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"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.

This latest annually produced Iowa Kids Count data book, "Iowa Kids Count 2009: Trends in the Well-Being of Iowa Children," provides data on 18 different indicators of child and family well-being at the United States, Iowa, substate and county-level. The 18 indicators presented in the data book contain an expanse of data from economic, welfare, education and health areas including child poverty, child abuse and neglect, high school graduation and low birthweight. These indicators provide an extensive cross-section of data and information for policymakers, researchers, educators and others to use. Of the 18 indicators included in this year's data book, 10 have shown slight or moderate improvement while the other eight have shown slight to significant deterioration at the state level primarily from 2000 to 2009. This reflects a slight improvement from the previous year's data book which showed a few more indicators deteriorating than improving during the 2000 to 2008 time period. [For "Iowa Kids Count 2008: Trends in the Well-Being of Iowa Children," see ED537753.]

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 2010 "Data Book" to rankings in past Data Books does not always provide a perfect assessment of change over time. However, the Appendix shows how states would have ranked in past years if the same 10 measures used in the 2010 Data Book had been employed. The table in the Appendix is the best way to assess state changes over time in overall child well-being. Contents of this "Data Book" include: (1) Summary and Findings; (2) National Indicator Maps: State Rates; and (3) KIDS COUNT Data Center. Also included are: (1) Appendix: Multi-Year State Trend Data for Overall Ranks; (2) Definitions and Data Sources; (3) Criteria for Selecting KIDS COUNT Indicators; (4) Primary Contacts for State KIDS COUNT Projects; and (5) About the Annie E. Casey Foundation and KIDS COUNT. (Contains 3 tables.) [For "KIDS COUNT Data Book, 2009: State Profiles of Child Well-Being", see ED506286.]

This new Iowa Kids Count data book, "Iowa Kids Count 2008: Trends in the Well-Being of Iowa Children," is the latest annually produced book containing data on 18 different indicators of child and family well-being for the United States, Iowa and its 99 counties. The 18 indicators provide a wealth of health, education, welfare and economic data from infant mortality to teen births, child abuse and neglect to student test scores, and unemployment to child poverty. The indicators in the data book present an extensive cross-section of data and information for educators, researchers, policy makers and others to use.

Researchers in many fields agree. The physical, social, and economic health and well-being of adults and society as a whole are strongly influenced by the early experiences of children, when the foundation for effective cognitive and social skills and abilities are developed. Children who have developmental delays or disabilities require and often receive early intervention. Children who have adverse experiences or prolonged toxic stress associated with poverty, child abuse and serious neglect, parental substance abuse, neighborhood violence, or maternal depression also need interventions to build the foundational skills necessary to reach their full potential. The most cost efficient time to intervene--to break the cycle of disadvantage for vulnerable children through providing access to comprehensive developmental, health, and educational resources--is in the very early ages. This report provides a snapshot of how young children and their parents in Minnesota are faring, presenting indicators and trends with regard to births, newborns, infants, and toddlers as well as with regard to family strengths and stressors. When data are available, differences based on geography, income, and race/ethnicity are also noted. The report concludes with both implications of the major trends and differences and effective strategies for improving the well-being of our most vulnerable young children. A list of data sources is included. [Funding for this paper was provided by the Minnesota Community Foundation.]

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.]

KIDS COUNT is a national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the U.S. By providing policymakers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being, KIDS COUNT seeks to enrich local, state, and national discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all children. This 18th annual 2007 KIDS COUNT Data Book examines our national obligations to those children who are at risk of being removed from their homes and, in particular, the more than 700,000 children who spend time each year in foster care. The data book essay, "Family, Friend, and Neighbor Care: Strengthening a Critical Resource to Help Young Children Succeed," (Douglas W. Nelson) advances a new accountability framework for America's child welfare system and outlines what should be done to ensure that every child in its care has a genuine chance to be part of a lifelong family. The data book ranks states on 10 key measures and provides data on the economic, health, education, and social conditions of America's children and families. The data book indicators show: (1) four areas of improvement: child death rate, teen birth rate, high school dropout rate, teens not in school and not working; (2) two areas of slight improvement: infant mortality rate, teen death rate; and (3) four areas have worsened: low-birthweight babies, children living in families where no parent has full-time year-round employment, children in poverty, and children in single-parent families. The following are appended: (1) Multi-Year State Trend Data for KIDS COUNT Key Indicators; and (2) Multi-Year State Trend Data for Overall Ranks. Also included are: (1) Definitions and Data Sources; (2) Criteria for Selecting KIDS COUNT Indicators; (3) Primary Contacts for State KIDS COUNT Projects; and (4) About the Annie E. Casey Foundation and KIDS COUNT. (Contains 3 tables and 53 endnotes.) [For "Kids Count Data Book, 2006," see ED494947.]

