Search

Over the past five years, Newark has seen creeping gains in several indicators of child and family well-being, particularly economics, education and health. Even though there is some good news to report, the fact remains that Newark children still suffer disproportionately compared to children growing up in other parts of Essex County, New Jersey and other urban areas. Children in Newark are more likely to be poor, more likely to grow up with a single mother, less likely to graduate from high school and more likely to end up in foster care. These are just some of the statistics in "Newark Kids Count 2006," the Association for Children of New Jersey's (ACNJ's) 9th annual report on the well-being of children in New Jersey's largest city. This year, ACNJ has added a special section about the Fragile Families study to add more depth to the annual statistics presented in Newark Kids Count. A glossary is also included. [For "Newark Kids Count 2005: A City Profile of Child Well-Being," see ED519894.]

For the 8th year, "Newark Kids Count 2005" paints a statistical portrait of city children, who are born with so much promise and given so few chances to fulfill that promise. As the city, and indeed the state, labor to build a child welfare system that keeps children safe and families together, everyone must remember that real children lie behind these disturbing statistics. For more than two years, Newark's community of child advocates, social workers, teachers and parents have worked together in an effort to create neighborhood hubs that would help Newark families. Called "community collaboratives," this effort is a linchpin of the state's sweeping plan to fix New Jersey's child welfare system. Without strong support in their own backyards, families and children will continue to fall between the cracks. For many reasons, community efforts in Newark and other cities have been slow to weave the promised blanket of support that could make life better for so many Newark children. But, with continued commitment and a deeper understanding of the problems that Newark families face, it is possible to improve the outlook for these children and families. The Association for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) hopes this report helps to do that. A glossary is included. [For "Newark Kids Count 2004: A City Profile of Child Well-Being," see ED519887.]

"Newark Kids Count 2004" presents a statistical snapshot of child well-being that can be used to inform those efforts to create a strong community safety net for Newark's youngest citizens. Following is a look at some of the major trends documented in this year's report: (1) Poverty persists; (2) Nutritional supports lag; (3) Unmarried moms; and (4) Immunizations lacking. Bright spots include: (1) More preschool, child care; (2) Test scores improve; and (3) Tax credits jump. Even with this progress, much more remains to be done. This report documents areas of progress that can be built upon through the process of creating a stronger network of community services. It also shows the challenges that face Newark's collective community of social service providers, city and school officials and state partners, as they work to transform a child welfare system into one that responds to the needs of New Jersey's most vulnerable citizens. Data sources and definitions are included.

"Camden Kids Count 2004" provides a snapshot of child well-being in one of New Jersey's most impoverished cities, in the hopes of helping both city and state policymakers make use of limited resources to help New Jersey's neediest children. Here are some major findings documented in this report: (1) Thirty-five percent of Camden's population was under 18, according to the 2000 U.S. Census; (2) While the percentage of Camden residents under 18 is high, Camden's total child population declined 15 percent from the 1990 to 2000 U.S. Census; (3) Just 2.7 percent of Camden's children were white in 2000; (4) Earning just $20,695 in 1999, Camden City families fell far below the county median family income of $56,346; (5) According to U.S. Census 2000, nearly 40 percent of Camden youth aged 5 to 17 primarily speak a language other than English at home; (6) Mirroring statewide trends, the number of city children receiving welfare plummeted 35.8 percent from 1999 to 2004, but they still accounted for 66 percent of all Camden County children living in families on welfare; and (7) In the 2002-2003 school year, more than half of the city's fourth-graders failed both the language arts (55.1%) and math (58.1%) portion of the statewide tests. Other major findings include: (1) In 2001, infant deaths accounted for 1.7 percent of all births in the city and 1 percent in the county; (2) Births to unmarried mothers represented 80 percent of total births in the city in 2002, compared to 29 percent statewide; (3) Low-weight births in Camden City declined from 13.2 percent of all births in 1996 to 12.1 percent in 2002; (4) Births to teens dropped more in the city than the county; and (5) Out-of-home placements increased 17.4 percent in the city and 38.4 percent statewide from 2000 to 2004. Glossary/Sources are included. [This paper was produced in partnership with CAMConnect. Additional funding for Camden Kids Count was provided by: the Camden Center for Youth Development and Cooper University Hospital.]

