0-14 years old, by age group, 1990-2000; (4) restraint use by passenger vehicle occupants involved in fatal crashes by age group, 2000; (5) children under 5 years old fatally injured in passenger vehicle crashes, by age group and type of restraint, 2000; and (6) restraint use by children under 5 years old. According to the data, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children of every age from 4 to 14 years old, and the 0-14 age group accounted for 6 percent of traffic fatalities in 2000. (EV)

This report presents nationwide data on the well-being of America's children. The statistical report is based on indicators of child well-being such as family income and mortality rates. The first part of the report, "Population and Family Characteristics," presents data that illustrate the changes that have taken place during the past few decades in six key demographic measures, including children as a proportion of the U.S. population, family structure, and difficulty speaking English. The second part of the report, "Indicators of Children's Well-Being," presents data on 26 key indicators in the following areas: (1) Economic Security, including family income, secure parental employment, housing, and access to health care; (2) Health, including activity limitation, infant and child mortality rates, and immunization rates; (3) Behavior and Social Environment, including substance abuse, and youth victims and perpetrators of serious violent crimes; (4) Education, including family reading to young children, and youth neither enrolled in school nor working; and (5) Special Features, which covers children who have difficulty performing everyday activities. For each background measure in the report's first section and for each indicator in the second section, three types of information are presented: a short statement about why the measure or indicator is important to understanding the condition of children, figures showing important facts about trends or population groups for each indicator, and highlights with information on current status, recent trends, and important differences by population groups noted. Two appendices contain detailed tables of data and data source descriptions. Among the findings, the report notes that the percentage of children living with two parents has remained stable since 1996, but there are large differences across racial and ethnic groups. Although the poverty rate of children has remained about the same since 1980, shifts in the proportion of children living in families with high income and those living in extreme poverty reflect a growing income disparity among children. While the mortality rate for almost all groups of children continues to fall, it has fallen most dramatically among black children, ages 1 to 4; this rate, however, remains almost twice the rate for whites. The number of youth who were victims of violent crime has declined since 1993, as have the number of juveniles as perpetrators of violent crimes. Preschool enrollment has increased among black, non-Hispanic children, and among children living in poverty. (HTH)

This is the fourth edition of an annual report on trends in the well-being of America's children and youth. Part 1 of the report describes national trends for over 90 indicators of child and youth well-being based on data collected by the federal government. The information provided for each indicator includes one or more tables documenting recent historical trends and important population subgroup differences, graphics to highlight key trends and group contrasts, and accompanying text that describes the importance of each indicator and highlights the most salient features of the data. The indicators are grouped into five substantive areas: (1) population, family, and neighborhood; (2) economic security; (3) health conditions and health care; (4) social development, behavioral health, and teen fertility; and (5) education and achievement. Part 2 of the report examines changes in risk-taking among high school students from 1991-1997, while part 3 documents the co-occurrence of teen health risk behaviors. (HTH)

As a result of federal legislation aimed at welfare reform, states have been transforming welfare in new ways. Critical questions remain, however, and policymakers must continue to develop new ideas and implement programs from other states. This book contributes to the learning process among states by sharing program innovations and analyses to help states realize their goals for a new welfare that helps recipients find and keep jobs that will enable them to support their families without welfare. The first section of the guide provides an overview of meeting the challenges of welfare reform. The second section, "Finding and Creating Jobs for Welfare Recipients," addresses job development, microenterprise programs, targeted state employment, and community service. The third section, "Preparing Recipients for Work," addresses assessment, support services, job readiness, education, vocational training, and work experiences. The fourth section, "Child Care," examines the issues of eligibility, copayment, and reimbursement rates and mechanisms. The fifth section, "Getting to Work: Providing Transportation in a Work-Based System," addresses the transportation dilemma, transit alternatives, and life after welfare. The sixth section, "Ensuring the Well-Being of Children Under Welfare Reform," addresses tracking families that leave welfare, safety net programs, and effects on the child welfare system. The seventh section, "Overseeing Welfare Reform: Accountability, Financing and Devolution," addresses block grants and state spending. (Contains 43 notes.) (SD)

