Connecticut's Children: A New Century's Promise. 2000 Data Book.

This Kids Count data book examines statewide trends in the well-being of Connecticut's children. The report first examines how well children have faired during the past 100 years in terms of economics, education, health and safety, and race relations, and how they are doing at the start of the 21st century. This section also outlines the state's objectives or vision for children and the underlying principles of this vision. Following demographic information, the bulk of the report provides a statistical portrait of Connecticut's children based on 17 indicators of well-being: (1) family setting; (2) children in families receiving welfare benefits; (3) children receiving free or reduced-price school meals; (4) high school employment; (5) births to teen mothers; (6) low birthweight; (7) infant mortality; (8) late or no prenatal care; (9) physical fitness tests; (10) preschool experience; (11) performance on Connecticut Mastery Test; (12) performance on Connecticut Academic Performance Test; (13) high school dropout rates; (14) child abuse/neglect; (15) child deaths; (16) preventable teen deaths; and (17) juvenile violent crime arrests. Among the findings, the report indicates that the number of families receiving welfare benefits has decreased; the number of high school students working in excess of 16 hours per week has increased; births to teen mothers have decreased but the number still remains large; infant mortality has decreased as has the problem of late or no prenatal care; and the rate of high school dropouts has improved, as have child abuse/neglect rates. The number of juvenile violent crime arrests has increased. The remaining section of the report provides the child well-being information organized by region rather than indicator. Data sources and notes and a description of the methodology conclude the report. (HTH)