Noting that each year nearly 11 million children die from preventable causes before reaching their fifth birthday, this handbook contains practical, low-cost ways of protecting children's lives and health. The handbook is directed to those in positions to communicate the information to families, such as health workers, teachers, government officials, and the media. Written simply and using non-technical language, the handbook is presented in 13 chapters, each dealing with one major cause of childhood illness and death. Each chapter includes an introductory "call to action," summarizing the extent of the problem, key messages containing the essential information needed to protect children, and supporting information providing additional details and advice. Introductory material delineates essential messages from the handbook and makes suggestions for communicating the information effectively. The 13 chapter topics are: (1) timing births; (2) safe motherhood; (3) diarrhea; (4) coughs, colds, and more serious illnesses; (5) hygiene; (6) child development and early learning; (7) breastfeeding; (8) nutrition and growth; (9) immunization; (10) malaria; (11) HIV/AIDS; (12) injury prevention; and (13) disasters and emergencies. The handbook concludes with a glossary and an order form. (KB)

This Kids Count data book examines statewide trends in the well-being of Kentucky's children. The statistical portrait is based on indicators of child well-being in the areas of: (1) child poverty; (2) family types; (4) child living arrangements and parental employment; (4) births; (5) child and teen deaths; (6) economic security; (7) student performance; (8) child care and early education; (9) child abuse and neglect; and (10) juvenile justice. The first section of the data book presents introductory materials. The second section addresses child and family trends and child safety and well-being issues on a statewide basis. The third section provides recommendations for supporting low-income working families. The fourth section and bulk of the data book presents state and county data pages, comparing current findings with data available from previous years. The data indicate an increase in prenatal care, low birth weight babies, math and reading achievement scores, and juvenile justice cases. The data indicate a decrease in child poverty rates, teen birth rates, infant mortality, and teen violent deaths. The data book concludes with information on definitions and data sources. (SD)

This Kids Count report examines statewide trends in the well-being of Washington's children. The statistical portrait is based on indicators in the areas of community population, health and safety, economic well-being, and education, for all of Washington's 39 counties as well its 3 major cities. The specific indicators include: (1) population change; (2) racial group distribution; (3) inadequate prenatal care; (4) births paid for by Medicaid; (5) WIC participation; (6) fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle crashes; (7) toxic chemical releases; (8) child abuse and neglect; (9) home ownership; (10) annual income; (11) unemployment rate; (12) children living in poverty; (13) food bank clients; and (14) academic achievement in math and reading. The first section of the report presents a state summary of highlights, key indicators, and trends. The remainder and bulk of the report presents city and county data tables for each indicator. Among the findings are the following: (1) the state's child population is growing steadily in numbers and diversity; (2) demands for child-related services are challenging current resources; (3) referrals for child maltreatment dropped in most counties; (4) some increase in number of women receiving prenatal care; (5) food bank clients increased; (6) students continue to struggle to meet basic math standards; and (7) an achievement gap in reading and math continues for Native American, African American and Hispanic students. (SD)

This Kids Count county data book is the eleventh in a series to measure the well-being of Kentucky's children and focuses on the vital role that families play in ensuring their children's success. Included at the beginning of this document is an executive summary of the databook providing an overview of the statewide data for six child and family indicators. Following the introductory remarks in the data book, a narrative section discusses trends over the past 20 years in the number of children, child living arrangements, family types, births, and child and teen deaths. In addition, trends are discussed for indicators grouped in five areas: (1) economic security, including child poverty, cost of living, unemployment rate, and number of recipients for various economic support programs; (2) student performance, including dropout rate, daily attendance rate, and academic achievement; (3) child care and early education, including number of care providers and public preschool enrollment; (4) child abuse and neglect, including number of reports and rate of substantiation; and (5) juvenile justice, including type of offense. Recommendations for improving child and family well-being follow. The bulk of the report presents statewide and county indicator data for the above areas. Data indicate that there have been improvements in prenatal care, infant mortality, child deaths, child poverty, low-income children without health care coverage, child support, teen births, and teen violent deaths. However, there have also been increases in the percent of low birthweight infants, the percent of children living with single parents, and the rate of youth under supervision of the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice. Information on definitions and data sources conclude the report. (Contains 45 endnotes.) (KB)