This report presents nationwide data on the well-being of U.S. children. The statistical report is based on indicators of child well-being such as family income and mortality rates. The first part of the report, "Population and Family Characteristics," presents data that illustrate the changes that have taken place during the past few decades in six key demographic measures including children as a proportion of the U.S. population, family structure, and difficulty speaking English. The second part of the report, "Indicators of Children's Well-Being," presents data on 26 key indicators in the following areas: (1) "Economic Security," including family income, secure parental employment, housing, and access to health care; (2) "Health," including activity limitation, infant and child mortality rates, and immunization rates; (3) "Behavior and Social Environment," including substance abuse, and youth victims and perpetrators of serious violent crimes; (4) "Education," including family reading to young children, and youths neither enrolled in school nor working; and (5) "Special Features," which covers blood lead levels, and child care. For each background measure in the report's first section and for each indicator in the second section, three types of information are presented: a short statement about why the measure or indicator is important to understanding the condition of children, figures showing important facts about trends or population groups for each indicator, and highlights with information on current status, recent trends, and important differences by population groups noted. Two appendices contain detailed tables of data and data source descriptions. The report notes that several indicators show an improving picture of the well-being of most children, but those living below the poverty line continue to compare unfavorably with those above the poverty line, and there is also disparity in well-being for different race and ethnic groups. Death rates among adolescents and birth rates among adolescent females have declined; there has also been a decline in the rates for which youths 12 to 17 were either victimized by serious violent crime or perpetrated violent crime; substance abuse, however, has increased. (HTH)

This 1997 KIDS COUNT data book provides a national and state-by-state (including the District of Columbia) compilation of benchmarks of the educational, social, economic, and physical well-being of children in the United States. Ten indicators of children's well-being are taken from government sources: (1) percent of low birth-weight babies; (2) infant mortality rate; (3) child death rate; (4) rate of teen deaths by accident, homicide, and suicide; (5) teen birth rate; (6) juvenile violent crime arrest rate; (7) percent of teens who are high school dropouts; (8) percent of teens not attending school and not working; (9) percent of children in poverty; and (10) percent of families with children headed by a single parent. An overview discusses improving education for children in poor neighborhoods. A summary and findings section presents overall trends for each indicator. The bulk of the book consists of graphic and numerical presentations of the indicators nationwide and by state. For each state, information is presented on demographic changes, health and economic characteristics, and education indicators. Appendices delineate standard scores and national rankings, states in rank order by indicator, multi-year trend data for Kids Count Indicators, multi-year national composite ranks, and states in rank order by education indicator. The document ends with definitions of the Kids Count Indicators, the rationale for their selection, and primary contacts for State Kids Count Projects. (SD)

This book provides a national and state-by-state (including the District of Columbia) compilation of benchmarks of the educational, social, economic, and physical well-being of children in the United States. Ten indicators of children's well-being are taken from government sources: (1) percent low birth-weight babies; (2) infant mortality rate; (3) child death rate, ages 1-14; (4) teen violent death rate, ages 15-19; (5) teen birth rate, ages 15-17; (6) juvenile violent crime arrest rate, ages 10-17; (7) percent of teens who are high school dropouts, ages 16-19; (8) percent of teens not attending school and not working, ages 16-19; (9) percent of children in poverty; and (10) percent of families with children headed by a single parent. An overview discusses the implications of the increase in percentage of American children in working-poor families and possible actions to reduce or eliminate their risks. A summary and findings section presents overall trends for each indicator. The bulk of the book consists of graphic and numerical presentations of the indicators nationwide and by state. For each state, background information is presented on demographic changes, income and poverty, health and education, and percent of children in working-poor families. Appendices delineate standard scores and national rankings, states in rank order by indicator, multi-year trend data for Kids Count Indicators, and multi-year national composite ranks. The document ends with definitions of the Kids Count Indicators, the rationale for their selection, primary contacts for State Kids Count Projects, and a list of organizations disseminating this publication. (KDFB)

The second volume of the third annual National Education Goals Report contains profiles of the achievements of each state, the District of Columbia, and five territories toward the National Education Goals of 1990, which derived from the National Education Summit of 1989. In brief, the goals for achievement by the year 2000: (1) all children in America will start school ready to learn; (2) the high school graduation rate will increase to at least 90 percent; (3) American students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having demonstrated competence in particular areas, prepared for responsible citizenship; (4) U.S. students will be first in the world in science and mathematics achievement; (5) every adult will be literate and possess the knowledge and skills needed in a global economy; and (6) every school will be free of drugs and violence. The profile for each state summarizes indicators for each of the six goals, with tabulated data and a bar graph for each goal for which information is available. The four-page profile for each state lists (1) direct measures of the goal; and (2) measures of the objectives. When available, baseline and 1993 Goals Report data are provided. Appended are 24 references and technical notes relating to the statistical data. (SLD)

