Regional Differences
States in the West performed better on the KIDS COUNT index, while states in the eastern half of the United States performed better on the 25-item index.
This working paper examines two state-level indices of child well-being. The first is a 10-item index from the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2006 KIDS COUNT Data Book. The second is a 25-item quality-of-life index that covers seven specific domains of child well-being. Readers will learn how these two indices compare, and where and why their state rankings differ.
How does the 10-item KIDS COUNT index compare to the 25-item quality-of-life index? Generally speaking, it provides a good approximation of children’s overall quality of life across the 50 states. But there is room for improvement, according to this report. If the KIDS COUNT index were to grow, it should add a measure in one of two areas: 1) safety and behavioral well-being; or 2) emotional and spiritual well-being. Both areas reflect important dimensions of children’s lives that are not currently represented in the 10-item index.