KIDS COUNT: identifying and helping America's most vulnerable

Using data from the 1999 KIDS COUNT Data Book, compiled and published by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the most recent state figures (1996) are compared with corresponding data from 1985 to assess the trends in child well-being in each state during the decade. The 10 key indicators used to rank states are taken fro federal government statistical agencies and reflect the best data available for each of the measures. Between 1985 and 1996, child well-being improved across the country in seven of the indicators (infant mortality rate; child death rate; rate of teen death by accidents, homicide and suicide; percent of teens who are high school dropouts; percent of teens not attending school and not working; percent of children living with parents who do not have full-time, year-round employment; and percent of children living in poverty). The three areas of children's well-being that worsened during the time period were; the percent of low birth-weight babies; teen birth rate; and percent of families with children headed by a single parent. While many of America's children have experienced improvements in their well-being, there is a large number of children who have been left behind. The focus of the 1999 KIDS COUNT Date Book is on the 9.2 million children who have been identified as "high risk." These children have four or more family disadvantages that put them at greater risk of experiencing poor outcomes. These kids are not benefiting from the continuing economic boom in the 1990s. The District of Columbia, Louisiana and Mississippi had the largest share of high-risk kids, ranging from 39 to 21 percent of their respective populations, and Utah the lowest, with just 5 percent. Long-term family-centered strategies that are multi-dimensional and community-wide are recommended to help promote family change.