This curriculum was first published in June 1998 to be used by qualified health and safety trainers to fulfill part of the learning needs and licensing requirements of child care providers (Health and Safety Code, Section 1596.866) in California. This second and updated edition of Module 2, Prevention of Injuries, covers the content of the Emergency Medical Services Authority Child Care 7 Hours Preventive Health and Safety Training Course and will provide information and guidance on how to reduce and control injuries in the child care setting. It also reflects current changes in the National Health and Safety Performance Standards for Out-of-Home Child Care. By using this module, trainers will be able to: (1) Increase awareness about the types of injuries that are common in the child care setting, who gets injured, how, when and why; (2) Help providers understand the connection between the developmental age of a child and the kind of injuries he or she may have; (3) Discuss and develop safety policies and use them as tools for safety, risk prevention and protection; (4) Encourage providers to accept responsibility for preventing injuries in their child care setting; (5) Help providers to understand regular safety checks and take actions to eliminate or reduce environmental hazards; (6) Provide materials that can be used as resources for child care providers as well as parents; and (7) Connect child care providers with local health and safety resources.

Kids Count, a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is a national and state by- state effort to track the status of children in the United States. By providing policymakers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being, Kids Count seeks to enrich local, state, and national discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all children. At the national level, the principal activity of the initiative is the publication of the annual Kids Count Data Book, which uses the best available data to measure the educational, social, economic, and physical well-being of children. This booklet is derived from the 2006 Kids Count Data Book, and contains an overview, graphics on national trends, charts on 10 key indicators, state-by-state data and rankings, data on children under age 6 in family-based child care, and contacts for state Kids Count projects.

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.)

The first section of this report describes the context in which America's children live, such as changes in children's family settings and living arrangements. The report indicates that although the majority of children live with two married parents, 32 percent do not. In 2003, 23 percent of children lived with only their mothers, 5 percent lived with only their fathers, and 4 percent lived with neither of their parents. Among all U.S. children 15 percent had a parent who had not received a high school diploma. In 2002, 34 percent of children under 18 years old lived in areas that did not meet one or more of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards, up significantly from 19 percent in 2001. The next four sections of the report focus on indicators of economic security, health, behavior and social environment, and education. Regarding economic security, the number of children living in families with incomes below their poverty threshold increased from 11.2 million in 2001 to 11.6 million in 2002. The health of the Nation's children continues to improve in many areas; however, there have been increases in obesity, infant mortality, and low birth weight. Victimization rates for juveniles as well as violent offending rates by juveniles have declined. High school advanced course-taking rates are at the highest levels in the past 20 years. 10 figures and a summary list of measures and indicators of child well-being.

In 2003, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) released a "Strategic Plan for Early Childhood Health." In recognition of the critical role states play in the development of early childhood initiatives and of the unique contributions that state Title V programs can make to these initiatives, the Bureau operationalized their strategic plan through an all state grant program entitled State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (SECCS). Based on national reports and recommendations, MCHB has mapped out five critical components that support families and communities in the development of children that are healthy and ready to succeed in school. One of these is parenting education services. The purpose of this report is to (1) provide SECCS Initiative grantees and their partners with information about the current status of parenting education programs in the United States; (2) present some approaches to the provision of parenting education; (3) identify the role of the SECCS Initiative in relation to the development of affordable, high-quality parenting education programs and systems; and (4) present some promising practices and parenting education resources. The following are appended: (1) The Universe of Parent Education; and (2) Matrix of Stand-Alone Parent Education Programs for Parents of Children Birth to Five. (Contains 3 tables, 2 figures, and 71 endnotes.) [This publication was produced by the National Center for Infant and Early Childhood Health Policy, an active collaboration between the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities, the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP), the Women and Children's Health Policy Center at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This paper been adapted from "Supporting Parents through Parenting Education" by Marlene Zepeda and Alex Morales.]