Noting that the U.S. child poverty rate is no longer declining, this research brief uses 2001 Census data to present a statistical portrait of poor children in the United States. The research brief also highlights some consequences of poverty for children and considers promising approaches for decreasing poverty among low-income children and their families. The brief notes that the overall child poverty rate is down dramatically from its 1993 peak, but that racial, ethnic, and family structure disparities in child poverty remain. Although research has identified associations between child poverty and poor child health, additional research is needed to identify the causal pathways through which poverty affects health outcomes. Poverty has been linked to problematic social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes for children, with several possible causal pathways advanced, including less parental supervision, more parental distress, and more family turbulence in poor households than in more affluent households. The impact of early and recent poverty on cognitive and educational outcomes is consistent, with research suggesting an indirect pathway related to low parental education and poorer schools. Childhood poverty has also been linked to poor adult economic outcomes through educational aspirations and academic achievement and attainment. The brief highlights research suggesting possible policy options: (1) maintain financial work supports and reduce the marriage penalty within the earned income tax credit; (2) build on successful welfare-to-work initiatives; (3) support efforts to strengthen marriages and decrease births to teens and unmarried women; (4) promote child support enforcement, job training, and father involvement; (5) continue child care subsidies and assess funding needs; and (6) inform low-income parents about food and health care assistance. (Contains 64 endnotes.) (KB)

Suggests that teachers use classroom strategies (structure and routine, reasonable rules and limits, using appropriate methods of discipline, other positive behavior management techniques) and socio-emotional interventions (development of friendships, appropriate expressions of emotions, anger control, conflict management, and internal sense of control) to assist child maltreatment victims. (DLH)

This data book provides statistics on a range of indicators that measure critical aspects of children's lives in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Statistics are provided in the following categories: (1) child health, including uninsured children, low birth weight babies, infant deaths, and immunizations; (2) child care and early childhood education, including child care costs, and child care provider characteristics; (3) child safety, including firearm deaths, juvenile crime, and child abuse and neglect; (2) elementary and secondary education, including 4th-grade reading proficiency, high school graduation rates, and per pupil expenditures; (4) economic security and federal program participation, including children and poverty, children in families receiving food stamps, receiving WIC (a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) assistance, receiving TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program) assistance, and children receiving free or reduced-price school lunches. State rankings in these indicators are included. A list of data sources concludes the data book. (HTH)

This data book provides statistics on a range of indicators that measure critical aspects of children's lives in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Statistics are provided in the following categories: (1) national rankings in population and family characteristics; (2) health and disabilities (including children lacking health insurance, child covered by Medicaid, early prenatal care incidence, low birthweight births, infant morality, child immunizations, and teen birth rates); (3) child care and early childhood education (including percentage of mothers in the labor force, child care costs, Head Start enrollment, and child caregiver requirements and income); (4) economic security and federal program participation (including child poverty, welfare caseloads, and number of participants receiving food stamps, cash assistance, WIC benefits, or food programs); (5) child and adolescent safety (including firearm deaths, child abuse and neglect incidence, and minority representation in juvenile detention centers); (6) elementary and secondary education (including teacher-pupil ratios, percentage of teachers without a degree in the subjects they teach, high school completion rate, and per pupil spending); and (7) available state funds (including total state budget, tobacco settlement monies, unspent Children's Health Insurance Program funds, and uncommitted TANF funds). The bulk of the report is comprised of state profiles detailing each state's rank for each indicator. Findings indicated wide discrepancies between the states on children without health insurance, prenatal care, low birthweight, infant mortality, child immunizations, child poverty, child support collections, and per pupil education spending. The report concludes with a guide to data interpretation and information on data sources. (KB)

This data book provides statistics on a range of indicators that measure critical aspects of children's lives in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Statistics are provided in the following categories: (1) population and family characteristics (including number of children under age 18 and age 5, percentage of population under age 18, number and percentage of births to unmarried mothers, number of substantiated claims of children abused or neglected, number of children under age 18 in foster care, and number of adoptions of children from foster care); (2) health and disabilities (including number and percentage of children under age 19 lacking health insurance, number of children covered by Medicaid, incidence of early prenatal care, incidence of low birthweight births, infant mortality rate, percentage of toddlers fully immunized, number of young people under age 22 in the Individuals with Disabilities Education [IDEA] Program, number of children in the Supplemental Security Income [SSI] Program); (3) economic security and federal program participation (including number and percentage of children who are poor, median income of families of four, maximum monthly benefit for families of three under TANF, date when TANF benefits are first terminated or reduced due to time limits, number of child support cases and percent with any child support collection, number of children benefiting from the Food Stamp Program, and number of participants in the federal nutrition programs); (4) child care and early childhood education (including total number of children in Head Start, number of regulated child care centers, number of regulated family child care or group homes, training required for family child care providers and teachers in child care centers, number of 18-month-olds allowed per caregiver, and number of participants in the Child and Adult Care Food Program); (5) elementary and secondary education (including enrollment in public and private schools, number of public and private schools, percentage attending private schools, number of charter schools, pupil-teacher ratio in public schools, race/ethnicity of public school students, percentage of fourth-grade public school students performing at or above the basic mathematics and reading achievement levels, and number of children served by Title 1); and (6) youth development (including teen birth rate, juvenile arrests, total number of deaths from firearms of young people, number of homicides and suicides, percentage of high school students who reported carrying weapons on school property, percentage of high school students who smoke cigarettes, and high school completion rate). State rankings in these indicators are included. (EV)

