1. family and parenting
2. children

THE STATE OF
AMERICA’S CHILDREN
®
CDF Mission Statement
The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy
Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to
adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.
CDF provides a strong, effective and independent voice for all the children of America who
cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor
and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs
of children and encourages preventive investments before they get sick, drop out of school,
get into trouble or suffer family breakdown.
CDF began in 1973 and is a private, nonprofit organization supported by foundation and corporate
grants and individual donations. We have never taken government funds.
© 2010 Children’s Defense Fund. All rights reserved.
Cover photo © iStockphoto
Inside photos © Dean Alexander, Steve Liss, T.C. Perkins, Jr., Alison Wright, Cleo Freeland Photo, and iStockphoto
Table of Contents
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Child Well-Being: A 30-year Snapshot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
Overview of State of America’s Children 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xii
Key Facts
Are Our Children Ready to Compete in the Global Arena? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvi
Moments in America for All Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvii
How Children in America Are Faring, by Race/Ethnicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xviii
Each Day in America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx
For White Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx
For Latino Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxi
For Black Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxi
For Asian and Pacific Islander Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxii
For American Indian and Alaska Native Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxii
Child Population
Key Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
Where Children Live . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
States Where a Majority of Children Are Racial or Ethnic Minorities, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
Child Population, by Age, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
Child Population, by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
Population of Children and Seniors, 1960-2050 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Population, 2008: Children and Seniors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7
State Overview of Child Population Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8
Child Poverty
Key Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
Trends in Child Poverty Rates, 1959-2008 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Poverty Trends Among Children 1959-2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3
Poor Children in America: A Portrait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-4
More than Half of All Poor Children Live in Eight States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-5
Children Are Most Likely to Be Poor in 11 States and the District of Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-5
Poverty Guidelines, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-6
Child Poverty, by Age, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-7
Extreme Poverty Among Children, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-8
More than Half of All Children in Extreme Poverty Live in Nine States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-9
Children Are Most Likely to Live in Extreme Poverty in Six States and the District of Columbia . . . . . . . . . B-9
Child Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity, 2007-2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-10
Poverty Rates of Children in Young Families, by Educational Attainment of
Family Householder, 2006-2007 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-12
Child Poverty, by Residence, 2007-2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-13
Ten States with the Largest Number of Poor Urban Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-14
Ten States with the Largest Number of Poor Suburban Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-14
States with the Largest Number of Poor Rural Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-15
State Overview of Child Poverty Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-16
State of America’s Children® 2010
i
Family Structure
Key Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1
Living Arrangements of Children, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2
Children Living with Neither Parent, 2009 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2
Children Living in Households Headed by Grandparents or Other Relatives, 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-3
Grandchildren Living with Grandparents Responsible for Them, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-4
Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren, 2008: Selected Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-5
Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren, 2008: Economic Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-6
Trends in Teen Birth Rates, 1980-2006 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-7
Teen Birth Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-8
State Overview of Family Structure Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-9
Family Income
Key Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1
Average Income Gains, Adjusted for Inflation, 2002-2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-2
Share of Nation’s Income Gains (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-2
Distribution of Income Gains, 1946-2007 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-3
Income Share for the Richest 10 Percent of U.S. Households, 1917-2007 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-3
Median Income of Families with Children, 2008 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-4
Median Family Income, 2007-2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-5
AFDC/TANF Benefits, July 1970 – July 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-6
TANF Recipients and Families, August 1996 and September 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-7
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-8
Child Tax Credit, 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-9
Child Support Enforcement, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-10
Children Receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), December 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-11
Children Receiving Social Security Benefits, December 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-12
Rental Housing Affordability: Fair Market Rent vs. Minimum Wage, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-13
Children Receiving Food Stamps: 1989-2008 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-14
Food Stamp/SNAP Recipients, October 2007 – October 2009 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-14
Number of Children Receiving Food Stamps: FY 1989 – FY 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-15
National School Lunch Program Participation, FY 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-16
National School Breakfast Program Participation, FY 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-17
Summer Food Service Program Participation, FY 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-18
Participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, FY 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-19
Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants,
and Children (WIC), FY 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-20
State Overview of Family Income Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-21
Child Health
Key Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-1
Uninsured Children, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-2
Odds of a Child Being Uninsured, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-3
Percentage of Children Who Are Uninsured, 2008 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-4
Ten States With Most Uninsured Children in 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-4
Uninsured Children Younger than 19 in the States, 2006-2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-5
Children’s Health Status, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-6
Children’s Access to Health Care, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-7
Children’s Dental Health and Access to Dental Care, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-8
Overweight and Obesity Among Children and Teens, 2007-2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-9
Immunization of Two-Year-Olds, by Race/Ethnicity and Poverty Status, 2002 and 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-10
ii
Children’s Defense Fund
Immunization Rates Among Two-Year-Olds, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-11
