Since 1990, KIDS COUNT has ranked US states annually on overall child well-being using an index of key indicators. The KIDS COUNT index uses four domains to capture what children need most to thrive: (1) Economic Well-Being, (2) Education, (3) Health and (4) Family and Community. Each domain includes four indicators, for a total of 16. These indicators represent the best available data to measure the status of child well-being in the United States at the state and national levels. (For a more thorough description of the KIDS COUNT index, visit www. aecf.org/resources/the-new-kids-count-index.)
This year’s Data Book presents current data and multiyear trends, which — whenever possible — compare data from 2010 with those from 2016, the most recent year available for most indicators. These data allow the Foundation to assess how the country’s children have fared during the economic recovery experienced after the Great Recession. State rankings focus only on the most recent data.
The report also highlights the need to improve data collection to ensure that all children are counted, calling for leaders to take critical steps to address the shortcomings of the 2020 U.S. Census.
