New Data Rankings Show VT Policies Working for Children
Vermont ranks third nationally in overall child health and well-being in the 2010 KIDS COUNT Data Book, the 21st annual state-by-state study on the well-being of America’s children, published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Vermont ranks in the top ten on eight of the ten individual indicators affecting child well-being that are reported in the Data Book.
Vermont’s success in these national rankings is not luck or magic – it is the result of forward-thinking policies and years of investment in programs and services that have helped kids and families thrive. “Our strong showing relative to other states in the nation demonstrates how our public policies and effective support systems are making a difference in improving the lives of Vermont’s children and families,” said Carlen Finn, Executive Director of Voices for Vermont’s Children.
The Data Book also demonstrates the importance of using timely and reliable data to guide us in our decisions about how to use public resources effectively to meet the needs of Vermont’s children and families. Data on child well-being help us measure the impact of public services and systems, and help us hold each other collectively accountable for the healthy development of children.
Along with the 2010 Data Book, the Annie E. Casey Foundation updated data available on its Online Data Center including hundreds of measures of child well-being covering national, state, county, and city information. The Data Center allows you to compare indicators across geographies, look at trends over time, and generate maps and graphs and is updated throughout the year.
Visit the new Online Data Center for national and state data.