International Rankings, Low Birthweight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-12
International Rankings, Infant Mortality Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-13
Trend in Infant Mortality Rates, 1980-2006 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-14
Trend in Low Birthweight Rates, 1980-2006 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-14
Trends in Infant Mortality and Low Birthweight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-15
Low Birthweight Babies, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-16
Infant Deaths, Infant Mortality Rates, and Rankings, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-17
Selected Maternal and Infant Health Indicators, by Race and Hispanic Origin of Mother, 2006 . . . . . . . . . E-18
Prenatal Care, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-19
Children Enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-20
AIDS in Children, 2002-2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-21
AIDS in Children, 1992-2007 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-21
New HIV Infections, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-22
State Overview of Child Health Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-21
Early Childhood Development
Key Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-1
Labor Force Participation of Women with Children Under Age Six, Selected Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-2
Parental Labor Force Participation, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-3
Head Start Enrollment, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-4
Head Start Enrollment, by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-5
Child Care vs. College Costs, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-6
Child Care Assistance, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-7
Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-8
Child Care and Development Fund, FY 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-9
Child-Staff Ratios and Group Sizes for Child Care Centers, 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-10
Accredited Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-11
Prekindergarten Enrollment of 3- and 4-year-olds, 2008-2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-12
School Attendance Requirements for Young Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-13
School Attendance Requirements, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-14
Early Child Care and Development Quality Rating and Improvement Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-15
Annual Salaries of Early Childhood Educators, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-16
State Overview of Early Childhood Development Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-16
Education
Key Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-1
High School Completion Rates Among Young Adults, 1957-2008 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-2
College Graduation Rates Among Young Adults, 1957-2008 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-2
Earnings by Educational Attainment, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-3
Expected Lifetime Earnings by Education Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-3
Racial Isolation of Black and Latino Students in the Public Schools, 1968-2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-4
Change in Black Segregation in the South, 1954-2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-5
Reading and Math Achievement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-6
Reading and Math Achievement of 4th Graders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-7
Reading and Math Achievement of 8th Graders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-8
Public School Education, Selected Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-9
Spending on Prisoners vs. Spending on Public School Students, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-10
School Discipline, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-11
A Look at America’s “Dropout Factories” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-12
Dropouts, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-13
State of America’s Children® 2010
iii
Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-14
Children Receiving Services Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),
by Age, 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-15
Enrollment in Classes for Students with Mental Retardation, Emotional Disabilities, and
Learning Disabilities by Race 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-16
Enrollment in Classes for Students with Mental Retardation, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-17
Enrollment in Classes for Students with Emotional Disturbances, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-18
Enrollment in Classes for Students with Learning Disabilities, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-19
Enrollment in Programs for the Gifted and Talented, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-20
High School Teachers with Undergraduate Major in Subject Matter Taught, 2003-2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-21
Teacher Quality in High Poverty Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-21
State Overview of Education Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-22
Other Vulnerable Children and Youths
Key Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-1
Who Are the Children Who Are Abused and Neglected? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-2
Child Maltreatment, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-3
National Estimates of Children Served Following an Investigation of Child Abuse or Neglect . . . . . . . . . . . H-4
Who’s in Foster Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-5
Children in Foster Care, 2004-2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-6
Children in Foster Care, by Age, 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-7
Children in Foster Care, by Race/Ethnicity, 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-8
Overrepresentation of Black Children in Foster Care, 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-9
Adoptions from Foster Care, Selected Years, FY 1995 – FY 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-10
Children Living with Parents Who Have Substance Abuse or Dependence (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-11
Parents Who are Incarcerated and Their Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-12
Homeless Children and Youths Enrolled in Public Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-13
Youths at Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-14
Youth Employment and Unemployment, 2009: Teens Ages 16-19 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-15
Unemployment Rates, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-15
Employment and Unemployment Among Teens and Young Adults, 2008 and 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-16
Youth Unemployment and Joblessness, 1959-2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-17
Juveniles in Residential Placement, by Race, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-19
Juvenile Arrest Rates, by Race, 1980-2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-20
Juvenile Arrest Rates, 1980-2008 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-20
Juvenile Arrest Rates for Violent Crime, by Race, 1980-2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-21
Juvenile Arrest Rates for Violent Crime, 1980-2008 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-21
Drug Use and Drug-Related Arrests and Incarceration Among Teens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-22
Illicit Drug, Alcohol, and Cigarette Use by Teens Ages 12-17, 2000-2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-23
Trend in Binge Drinking Among High School Seniors, 1975-2009 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-23
State Overview of Other Vulnerable Children and Youth Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-24
Gun Violence
Key Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-1
Children and Teens Killed by Firearms: A Portrait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-2
Firearm Deaths of Children and Teens, by Manner, 1979-2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-3
Firearm Deaths of Children and Teens, by Age, Manner, and Race/Hispanic Origin, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-4
Firearm Death Rates of Males Ages15-19, by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2006 (graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-5
Firearm Deaths of Children and Teens, by Race/Hispanic Origin, 1979-2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-6
Firearm Deaths of Children and Teens, by Manner, 2004-2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-7
It’s Time to Stop the Deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-8
Violence and Risk Behaviors of High School Students, 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-9
iv
Children’s Defense Fund
Foreword
He who opens a school door, closes a prison.