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 report examines the educational status of Hispanic Americans, presenting indicators illustrating recent educational gains and existing gaps. Data come from National Center for Education Statistics published reports as well as other federal agencies and organizations. There are four sections with eight chapters. Section 1, "Demographic Overview," includes (1) "Demographic Characteristics." Section 2, "Preprimary, Elementary, and Secondary Education," includes (2) "Participation," (3) "Persistence," (4) "Academics and Achievement," (5) "Social Environments and Parental Support for Learning," and (6) "Student Behaviors." Section 3, "Postsecondary Education," includes (7) "Participation and Context." Section 4, "Outcomes of Education," discusses (8) "Labor Market and Social Outcomes." Much of the recent rise in minority enrollment is attributed to growth in the Hispanic student population. Hispanics have retention and suspension/expulsion rates higher than those of Whites and lower than those of Blacks. They have higher dropout rates and lower graduation rates than Whites or Blacks. While their test scores were higher in 1999 than in 1970s, they were still lower than those of Whites. Over 50 percent of Hispanic students speak mostly English at home. Hispanic college enrollment increased between 1980-2000. There is a positive relationship between education and salary for all racial/ethnic groups, though incomes for Hispanic men are lower than those of white men at most educational levels. (Contains 28 bibliographic references and 76 tables.) (SM)

This Kids Count data book provides state and county trends in the well-being of Kansas' children. The statistical portrait is based on 22 indictors in the areas of economic well-being, physical health and safety, childhood care and education, emotional well-being, and social behavior and social control. Following a state profile, county data are presented for the following indicators: (1) births to school-age mothers; (2) children in poverty; (3) children approved for free school meals; (4) childhood deaths; (5) infant mortalities; (6) births with adequate prenatal care; (7) kindergartners fully immunized by age two; (8) low birth-weight babies; (9) Early Head Start participation; (10) Head Start participation; (11) child care availability; (12) high school graduate post-secondary education; (13) births to mothers with less than a high school degree; (14) students graduating from high school; (15) out-of-home placements; (16) teen violent deaths; (17) reported child abuse and neglect; (18) substantiated child abuse and neglect; (19) juvenile court filings; (20) youth who report using tobacco in preceding 30 days; (21) youth who report binge drinking; and (22) youth who report using other drugs. Measures showing notable improvement include childhood death rates, Head Start participation, immunization rates, and use of tobacco and binge drinking. Measures remaining steady include infant mortality, low birth-weight births, and post-secondary education or training among high school graduates. Measures showing deterioration include free school meal enrollment and reported child abuse and neglect. The data book concludes with notes and a list of data sources. (HTH)

This Kids Count factbook examines statewide trends in the well-being of South Dakotas children. The statistical portrait is based on 25 indicators in the areas of demographics, health, education, economics, and safety. The indicators include: (1) poverty thresholds; (2) racial groups; (3) single age years; (4) households and families; (5) infant mortality; (6) low birth weight; (7) child death; (8) teen violent death; (9) births to single teens; (10) prenatal care; (11) immunizations; (12) school enrollment; (13) school dropout rates; (14) children with a disability; (15) poverty statistics; (16) personal income; (17) women employed; (18) TANF/food stamps/Medicaid; (19) child care; (20) free and reduced price lunch recipients; (21) juvenile justice; (22) child abuse and neglect; (23) youth related traffic accidents; (24) juvenile drug and alcohol abuse; and (25) youth risk behavior survey. The first section of the factbook presents introductory materials and comparative information between South Dakota and the United States. The major portion of the factbook presents state and county data tables for each indicator. Among the findings are the following: South Dakota has the highest percentage rate in the nation of children under 6 in paid child care while parents work; the state ranks 5th for children living with fully employed parents; children in low-income working families face uncertain futures; and improvement in child poverty rate outpaces the national rate. The factbook concludes with a section listing data resources, websites of interest, data calculation information, and interpretation instructions. (SD)

