Transcript Slide 1

KIDS COUNT
A Project of The Annie E. Casey
Foundation
Laura Speer, Associate Director for Policy
Reform and Data
[email protected]
THE ANNIE E CASEY FOUNDATION
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Established in 1948 by Jim Casey, one of the
founders of UPS, named in honor of his mother
Largest national private philanthropy dedicated
to vulnerable children and families.
Began KIDS COUNT in 1990 to improve
decision making affecting kids and families
through data-based advocacy
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National KIDS COUNT Data Book
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Uses best available data to monitor state-level
child well-being
Produced annually since 1990
Ranks states based on 10 key indicators
Includes range of developmental stages and
areas of well-being
Uses
comparably
collected
data
What’s News in the 2011 KIDS COUNT Data Book
 Recession has wiped out 20 years of
economic gains for low income families with
children
 Gains for teens continue:
o Teen birth rate and high school dropout
rates improve
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2011 KIDS COUNT Overall Ranking
Top 3
NH - 1
MN - 2
MA - 3
Bottom 3
AL - 48
LA - 49
MS - 50
Recession Wipes Out Improvements in Child Poverty
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20
15
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5
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
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Percent of Children in Households with Incomes below
the Federal Poverty Level
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Improvements Continue for Teens
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Trend in teen birth rate back in
positive direction
Percent of teens not in school
and not high school graduates
has steadily declined
Trend seen across
largest racial
and ethnic groups,
but gaps remain
Teen Birth Rate Continues Decline
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50
40
30
20
10
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
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Teen Birth Rate
(per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19)
15
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Fewer High School Drop Outs
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10
8
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2
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
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Percent of Teens Who Are Not in School and
Not High School Graduates (ages 16-19)
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The Economic Picture Across the Last Decade
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How can parents stay on a path to economic
success?
What Research and Data Tell Us
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Children who grow up in low-income families are
less likely to achieve future success
Investing in children’s early years is critical
Opportunities to Invest in a Two-Generation Strategy
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Parents need help to put their families on a
path to economic success
Strategies need to be in place to enhance a
child’s overall development
Opportunities to Invest in a Two-Generation Strategy
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Strengthen and modernize our unemployment
insurance structure and promote foreclosure
prevention
Preserve programs that supplement poverty-level
wages, offset the high cost of child care, and
provide health insurance for parents and kids.
Promote savings and
asset protection
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Opportunities to Invest in a Two-Generation Strategy
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Promote responsible parenthood and expand
access to prenatal care for mothers-to-be
Ensure children are developmentally ready to
succeed in school
Promote reading proficiency by the end of third
grade
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The Importance of Making Changes Now
 Policymakers face difficult budget decisions
 Strategies must ensure a more vibrant society for
our kids
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We Can Do Better for Our Nation’s Kids
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Follow KIDS COUNT All Year-Round
 KIDS COUNT Data Center
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http://datacenter.kidscount.org
 KIDS COUNT is now on
Facebook and Twitter
o http://www.facebook.com/KIDSCOUNT
o http://twitter.com/aecfkidscount
 New mobile site
o mobile.kidscount.org
 KIDS COUNT data widget
and badge
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