— Victor Hugo
The clock has been turned back on racial progress in America, though scarcely anyone seems to
notice. All eyes are fixed on people like Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey, who have defied the odds
and risen to power, fame and fortune.
There are more African Americans under correctional control today — in prison or jail, on
probation or parole — than were enslaved in 1850, a decade before the Civil War began.
— Michelle Alexander, Author
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age
of Colorblindness
Children Need Emergency Help in This Deep Recession Now!
C
hildren have only one childhood and it is right now. Millions of children in our nation require
emergency attention in our recession ravaged economy as poverty, including extreme child
poverty, hunger, and homelessness have increased, if irreparable harm is not to be inflicted on them
and on our nation’s future.
The greatest threat to America’s national security comes from no enemy without but from our
failure to protect, invest in, and educate all of our children who make up all of our futures.
Every 11 seconds of every school day a high school student drops out of school; every 32 seconds a
baby is born into poverty; every 41 seconds a child is confirmed abused or neglected; every 42 seconds
a baby is born without health insurance; every minute a baby is born to a teen mother; every minute
a baby is born at low birthweight; every three hours a child or teen is killed by a firearm. A majority
of children in all racial and income groups cannot read or do math at grade level in 4th, 8th or 12th
grade and over 80 percent of Black and Hispanic children, who with other minority children will
constitute a majority of our population in 2023, are behind in these grade levels – if they have not
already dropped out of school.
If the foundation of your house is crumbling, you don’t say you cannot afford to fix it. Children are the
foundation of America’s future. We need to invest now in their health, early childhood development,
and education. Today is tomorrow.
God has blessed America with great material wealth but we have not shared it fairly with our children and
our poor. Although we lead the nations of the world in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in billionaires,
and in military technology, defense expenditures, and military exports, our money and our military
might have not translated into moral might, adequate child safety and well-being, and a concept of
enough for those at the top and at the bottom.
Children are the poorest age group and the younger children are, the poorer they are. We rank
highest among industrialized nations in relative child poverty and in the gap between rich and poor,
and last in protecting children against gun violence.
State of America’s Children® 2010
v
The gap between the rich and the poor is the highest ever recorded in America. In the 1960’s, when
the economy was expanding, about two-thirds of the nation’s income gains went to the bottom 90
percent of U.S. households. In the first half of this decade, it was just the opposite: the wealthiest
one percent reaped two-thirds of the income gains. Between 2002-2007, the income of the wealthiest
one percent of U.S. households grew more than ten times as fast as the income of the bottom 90
percent. In 2007, the income share for the wealthiest 10 percent of households, 49.74 percent,
was the highest ever recorded.
In 2008, the highest-paid American CEO took home over $100 million, an amount equal to the
salaries of 2,028 elementary school teachers, or 3, 827 Head Start teachers, or 5, 275 child care
workers. The average CEO of a Fortune 500 company earned 319 times as much as the average
worker. The combined net worth of the United States’ 408 billionaires is $1.3493 trillion – greater
than the combined GDP of 134 countries where more than a billion people live.
This fiscal year, the Department of Defense is scheduled to spend a total of $683.7 billion. This is
$13.1 billion a week; $1.9 billion a day; $78 million an hour; $1.3 million a minute; and $29,
679.13 a second. Just one second of defense spending is more than a Head Start teacher earns in a
year. Yet our children are three times more likely to die from firearms at home than American soldiers
who are fighting in the Afghanistan war. Headlines blazed across America in June 2010 when America’s
military death toll in Afghanistan reached 1,000 after nine years of that war. No headline blazes when
CDF releases the disgraceful annual numbers showing more than 3,000 children – 3,042 children
in 2007 – dying in the gun war at home. Six times as many child gun injuries occur.