This Kids Count data book details statewide trends in the well-being of Maine's children. The statistical portrait is based on indicators in the areas of physical and mental health, including insurance enrollment, adolescent health and safety, and child welfare; social and economic status, including poverty, unemployment, and teen pregnancies; and education and child care, including graduation and dropout rates, and early childhood staff characteristics. The first part of the data book presents data for the state as a whole for each indicator, with national data for comparison. The second part presents county profiles for each indicator. Indicators showing improvement include the number of children uninsured, the teen pregnancy rate, and arrests of children for violent crime. Indicators showing mixed progress include a declining overall child poverty rate, but a rising number of children in low-income families; an increase in employed mothers, but a decrease in jobs paying a livable wage; and an unacceptably large number of uninsured children with working parents. Measures needing immediate attention are teen motor vehicle crashes, an increasing child and teen suicide rate, and increasing number of child abuse and neglect reports. The data book concludes with definitions and sources. (HTH)

This Kids Count report examines statewide trends in the well-being of Utah's children. The statistical portrait is based on 28 indicators of children's well-being in five areas: (1) child health (prenatal care, low birth-weight births, infant mortality, child injury deaths, injury-related hospital discharges, child abuse, childhood immunizations, untreated tooth decay, and suicide death rates); (2) economic security (unemployment rate, poverty rate, quality child care availability, health insurance, special health care needs, and additional poverty indicators); (3) community safety (juvenile adjudication rates and domestic violence); (4) education (fall enrollment and dropout rate, pupil-teacher ratio, truancy referrals to juvenile court, and school meals program participation); and (5) safe behaviors (teen births, teen chlamydia infection rate, teen smoking, overweight youth, physical exercise, seat belt usage, and unlawful drug use). Following introductory remarks, the first section of the report provides demographic information at the county and state level and information on child well-being at a glance. The bulk of the report presents state and county level information on the above indicators. The report's third section details findings on selected health and safety issues for 61 small areas within the state. The final section details Utah's Kids Count project. Among the findings, positive trends are noted for infant mortality, availability of quality child care, teen birth rate, cigarette smoking, exercise, and use of seat belts. Negative trends are noted for prenatal care, low birth-weight births, victims of neglect and abuse, immunization levels, domestic violence, substance abuse and violent crime offenses, and truancy referrals. (SD)

This WisKids Count data book provides a statistical portrait of the well-being of Wisconsin's children. In addition to demographic data indicating changing communities, the indicators and data are organized into five overarching goals: (1) Healthy Families and Children Thrive, including births to single women, infant deaths, and health care coverage; (2) Families Can Meet Their Needs, including family income, housing affordability, children in kinship care, and AFDC and food stamp recipients; (3) Children Are Safe, including births to teen mothers, child abuse and neglect reports, and domestic violence incidents; (4) Youth Make Good Choices, including high school graduation, students taking the ACT exam, juvenile arrests, and children placed in out of home care; and (5) Children Are Ready for School, including children meeting immunization requirements, Head Start enrollment, and children participating in the Birth to Three program. The bulk of the report then presents data by county for each of the indicators under each goal. Data are provided for the years 1991, 1995, 2000, and 2001/2002 to indicate trends. The remainder of the data book provides city comparisons for years 1990 and 2000. Indicator sources and explanations conclude the data book. (HTH)

This KIDS COUNT databook is the eighth annual profile examining statewide trends in the well-being of Rhode Island's children. The statistical portrait is based on 53 indicators (3 new indicators in this databook) in 5 areas: (1) family and community (including child population, children in single parent families, and racial and ethnic diversity); (2) economic well-being (including child support, child poverty, children in families receiving food stamps, children in the Family Independence Program, and children receiving school breakfast); (3) health (including children's health insurance, children with special needs, breastfeeding incidence, dental care access, children's mental health, infant mortality, and births to teens); (4) safety (including child and teen deaths, homeless children and youth, children of incarcerated parents, juveniles referred to family court, and out-of-home placement); and (5) education (including infant/preschool child care, Head Start enrollment, school-age child care, child care subsidies, special education enrollment, student mobility, fourth-grade reading skills, high performing schools, school attendance, and high school graduation). Following an overview focusing on family economic security and educational attainment, the databook defines each indicator, describes its significance and trends, describes efforts to address problems or meet needs, and for most indicators presents relevant data for the state, 39 cities and towns, and an aggregate of the 5 cities with the highest child poverty rates. The databook concludes by describing the methodology, listing KIDS COUNT committee members, and acknowledging contributors. (KB)