This monograph derives from a conference sponsored by the Fogarty International Center for Advanced Study in the Health Sciences. The goals of the conference were (1) to establish channels of communication between health care evaluators from different disciplines and from different countries in the Americas, and (2) to promote an exchange of information and experience in evaluation techniques: comparing approaches, methods, needed resources, difficulties, achievements, and failures. Of primary concern was the need for a current evaluation of maternal and child health services delivery systems and the implications of this evaluation for health professional education in the Americas. The monograph consists of five position papers on child health care, 10 papers on case studies involving different methods of evaluation and different types of child health care programs, followed by discussions, and two papers on uses of evaluation in education. The contributors, representing a variety of perspectives and backgrounds, include experts in evaluation, health care, social science research, education, policymaking, and economics. (Author/SS)

This document presents a statistical study of hospital use by children in the United States and Canada designed to determine why the hospital discharge rate of children in the United States is lower than many other Western industrialized nations, although the discharge rate for the general U.S. population is higher. Several reasons for the lower rate are suggested, including the possibilities that American children are in better health, fewer children are hospitalized unnecessarily in the United States, or some children are not receiving needed hospital care. A comparison of Canadian and U.S. statistics is included because of the two countries' similar hospital structure and data. Data are presented in three areas. Hospital use is compared using data on age and sex, diagnosis, surgical procedures, newborn infants, and hospital fatalities. Health status is compared using morbidity, mortality, and cause of death data. Health services are compared using supply and distribution of resources, physician utilization, and health insurance data. It is concluded that: (1) children in the United States had lower discharge rates for upper respiratory infections but higher infant mortality; (2) ambulatory care appeared to be used more in the United States than in Canada; and (3) more U.S. children were uninsured than were Canadian children. A 1983 statistical update is included. (ABL)

The United States has the most homeless people of the industrialized nations, and children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless. This article discusses refugees and homeless persons and presents an annotated bibliography of picture books, fiction, and nonfiction for grades K-12. Suggests class activities in drama, language arts, and social studies. (PEN)

This data book from the Children's Defense Fund includes statistics on a range of indicators that measure critical aspects of children's lives in each of the states and the United States as a whole. Statistics are provided in the following categories: (1) population and family characteristics (number of children under age 18 and age 6, number of children between ages 6-17, children in foster care, births to unmarried mothers); (2) economic security and federal program participation (median income, change in welfare recipients, food stamps, women, infants, and children (WIC) program, children who are poor, percent collection of child support); (3) health and disabilities (prenatal care, low birth weight, infant mortality, immunizations, health insurance, Medicaid, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) program, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program); (4) child care and early childhood education (mothers in labor force with children under 6 and under 17, Head Start, extended-day school programs, licensed child care centers, regulated family or group care homes); (5) youth development (teen birth rate, deaths from guns, unemployment rate); and (6) Every day in [specific state], which presents statistics such as "Every day in America 14 children are killed by firearms." Concludes with data sources. (EV)

This report from the Children's Defense Fund lists statistics on child and youth well-being for each of the states and the United States as a whole. Statistics are provided in the following categories: (1) children participating in federally subsidized programs (including Title 1 Education for the Disadvantaged, bilingual education programs, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs, Head Start, Supplemental Security Income, federal foster care, adoption assistance, Aid for Dependent Children; food stamps, and child support); (2) National School Lunch Program; (3) School Breakfast Program; (4) Women, Infants, and Children Food Program; and (5) Every day in [specific state], which provides statistics on infant mortality, suicide, murder, deaths by guns, prenatal care, low birth weight, teenage mothers, unmarried mothers, abuse and neglect, and health insurance. (EV)