The terrible Taliban terrorist threat to American child and citizen safety is rivaled by the terrible
NRA threat which terrorizes our political leaders from protecting our children from the over 280
million guns in circulation which have taken over 110,000 child lives since 1979, when gun data
collection by age began. More American preschool children died from guns in 2007 than police
officers in the line of duty and more Black male youths die in one year from guns than all the
lynching of Black people in American history. But where is our anti-war movement at home?
And where is our anti-poverty movement at a time when one in 50 Americans, a New York Times
front page story tells us, has no cash income? “Almost six million Americans receiving Food Stamps
report they have no income. They described themselves as unemployed and receiving no cash and
no welfare, no unemployment insurance, and no pensions, child support or disability pay. About
one in 50 Americans now lives in a household with a recorded income that consists of nothing but
a Food Stamp card,” the New York Times’ Jason DeParle reported.
This shocking New York Times article provoked no public outcry, action or shame. It did not stop
some political leaders from trying to block extension of unemployment insurance benefits, more
federal dollars to protect or create jobs or to expand tax credits for working families desperately trying
to feed, house and clothe their children, or to invest more in stimulating an economy struggling to
recover with 14.6 million workers still unemployed and massive state deficits which will cause more
job loss. How morally obscene it is that a nation with a GDP exceeding $14 trillion cannot find the will,
common sense and decency to provide a safety net to protect its over 14 million poor children –
the number before the recession which is expected to push millions more children into poverty
and extreme poverty, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Brookings
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Children’s Defense Fund
Institution. The Connecticut legislature recently enacted a bill to cushion its children from the
harmful impact of recession by decreasing bureaucratic barriers to accessing a range of benefits and
tax refunds as occurred in New York during 9-11. State leaders recognized that the impact of even
short periods of poverty can have a long term – even permanent – effect on children pulled from
the stable security of their home, school, and friends when families lose their homes and jobs and
are forced to move in with others or into homeless shelters. The loss of a sense of safety amidst the
turmoil of economic insecurity fuels stress for parents and children and breeds a sense of hopelessness
about the future. Our leaders and citizens need to respond.
This is a time when America can and must turn economic downturn into an opportunity to step
forward to correct the gross imbalance of government subsidization of the wealthiest and most
powerful among us and provide a safety net for all children from growing hunger, homelessness and
stress. A college student working three jobs in Connecticut, causing her to make lower grades, feels
she will never be able to get into medical school and fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor.
Teenagers are leaving home to ease the burdens on their unemployed parents. Now is the time to
correct the laissez-faire federal policies that enabled the few to run roughshod over the life savings
of many hard working Americans and wreck the lives and dreams of millions of children. And now
is the time to replace the costly, ineffective, unjust and abusive child and youth policies which favor
punishment and incarceration and cost tens of billions of tax payer dollars with more cost effective
prevention and early intervention strategies, based on best practices that put children on the path to
healthy adulthood rather than into the adult criminal system.
We are the world’s leading jailer and are criminalizing our poor and minority children at younger
and younger ages – both shameful badges of misguided and negative leadership. A cradle to prison
pipeline, driven by poverty and racial disparities, is becoming the new American apartheid threatening
to undermine the hard earned racial and social progress of the last half century. The prison pipeline
sucks hundreds of thousands of children every year into a trajectory that leads to marginalized lives,
illiteracy, imprisonment and often premature death. Nationally, one in three Black and one in six
Latino boys born in 2001 are at risk of imprisonment during their lifetime. There are more Black
citizens under the purview of the corrections system today than there were Black people in slavery
ten years before the Civil War according to legal scholar Michelle Alexander in her important book
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.
The federal government is spending $6.2 billion and states are spending $50 billion a year to incarcerate
2.4 million people. States are spending on average three times more per prisoner than per public
school pupil. New York state spends $210,000 a year on youths in abusive and ineffective upstate
New York youth prisons. Black children are 32 times more likely than White children to be sent to
these upstate youth prisons far from home. Seventy-five percent of them have committed nonviolent
offenses and pose no threat to public safety – until they come out. This unjustifiable profligate state
youth prison spending of $210,000 per youth – the equivalent of four years at Harvard or Yale—is
simply underwriting abusive prep schools for the adult criminal system. Their recidivism rate is 75
percent. Their results threaten rather than increase public safety and derail so many youthful lives. There
are far cheaper and more effective community based alternatives that help rather than hurt children.
It is time to replace the costly, ineffective and destructive prison pipeline with a pipeline to college,
career and productive work for all our young. We cannot afford not to provide a healthy, fair and
State of America’s Children® 2010
vii
safe start for every child and a continuum of support with the help of caring families and communities
to enable them to reach productive adulthood. Table after table in this report shows how dumb and
costly our failure to invest early in children is. Building on best practices and accelerating help
children and their families need, especially during this deep recession, is the right and economically
wise thing to do in a decent society. Saving child lives early and saving money go hand in hand.