This Kids Count report examines statewide trends in the well-being of South Carolina's children. The statistical portrait is based on 44 indicators in the areas of demographics, family, economic status, health, readiness and early school performance, scholastic achievement, and adolescent risk behaviors. The indicators are: (1) population; (2) births to teen mothers; (3) births to mothers not completing high school; (4) births to single mothers; (5) divorce rate; (6) single-parent family; (7) parents working and child care; (8) family violence; (9) separation from parents; (10) abuse and neglect; (11) out of home placements; (12) adult/child ratio; (13) poverty; (14) income; (15) child support payments; (16) prenatal care; (17) low birth weight; (18) infant mortality; (19) childhood injuries and deaths; (20) immunization; (21) sexually transmitted diseases; (22) healthy lifestyles; (23) tobacco use; (24) disabilities; (25) emotional and behavioral disorders; (26) inadequate health care; (27) Medicaid enrollment; (28) ambulatory care; (29) first-grade readiness; (30) first- through third-grade failure rates; (31) over-age for grade three; (32) special education; (33) exit exam failures; (34) achievement trends; (35) Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test results; (36) dropout rates; (37) adolescents not in school or employed; (38) alcohol use; (39) heavy drinking; (40) drug use; (41) sexual activity and pregnancy; (42) juvenile delinquency; (43) not in school or employed; and (44) adolescent deaths. Statewide data and summary information are provided for each indicator. The bulk of the document presents data by county for each indicator. The data on families, economic status, health, readiness, school achievement, and adolescent risk behaviors suggest that too many children are at risk of not growing up to become self-supporting adults, good family members, and responsible community citizens. Thirty-one percent of children live in single-parent families, 18.8 percent live in poverty, 34.8 percent will not graduate from school, 37.1 percent of high school students use alcohol, and 20.1 percent use drugs each month. On the positive side, 85.5 percent of the state's children are born to non-teen mothers, 59.9 percent are born to married parents, and 68.7 percent live in two-parent families. 81.2 percent are not poor, and 86.4 percent are assessed as ready for the first grade. (HTH)

This Kids Count report details trends in the well-being of children in Texas. The statistical portrait is based on indicators in the areas of: (1) family and community population; (2) economic resources, security, and opportunity; (3) early care and education; (4) school success; (5) teens at risk; (6) physical, social, and emotional health; (7) hunger and nutrition; and (8) safety and personal security. Each of these core sections includes descriptions of trend data for the state of Texas, as well as point-in-time comparisons among the six largest counties where the majority of Texans live. County rankings for nine of the indicators are appended. Among the findings of the report are the following: (1) an increase in children living in single-parent families, especially with single fathers; (2) an increase in the number of children in subsidized child care; (3) a decrease in juvenile violent crime; (4) a decrease in teen pregnancy but an increase in births to single teens; (5) improvement in infant mortality but an increase in low birth weight births; (6) decline in food stamp participation but an increase in WIC program participation; and (7) an increase in number of children in family violence shelters. (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 Kids Count report examines state, county, and regional trends in the well-being of Colorado's children. The first part of the report is presented in four chapters. Chapter 1 includes findings regarding the increasing diversity of the child population, linguistic isolation, the impact of parental unemployment, child poverty, and the affordable housing challenge. Chapter 2 concerns vulnerable families, and presents findings regarding teen parents, declines in the teen birth rate, parents with low educational attainment, single-parent families, at-risk births, child abuse and neglect, out-of-home placements, and children of incarcerated parents. Chapter 3 highlights learning and education, and discusses the importance of early learning, the value of high-quality early care, program funding, school readiness, elementary and middle school student achievement, and outcomes of higher education. Chapter 4 focuses on child health and reports findings on health insurance, Medicaid enrollment, the state child health insurance program, maternal and child health indicators, mental health, oral health, asthma, obesity, chronic health conditions, and immunizations. The report next describes the It's About Kids project to stimulate dialogue of children's issues through a diverse child advocacy network. The remainder of the report then presents comparative state and regional data for the year 2001 for the following indicators: (1) demographics; (2) single parent families; (3) births to single women; (4) births to mothers lacking a high school diploma; (5) teen births; (6) repeat teen births; (7) three risk factor births (mothers under 25 years, unmarried, with less than 12 years of education); (8) out-of-home placements; (9) children enrolled in TANF; (10) children under 5 years receiving WIC; (11) children qualifying for free/reduced lunch; (12) median household income; (13) child poverty; (14) children under 6 with all parents in labor force; (15) low birth weight births; (16) early prenatal care; (17) women smoking during pregnancy; (18) infant mortality; (19) child deaths; (20) teen deaths; (21) children enrolled in Medicaid; (22) children enrolled in state health plan; (23) high school graduates; (24) high school dropouts; (25) teen dropouts; and (26) idle teens. The report concludes with data notes and definitions. (KB)

