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University of Wisconsin–Madison
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty

2016 Kids Count Data Book

  • The best and worst states to be a kid in America, June 21, 2016, USA Today: “Minnesota is the best state to be a kid, according to a new study of children’s overall well-being. The worst overall states? Mississippi, New Mexico, Louisiana, Nevada, and Alabama, according to rankings in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2016 ‘Kids Count Data Book…'”
  • NM again ranks 49th in child well-being, 50th in education, By Damien Willis, Las Cruces Sun-News: “For the third consecutive year, New Mexico ranks 49th overall for child well-being, according to the 2016 Kids Count Data Book, released Tuesday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Mississippi is the only state that fared worse…”
  • California No. 36 in child well-being: Where the state falls short, By Sharon Noguchi, June 20, 2016, San Jose Mercury News: “With more investments in health, the well-being of California’s children continued its three-year improvement, new data shows. At the same time, measurements in four broad categories of children’s welfare place the Golden State in the bottom third of the nation — 36th out of the 50 states, in an annual survey released Tuesday by the child-advocacy groups the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Children Now…”
  • Louisiana children continue to struggle, report says, By Danielle Dreilinger, June 20, 2016, New Orleans Times-Picayune: “Life has gotten worse for Louisiana’s children since 2008, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The annual Kids Count report, released Tuesday (June 21), compared health, education, community and economic well-being benchmarks from recent years to the start of the recession…”
  • More kids living in poverty in Ohio, report says, By Catherine Candisky, June 21, 2016, Columbus Dispatch: “More Ohio children are living in poverty, yet despite their struggles, many are making choices that could lead to brighter futures. A report on the well-being of children found more Ohio teens are graduating high school, fewer are getting pregnant and fewer are using drugs and alcohol. More have health insurance, and fewer are dying before their 18th birthdays…”