I hope the facts in this report will wake us up and provoke us to speak out and stand up and demand
our leaders act now to alleviate the massive child suffering around the nation. The catastrophic BP oil
spill’s assault on our environment is an urgent national emergency. But so is the catastrophic impact
of this recession and the chronic plight and suffering of millions of children left adrift in a sea of
poverty, hunger and homelessness and political neglect. The selfish and reckless profiteering of Wall
Street bankers who are still living high need to be adequately regulated—to prevent a repeat economic
catastrophe. And wounded children losing teachers and days of schooling and safe spaces after school
and in the summer, and enough food and safe housing need equal priority attention by their government.
If we could bail out bankers to steady the economy, we can bail out babies who without our help will
see their hopes and dreams for a better life wiped out. Denying children their basic human rights to
adequate nutrition, health care, education, and safety from adult neglect, abuse, and violence
should be a no brainer.
I grew up in a small rural county in South Carolina which I still call home. Marlboro County has a
population of about 30,000: 52 percent African American; 42.5 percent White; and 3.7 percent
American Indian and Alaska Native. Our unemployment rate at last look was 20 percent. A federal
and state prison are among the county’s largest employers. I was deeply saddened by a recent story
of three young teen boys in my county who were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up.
The first boy said he wanted to work at McDonalds; the second boy said he wanted to be Spiderman
and when pushed for a real person, he could not think of one; and the third boy drew a boy lying
on the ground and said he was going to be dead before he grew up.
This is not Dr. King’s dream. This is not America’s dream. This is not my dream for them. We can and
must do better.
What the Report Provides
This State of America’s Children 2010 describes: (1) the status of children in a range of areas – what
has improved, worsened or stagnated; (2) the continuing racial and income disparities faced by
children of color who will make up a majority of our workforce to support our increasingly aging
population; and (3) the higher costs of poverty and neglect and the savings from preventive investment.
State by state data with the best and worst states on key child indicators also are included.
Marian Wright Edelman
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Children’s Defense Fund
Child Well-Being: A 30-Year Snapshot
Percent of children who are poor
Number of poor children
Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)
Incidence of low birthweight
Teen birth rate (per 1,000 teens)
Births to unmarried women
Maternal mortality rate
(per 100,000 live births)
Racial isolation in predominantly
minority public schools
1980
Today
18.3%
11.5 mill.
12.60
6.8%
53.0
18.4%
9.2
19.0% (’08)
14.1 mill. (’08)
6.68 (’06)
8.3% (’06)
41.9 (’06)
38.5% (’06)
13.3 (’06)
63.0% Black
68.0% Latino
73.0% Black
78.0% Latino
Declines in Child Well-Being
• The percent and number of poor children are higher now than they were 30 years ago even though
our $14 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is six times larger than it was then. Every 5th child is
poor; every 3rd Black child is poor. One in 12 children lives in extreme poverty – at half the federal
poverty level or below.
• While the infant mortality rate is almost 50 percent lower than it was 30 years ago, the Black infant
mortality rate of 2006 is still as high as the White rate was in 1976.
• The incidence of low birthweight babies is about 20 percent higher than it was 30 years ago, and
Black babies are about twice as likely as White and Hispanic babies to be born at low birthweight.
• The proportion of births to unmarried mothers of all ages is more than double the rate of 30 years
ago, although the teen birth rate is about 20 percent lower than it was 30 years ago. The number of
births to unmarried mothers in all racial groups continues to grow: 71 percent of Black babies, 65 percent
of Native American babies, 50 percent of Hispanic babies and 27 percent of White babies are born to
unmarried mothers. The Black female headed household is the poorest in the nation.
• The maternal mortality rate is almost 50 percent higher than it was 30 years ago and Black babies
are more than three times as likely to lose their mothers in child-birth as White babies.
• Racial segregation and isolation in public schools is growing across our nation: 73 percent of Black
and 78 percent of Latino children are in predominantly minority schools, with more than 50 percent
minority students, as contrasted with 63 percent of Black and 68 percent of Latino children in 1980.
The percent of Black and Latino children in schools with 90 to 100 percent minority students increased
over thirty years from 33 to 39 percent for Black students and from 29 to 40 percent for Latino students.
