Each year since 1990, the Annie E Casey Foundation has released a KIDS COUNT® Data Book assessing child well-being in each state based on 10 key statistical indicators. This publication uses the KIDS COUNT data from 1990 to 2000 to assess improvements in child well-being in each state during the 1990s. States are then ranked on the basis of improvements during the decade.
A New Index to Track Change
To gauge state-level improvements in child well-being, researchers created a composite index based on 10 KIDS COUNT indicators. The movement of this index over time indicates if child well-being is improving or deteriorating in a particular state.
What the Results Reveal
Between 1990 and 2000, the KIDS COUNT Index revealed a 14% improvement in child well-being nationwide. Yet, this statistic masks variation across states and over time. Most states (46 out of 50) showed improvement in child well-being during the 1990s. California exhibited the biggest improvement during the 1990s (up 23%), followed closely by Maryland and New Jersey (up 21% each). Two states (Nebraska and Wisconsin) experienced slight declines in overall well-being during the 1990s, and two other states (Kansas, North Dakota) showed no change over the decade.
About the Series
This publication is part of the KIDS COUNT Working Paper series, which elevates discussions about data gaps, results and trends related to the KIDS COUNT database.
Taking the longer view is important for capturing state-level improvements in child well-being
It can be difficult to determine whether annual fluctuations in a state’s child well-being statistics are random or part of a larger, meaningful trend. True progress is better measured another way — by expanding the time frame of change.
Findings & Stats
Two (Different) Sets of Results
The five worst-ranked states, based on 2000 data, were: Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas and New Mexico. The five worst-ranked states, based on the change (or lack thereof) in child well-being from 1990 to 2000, were: Wisconsin, Nebraska, North Dakota, Kansas and Montana.
A Pair of High Performers
New Jersey and Minnesota experienced exceptional improvements during the 1990s and were in the top five states based on 2000 data.
The Big Picture
Between 1990 and 2000, the KIDS COUNT child well-being index showed a 14% improvement in child well-being in the country as a whole, but this masks significant variation across states.
Statements & Quotations
It is important to understand that improvement in child well-being is quite different than the level of child well-being in a state. When states are simply ranked against each other at a point in time, it is not clear whether child well-being is improving or deteriorating collectively or for any given state.
Despite the emergence of many regular reports containing child and family data, there is no agreement on specific criteria to measure child well-being.
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