Author(s): The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Published: June 13, 2017
Report Intro/Brief:
“As the entrepreneurs, leaders and workers of tomorrow, children are vital to our country’s growth, prosperity and well-being. When children thrive, our nation thrives. That’s why we have produced the KIDS COUNT Data Book every year for nearly three decades: It provides an annual snapshot of how America’s children and families are faring in every state and across the nation.
Key Findings from the 2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book:
Economic incentives produced slight gains for families
Tax credits and more job opportunities have helped pave the path out of poverty for families in the United States and show promise for helping to further increase mobility. The Data Book shows that more parents are employed, fewer families are living with a significant housing cost burden and fewer children are living in poverty. Nationally, the percentage of children in families living below the federal poverty line fell slightly, from 22% in 2010 to 21% in 2015. In 2015, the year of our most recent data, the nation’s unemployment rate was 5.3%, but has since declined to 4.5%. The EITC has buoyed many low-income families.
More families living in high-poverty neighborhoods, minimal gains in education
Despite the progress, there are areas of concern. For example, the rise of children living in high-poverty areas over the past decade is persistent. From 2011 to 2015, 14% of children lived in areas where poverty rates were at or above 30%. Poverty has a stranglehold on parts of the United States, especially in the South and Southwest, where children face economic, health and academic challenges with few policies and investments to mitigate them. The four states that had 20% or more of their children living in high-poverty areas — Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico — are in the southern and southwest United States. In the District of Columbia, 25% of children reside in high-poverty neighborhoods. Eighty-four percent of children in Puerto Rico live in high-poverty areas.
And, despite the rise in high school completion rates, academic gains among children fell. Sixty-eight percent of eighth graders scored below proficient in math in 2015, up from 2009. Nearly two in three students in fourth grade lack reading proficiency. Attendance for prekindergarten programs for 3- and 4-year-olds remains stagnant, with 53% not accessing these beneficial services.
The 2017 Data Book focuses on key trends in the post-recession years, measuring child well- being in four domains: economic, education, health and family and community.
State Rankings in the 2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book
Three New England states ranked among the top five in the United States for overall child well-being — New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont — followed by Minnesota and Iowa. States in the South and Southwest ranked at the bottom: Mississippi is the lowest-ranked state, followed by New Mexico, Louisiana, Nevada and Arizona.
- Three heartland states were among the top five in economic well-being — North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa — along with New Hampshire and Utah.
- California ranks among the bottom five states in economic well-being, a disconcerting fact given that nine million children — or one in eight of all U.S. children — live in the state.
Data-driven investments and policies are key for promising futures.
“We must use reliable data to inform policy decisions that ease poverty and create the next generation of healthier and better-educated citizens,” said McCarthy. “We call on policymakers to use this evidence to continue and expand what’s working, and to find additional solutions that make a measurable difference for children.”
The Casey Foundation offered the following recommendations to ensure all children can reach their full potential:
- HEALTH — Maintain health care programs.
Reaching 95% of U.S. children with health insurance is a tremendous achievement that should not be jeopardized. Provide continued investments at the federal and state levels. Remove systemic barriers that prevent families from enrolling their children in health coverage programs. - EDUCATION — Invest in early childhood education programs.
Science has taught us that the first few years of development can position a child for success in school and life. Supporting early childhood education opportunities at the local, state and federal levels enables children to reach critical milestones that lead to lifetime success. - ECONOMIC — Expand programs that create economic stability for families.
The EITC, at the federal level and in many states, has become a cornerstone in helping low- income families meet basic needs. Offering tax breaks for child care can help working parents better balance their financial responsibilities.”