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Children’s Defense Fund
• A Brookings Institution study done for the Economic Mobility Project reports that while median family
income for both Black and White families increased over the last 30 years, there was no progress in
reducing the gap in family income between Blacks and Whites and a majority of Black children born
to middle-income parents grew up to have less income than their parents. Only 31 percent of Black
children born to parents in the middle of the income distribution have family income greater than their
parents, compared to 68 percent of White children from the same income bracket.
Improvements in Child Well-Being
Despite the poor progress in some areas of child well-being, there is recent good news to build upon:
• Child Health. The number of uninsured children decreased in 2009 thanks to the effectiveness of children’s
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Moreover, the new landmark health
reform bill enacted in March 2010 is an historic step forward. It will provide access to coverage for 95 percent
of all children and eliminate a number of barriers to health coverage. However, expanded eligibility does not
ensure coverage, nor does coverage ensure access to quality care. Effective and massive efforts to enroll every
eligible child must be a top priority for government agencies at all levels as well as for families, schools, and
community groups. New opportunities for ensuring quality care must also be vigorously implemented.
• Education. In education, federal competitive grants are motivating states and school districts to design and
implement evidence-based reforms to level the playing field in education in order to give poor and minority
children an equal chance to learn and thrive. These strategies will help close the achievement gap and
eliminate racial and ethnic disparities. By rewarding innovation and scaling up programs that improve
learning for all students, the Department of Education is casting aside the status quo that has, for far too
long, prevented children of color and children who are poor from succeeding.
• Vulnerable Children and Youths. New efforts to promote family connections for children in foster care
and opportunities for older youths leaving foster care are being implemented across the country as a result
of recently enacted reforms. Communities and states are increasing investments in early intervention and
community based alternatives to detention for youths in the juvenile justice system. Collaborative efforts
among state and local agencies, private foundations, and child advocacy organizations are promoting
innovation. Federal initiatives to expand the promise of these coordinated efforts are pending.
• Safety from Nuclear Weapons. President Obama this year embraced the goal of a world without nuclear
weapons. He is taking steps to stop the spread of these weapons, secure vulnerable nuclear materials from
terrorists, and reduce nuclear arsenals. The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, signed by the President
and President Medvedec of Russia, is the most comprehensive arms control agreement in nearly two decades.
President Obama also convened a 40-nation summit to seek agreement on effective strategies for nuclear
security. Recognizing the important steps being taken to move us closer to a nuclear free world and pull us
back from the catastrophic destruction, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists this year moved its Doomsday
Clock back to six minutes before midnight; in 1981 the clock had moved to four minutes to midnight.
As we look at the good and the bad over the last 30 years, we must all act to leave the world we hold
in trust for the next generation better than we found it.
State of America’s Children® 2010
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Overview of
State of America’s Children 2010
The State of America’s Children 2010 is a sobering account of where children were in our country as the recession
began – and we know their plights have worsened. Unemployment, housing foreclosures, and hunger have hit
historically high levels since then. The data presented here are the latest available at this time from official
government sources – most frequently 2008, but sometimes 2006 or 2007. But the most recent years have taken
a great toll on child and family lives.
Whether looking at poverty, health coverage, family structure, family income, early childhood development,
education, child abuse and neglect, juvenile justice, or gun violence, the news is mostly not good for the children,
their families, or the fabric of the future of our nation. Millions of children continue in or to be at risk of entering
the cradle-to-prison pipeline. This crisis threatens the well-being and future of poor children of color across
our nation.
Our 74 million children make up one-fourth of our nation’s population. About 43 percent are racial or ethnic
minorities. In 13 years it is projected that minorities will constitute more than half of our nation’s child population.
Yet nearly 80 percent of Black and Hispanic students cannot read or compute at grade level in 4th, 8th or 12th
grade, if they have not already dropped out of school. A child who cannot read in this globalizing competitive
world is being sentenced to social and economic death.
Every Fifth Child in America is Poor
Although the United States is home to 406 billionaires and many millionaires, 2,962 babies are born into poverty
each day. Children are the poorest age group in America. One in five children is poor; half live in extreme poverty
($11,025 a year, $919 a month, $212 a week and $30 a day for a family of four) or below. Poverty is no
respecter of race.
• There are more poor Hispanic children than any other minority group. Black and Hispanic children
are more than twice as likely to be poor as White, non-Hispanic children.
• Children in female-headed families are four times as likely to be poor as children in married-couple
families.
• Nearly 70 percent of poor children live in families where at least one family member works.
Millions of Children Lack Essential Family Stability
Family structure and economic stability impact the availability of emotional and financial resources for children
and the extra support that can be directed to their special needs. Many children lack the active support of two
parents. Grandparents and other relatives who step in when parents can’t care for their children often get little
if any extra support. Some children are forced to move from relative to relative or foster home to foster home.