Focusing on the influence of impoverished environments on child outcomes, this Kids Count report examines trends in the well-being of Iowa children. The first section of the report presents an overview essay detailing the presence and location of high risk and moderate risk census tracts in Iowa, based on information from the 2000 Census using children and family measures. The second section presents a statistical portrait, by county, based on data for the following indicators of well-being: (1) infant mortality; (2) low birthweight births; (3) births to 16- to 17-year-olds; (4) teen unmarried births; (5) child abuse and neglect; (6) high school graduation rates; (7) child deaths; and (8) teen violent deaths. The third section of the report presents 1990 and 2000 Census data, by county, for indicators including population age 16-19 not employed or in school, household income, households receiving public assistance, single parent families, family poverty, and preschool enrollment. (HTH)

This KIDS COUNT report examines statewide trends in the well-being of Tennessee's children. The statistical portrait is based on 34 indicators of children's well-being in 5 broad areas: (1) infant, child, and teen health, including enrollment in the TennCare (replacement for Tennessee's Medicaid Program) insurance program, prenatal, low birthweight infants, immunizations, enrollment in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and teen pregnancy and birth; (2) child and teen well-being, including child abuse and neglect, child death, teen violent death, juvenile justice, alcohol and substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and state custody; (3) education, including child care, Head Start, dropout rate, school safety, and school nutrition; and (4) economic security, including poverty, food stamps recipients, and unemployment; and (5) demographics. Following the narrative highlighting major findings, the report provides statewide data, followed by findings, by county, for each of the indicators. Among the findings are the following: (1) in 2001, Tennessee reached its highest immunization completion rate for 24-month-olds; (2) the teen birth rate declined as did the rate for sexually transmitted diseases; (3) the number of substantiated child abuse and neglect cases decreased; (4) in 2001, 12 percent of all students attending Tennessee schools received special education services; (5) the percentage of children younger than age five living in poverty in Tennessee grew by 7 percent between 1990 and 2000; (6) during 2000, nearly one fourth of all Tennessee households were headed by a single parent; and (7) Tennessee's minority youth population grew by more than 11 percent in 2001, one of the fastest growing segments of the population. The report concludes with a section of maps, tables, and sources, and a section of data definitions and sources. (HTH)

This Kids Count data book details statewide trends in the well-being of Nevada's children. The statistical portrait is based on indicators of childrens well-being in five areas: (1) health conditions and health care; (2) economic well-being; (3) education and achievement; (4) child and youth safety and welfare; and (5) juvenile justice. The data book begins with an overview and profile of the state's demographics, including data on minority populations. The remainder of the report provides specific information on the primary indicators, organized as follows: (1) definition of the indicator and what it measures; (2) a summary of current research on the indicator at hand; and (3) a map indicating rates, percentages, and/or numbers presented for each county. The specific indicators examined are: (1) low birth weight babies; (2) births to teens; (3) births to mothers lacking adequate prenatal care; (4) enrollment in public-health programs; (5) health issues, such as smoking and drug use; (6) percent of children living in poverty; (7) children in families headed by a single parent; (8) children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment; (9) child care availability; (10) child support enforcement; (11) school enrollment in public/private and home schools; (12) achievement tests and college entrance efforts; (13) teens not in school and not working; (14) children and youth in special education; (15) infant mortality; (16) child deaths; (17) teen violent deaths; (18) child abuse and neglect; (19) children and domestic violence; (20) children in substitute [foster] care; and (21) juvenile violent crime. The data book concludes with county data, notes and list of resources. (Contains references organized by indicator area.) (HTH)