These 43 Kids Count summaries, one for each of the state's counties, major metropolitan areas, and the state as a whole, examine trends in the well-being of Washington's children. The summaries each reiterate key statewide trends in the areas of education, child maltreatment, housing affordability, and employment levels, as well as family structure. The summaries then present data for their respective county for the following key indicators: 4th-grade math and reading achievement; child abuse and neglect; inadequate prenatal care; low birth weight; asthma hospitalizations; housing affordability, annual child care costs; average annual wages; and unemployment rate. Whether the data show improvement, worsening, or no change from earlier assessments is also noted. (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) 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 teacher's instructional guide, which is part of a family and consumer sciences education series focusing on a broad range of employment opportunities, is intended to assist teachers responsible for teaching one- and two-year child development programs for Texas high school students. The following are among the items included: (1) introductory materials (course description; overview of course design; list of facilities, equipment, and resources; information about Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America; instructions for using the guide); (2) pertinent Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills; (3) sample block plans and block planning master; (4) recommended instructional strategies; (5) supervised career connections experiences; (6) blended activities; (7) creative ideas for presenting the material (including team activities, resource persons, case studies, listening teams, debate, brainstorming, games, and Internet activities); (8) list of 95 resources; and (9) 105 teaching aids. The following are among the topics covered in the program: prenatal care and development; hereditary and environmental factors; growth and care of children throughout the various stages from infant to school-age child; child care agencies and services; impact of child abuse on children and families; health and wellness of children; employability skills; informed career decisions; and supervised career connections experience. (MN)

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 10th annual Kids Count data book reports on trends in the well-being of Kentucky's children. The statistical portrait is based on indicators in the areas of well being, child risk factors, and demography. The indicators are as follows: (1) healthy births, including birth weights and prenatal care; (2) maternal risk characteristics, including mothers under age 20, unmarried mothers, mothers not graduating from high school, and mothers smoking during pregnancy; (3) child mortality, including deaths of infants under 1 year of age; (4) student performance, including daily attendance and 6th-grade reading and math skills; (5) teen indicators, including high school dropout rates and unsuccessful post-high school transitions; (6) child abuse and neglect, including emotional abuse; (7) public school disciplinary actions, including law violations and school board policy violations; (8) juvenile justice, including types of sentences; (9) children in families receiving public assistance, including free/reduced lunches; and (10) general demographic and economic characteristics, including poverty rates and unemployment rates. Following introductory material that includes county rankings in alphabetical order, the bulk of the report presents data for each of the indicators. County data pages are then presented. Among the findings, the report notes improved prenatal care rates and improved child care and child health insurance coverage. However, the report notes increasing numbers of pregnant women who choose to smoke; a high school dropout rate that, while improved from a decade ago, is still higher than the national rate; and a disturbing trend in the disparity among family incomes, despite growth in median family income faster than the national rate. A list of data sources concludes the report. (HTH)

These 42 Washington Kids Count summaries, one for each of the state's counties and major metropolitan areas, examine trends in the well-being of Washington's children. The summaries each begin with a report on economic prosperity within the state and the county or region. The statistical portraits are based on indicators in three general areas of children's well-being: (1) economic well-being (annual wages, family structure and income level, child care burden); (2) health and safety (prenatal care, low birthweight, low birthweight by race/ethnic group, teen pregnancy, child abuse and neglect, juvenile arrests); and (3) education (seventh grade reading and mathematics achievement). Comparison data are presented and trends are analyzed. Also presented are specific county profile data in comparison to the state. The data indicate that there has been a year of solid economic growth in Washington, but that disparities in all realms of child well-being have continued at 1998-1999 levels or have grown worse. (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)

These 43 Washington Kids Count summaries, one for each of the state's counties, major metropolitan areas, and the state as a whole, examine trends in the well-being of Washington's children. The summaries each begin with a report on economic prosperity within the state and region. The statistical portrait is based on three general areas of children's well-being: education, health and safety, and economic well-being. Eight key indicators of child well-being are detailed: (1) fourth-grade math scores; (2) lack of prenatal care; (3) teen pregnancy; (4) child abuse and neglect; (5) juvenile arrests; (6) child poverty and inadequate income; (7) average annual wages; and (8) child care burden. Comparison data are presented and trends are analyzed. Also presented are specific county profile data in comparison to the state. The summaries conclude with information on trends in student enrollments and projections for 1998-2004, and ethnic distribution of the child population within the region. (KB)

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 Kids Count data book examines trends in the well-being of Kentucky's children on a statewide and county basis. An introduction summarizes some of the trends for Kentucky's children in the 1990s. The bulk of the report presents statewide and county data grouped into five categories: (1) poverty rates and programs (persons in poverty; median household income; total people and children receiving AFDC, Food Stamps, SSI, and Medicaid); (2) vital statistics (live births, infant deaths, birth rate, teen birth rate, early prenatal care, low birth weight, infant mortality rate, child death rate, and teen violent death rate); (3) state job market (civilian and non-civilian employment rates, total jobs in 10 broad categories such as agriculture and manufacturing, Kentucky Department of Employment Services job listings, percentage of households without phones or cars); (4) child abuse and neglect (reported and substantiated cases of physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and dependency); and (5) education (dropout rate, retention rate, transition rate, attendance rate, percentage free/reduced lunches, and expenditure per pupil). A glossary presents definitions, methodology, and data sources. (EV)