• Thirty-eight percent of all children are being born to unmarried mothers; 71 percent of Black children;
50 percent of Hispanic children; and 27 percent of White children.
• About 70 percent of all children—but fewer than 40 percent of Black children—live with two parents.
Twenty-three percent of all children and 50 percent of Black children live with only their mother.
• Approximately 2.7 million children live with grandparents who are responsible for them; more than one
in three of them live there with neither parent present. Close to 20 percent of grandparents raising their
grandchildren live in poverty.
xii
Children’s Defense Fund
The Rich Get Richer While Other Families Fall Further Behind
The gap between the rich, poor and middle class is enormous and still growing. Between 2002 and 2007,
income of the wealthiest one percent of U.S. households grew more than 10 times as fast as income of the bottom
90 percent. The income share for the wealthiest 10 percent of households was the highest ever recorded.
• Median income for Black families with children is only 55 percent that of White families.
• A federal minimum wage job paying $7.25 an hour for a full-time year-round worker with two children
leaves the family with income about two-thirds of the federal poverty level for a four-person family in
most states.
• The monthly Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment in a state’s lowest cost metropolitan
area is more than 40 percent of the minimum wage in every state and the District of Columbia.
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefit levels in more than half the states in July 2006
were 30 percent or less of the federal poverty level. Only Alaska, California and New York paid TANF
benefits equal to half the federal poverty level.
• More than 40 million people, a record number, received food stamps (now called the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP) in April 2010 – about half were children.
• Only one in nine low-income children who receives a free or reduced-price lunch during the school year
is reached by the Summer Food Service Program although hunger does not end in June.
One in Ten Children is Uninsured
The number of uninsured children in America is at the lowest level in 20 years, thanks to Medicaid and the
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provide health coverage to almost 40 million children. But
more than 8.1 million children—one in 10—remain uninsured. Two-thirds of them are eligible but not enrolled
in Medicaid or CHIP, due largely to state bureaucratic barriers.
• One in six Hispanic and American Indian children and one in nine Black and Asian/Pacific Islander
children are uninsured compared to one in 14 White children. Black and Hispanic children, poor
children and uninsured children are far more likely than White, higher income and insured children
to be in poor health.
• The United States has the second highest infant mortality rate among 30 industrialized nations.
Our low birthweight rate is tied for 21st among these 30 nations.
• Black and Hispanic babies in 31 states are more than twice as likely as White babies to be born to
mothers who receive late or no prenatal care.
• Black babies are about twice as likely as White or Hispanic babies to be born at low birthweight and
are more than twice as likely as White babies to die before their first birthday.
• One-quarter of two-year-olds are not fully immunized against preventable diseases despite a 16 percent
increase in immunization rates between 2002 and 2008. The rates for Black children lag behind other
children.
State of America’s Children® 2010
xiii
Poverty and the Lottery of Geography Deprive Children of Key Supports in the Early Years
Birth to age five are critical years for children to develop social, emotional and cognitive competencies that lead
to healthy development and behaviors and academic success. But too many young children start life with multiple
risks against them. Every 32 seconds a baby is born into poverty; every 42 seconds a baby is born without
health insurance; every minute a baby is born at low birthweight. Poor children’s development at nine months
lags behind their higher income peers. The learning gap widens from there. By kindergarten, it is even harder
to catch up.
• More than 20 percent of children under age five are poor including more than 40 percent of Black and
more than 33 percent of Hispanic children.
• Infants are the most likely to be victims of abuse and neglect, and nearly 32 percent of all maltreatment
victims are three or younger; 30 percent of children in foster care are preschoolers.
• More than 63 percent of mothers of young children are in the labor force; the annual cost of child care
for a four-year-old is more than the annual in-state tuition at a public four-year college in 36 states and
the District of Columbia.
• Only 14 percent of three-year-olds and 38 percent of four-year-olds in 2007 were served by state-funded
prekindergarten, Head Start, or special education programs.
• Only 13 states and the District of Columbia require school districts to offer full-day kindergarten.
Six states do not require school districts to offer any kindergarten.
Our Education System Fails the Children in Greatest Need
Many kindergarten through 12th grade students in public schools are struggling; minority children and poor
children struggle most. They often fall behind and drop out of school and are at increased risk of entering the
cradle-to-prison pipeline. Staying in school and receiving a quality education are the best deterrents to juvenile
delinquency and the surest route towards responsible, productive adulthood.
• States together spend almost three times as much per prisoner as per public school pupil.