Noting that the southern region of the United States is challenged by some of the most difficult and entrenched economic, health, and social problems that place children at risk, this chartbook presents information on indicators of the current status of children and families in the South and contrasts conditions in the South with those in other regions. The chartbook is intended to build knowledge and stimulate dialogue among public and private leaders on actions needed to support low-income children and families. Indicator charts are organized in four sections: (1) economic factors (median household income, poverty rate, child poverty rate, families receiving TANF, and participation in food stamp program); (2) health (uninsured children, infant mortality, low birthweight infants, percent of mothers with late or no prenatal care, teen birth rates, teen pregnancy rates); (3) child care (percent of eligible children served by state/federal child care subsidies); and (4) education (high school dropout, percent of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in college, and percent of adults with bachelor's degrees or higher). Each chart presents state- or region-wide data and has an accompanying narrative comparing the southern region with other regions and the national average. These indicator charts show that the median household income in the South was approximately $3,700 less than the U.S. median income. Twelve southern states and the District of Columbia had poverty rates higher than the U.S. rate. Forty-one percent of uninsured children in the U.S. live in the south. Forty-two percent of all infant deaths in 1999 were in the south. The southern states served only 15 percent of children eligible for the state/federal child care subsidy system. Twelve southern states and the District of Columbia had dropout rates above the U.S. median. The chartbook's appendix contains 15 supporting data tables. (KB)

This review of seven Healthy People objectives for the nation's 100 largest cities and their surrounding areas documents considerable but inconsistent progress toward improving health in urban and suburban areas. It describes achievements in reaching Healthy People 2000/2010 goals, which were created by the Office of the Surgeon General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for a set of infant health and infectious disease indicators and homicide rates. The review uses data from various agencies of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of the Census. Results indicate that on average, cities and their suburbs met or made progress toward meeting Healthy People 2000 goals for infant mortality, AIDS, tuberculosis, syphilis, and homicide between 1990-1999 and 1999-2000. The 2000 target for reducing low birth weight rates in both cities and their suburbs were not met, on average, between 1990-2000. Fewer suburban areas met the Healthy People 2000 low birth weight goal in 1999 than 1990. Large metropolitan areas in the U.S. saw a 24 percent decrease in the incidence of AIDS between 1990 and 2000; metropolitan areas in the northeast have the highest average AIDS rates. A number of cities in the northeast and midwest remained far apart from their suburbs on meeting Healthy People objectives. Many southern cities and suburbs remained behind other regions on a number of key indicators, including homicide rates, infant mortality rates, and tuberculosis rates. Despite significant improvements, concerns remain about the uncertainty and fragility of the progress achieved. (SM)

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 issue brief details the strides made in Rhode Island over the last 10 years to improve maternal and child health, focusing on efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities. The brief notes that Rhode Island has made significant progress in several areas of maternal and infant care, most notably in access to insurance and early prenatal care. However, significant racial/ethnic disparities remain in several areas, for example, the infant mortality rate for blacks remains twice that for whites and higher than that of any other racial/ethnic group. Other racial/ethnic disparities are described concerning delayed prenatal care, smoking during pregnancy, and pregnancies and births to 15- to 17-year-olds. Potential causes for racial/ethnic disparities are discussed and include socioeconomic factors, behavioral factors, cultural factors, physiological risk factors, and system/provider bias. The brief attributed the contribution of RIte Care, Rhode Island's Medicaid managed care program, to the lowest rate of uninsured children in the nation (5 percent compared to 14 percent nationally). The Women's Health Screening and Referral Program is described as an initiative to prevent unintended pregnancies, improve pregnancy outcomes through risk identification and referral, identify service gaps, and create a continuum of care for women of childbearing age. The brief emphasizes the need to address mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence risks and describes the Universal Newborn Risk Screening Program in place in Rhode Island. Recommendations for addressing the significant remaining racial/ethnic disparities relate to focusing on high-poverty communities, income supports for low-income families, family support and infant development, access and cultural competence, and access to high quality health care during adolescence. (Contains 48 endnotes.) (KB)