July 31, 2014

New Kids Count Data Released: How does NYC compare?

A new Kids Count Data Book was released last week by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, showing that many of the trends we are seeing in our own Keeping Track data hold true on a national scale.

In New York City, despite other signs of economic growth, we have continued to see historically high child poverty rates. And while we have tracked improvements in some areas, like infant mortality and child obesity rates, we see that disparities persist, often in communities where children’s needs are greatest.

A recent USA Today article highlighted similar trends illustrated in the national Kids Count data, paying particular attention to rising child poverty rates and the disparities that exist across racial and ethnic communities.

The data in both Kids Count and Keeping Track suggest that more attention must be paid to the needs of families and communities who are still recovering from the economic downturn. Both are important tools in our advocacy to protect and expand budget and policy initiatives at all levels of government that link children and families to essential supports and services.

When comparing the latest Kids Count data to Keeping Track, here’s how New York City measures up to the rest of the country:

• Economic Well-Being: In 2012, 23 percent of American children – or about one in four – lived in poverty; in New York City the 2012 child poverty rate was 31 percent – or about one in three – the highest in over a decade.
• Education: The data in education suggest that New York City fares a bit better than the national average in terms of early education, with 41 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds not enrolled in preschool, compared to 54 percent nationwide. But by high school, New York City appears to fall behind; nationally 19 percent of high school students did not graduate on time in the 2011-12 school year, compared to 30 percent in New York City.
• Health: In both New York City and nationwide, about 8 percent of babies are born weighing less than 2,500 grams; and for both the city and the nation, this indicator has improved in recent years. In terms of health insurance, the city has continued to offer more universal coverage for children than the country as a whole, with just 4 percent of New York City children uninsured in 2012, compared to 7 percent nationwide.

We’re regularly updating Keeping Track Online in order to provide you with easy access to the most up-to-date and comprehensive information available on New York City’s children. A new edition of our Keeping Track of New York City’s Children data book will also be available in early 2015!

The Kids Count Data Book provides an annual ranking of states on 16 key measures of child well-being and also highlights important trends related to child well-being across the U.S. To learn more about Kids Count, visit the Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count web site.

Tags
Keeping Track Online, Economic Security, Education, Health

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