• More than 60 percent of all fourth, eighth and twelfth grade public school students are reading or doing
math below grade level. Eighty-four percent or more of Black fourth, eighth and twelfth graders and 80
percent or more of Hispanic students in these same grades are reading below grade level. In math, 85
percent or more of Black and 79 percent or more of Hispanic students in these same grades are achieving
below grade level.
• American schools are resegregating: 73 percent of Black students and 78 percent of Hispanic students
attend predominantly minority schools.
The Most Vulnerable Children and Youths Face Multiple Risks
Children born poor, at low birthweight and without health coverage, and who start school not ready to learn
often fall behind and drop out. Some of these children may be abused or neglected. Some grow up in foster
care. Some end up in the juvenile justice system. Other vulnerable youths escape “the system” but cannot find
work and struggle day to day. They all face multiple risks that jeopardize their futures. These vulnerable youths
are the ones most likely to get pulled into the cradle-to-prison pipeline.
• 2,109 children are abused or neglected each day; 71 percent of maltreated children are victims of neglect.
Almost 40 percent of child victims receive no post-investigation services and many more receive far less
support than they need.
xiv
Children’s Defense Fund
• 1,200 children enter foster care each day, remaining there more than two years on average. Thirty-one
percent of the children in foster care are Black, double the percent of all children who are Black.
• The unemployment rate for teens ages 16-19 in 2008 was more than three times the national unemployment
rate, and for 20–24-year-olds, almost twice the national unemployment rate. The rate increased in
2009—by about one-third for teens and more than 40 percent for those ages 20–24.
• Black children are seven times as likely as White children to have a parent in prison.
• Nationally, Black youths are more than four times as likely as White youths to be detained in a juvenile
correctional facility. About two-thirds are detained for a non-violent offense.
Guns Kill Nine Children and Teens A Day
For thousands of teens, death from gun violence is the end of the cradle-to-prison pipeline. More than 3,000
children and teens – almost eight every day – died in the U.S. from gunfire as a result of homicide, suicide or
accidental shootings in 2007. More than six times as many suffered non-fatal gun injuries, which have serious
physical and emotional consequences. Since 1979, gun violence has ended the lives of 110,645 children and
teens in America.
• The 3,042 deaths of children and teens from gunfire in 2007 nearly equaled the total number of U.S.
combat deaths in Iraq since the war started.
• There were more Black than White children and teens killed by firearms in 2007. Black males ages 15–19
are more than five times as likely as White males and more than twice as likely as Hispanic males to be
killed by a firearm. White children and teens are more than six times as likely as any other racial or ethnic
group to be victims of firearm-related suicide.
• The annual number of firearm deaths of White children and teens decreased by about 54 percent
between 1979 and 2007, while the firearm deaths of Black children and teens increased by 61 percent.
• Almost one in five high school students admitted carrying a weapon in 2007. One-third of them brought
the weapon to school. Almost one in 20 admitted carrying a gun.
Conclusion
These are difficult times for families across America and those trying to help them. The recession has hit children
the hardest, and Black and Hispanic children remain most vulnerable to many threats to child well-being. And
we still do not know the recession’s full impact. The portrait of continuing and worsening racial and income
inequality is clear as we look at the state of America’s children today. We are on dangerous ground and at risk of
moving backwards. We must create a level playing field for all of our children. The steps we take will shape our
children’s and nation’s futures.
State of America’s Children® 2010
xv
Are Our Children Ready to Compete in the Global Arena?
How America Ranks Among Industrialized Countries in
Investing in and Protecting Children
1st in gross domestic product
1st in number of billionaires
1st in number of persons incarcerated
1st in health expenditures
1st in military technology
1st in defense expenditures
1st in military weapons exports
21st in 15-year-olds’ science scores
21st in low birthweight rates
25th in 15-year-olds’ math scores
28th in infant mortality rates
Last in relative child poverty
Last in the gap between the rich and the poor
Last in adolescent birth rates (ages 15 to 19)
Last in protecting our children against gun violence
The United States and Somalia (which has no legally constituted government) are the only two
United Nations members that have failed to ratify the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.
If we compare just Black child well-being in America to child well-being in other nations,
according to UNICEF:
• 66 nations have lower infant mortality rates including Sri Lanka.
• Over 100 nations have a lower incidence of low birthweight, including Algeria,
Botswana and Panama.
• Black women in the United States are more likely to die from complications of
pregnancy or childbirth than women in Uzbekistan.
xvi
Children’s Defense Fund
Moments in America for All Children
Every second a public school student is suspended.*
Every 11 seconds a high school student drops out.*
Every 19 seconds a child is arrested.
Every 19 seconds a baby is born to an unmarried mother.
Every 20 seconds a public school student is corporally punished.*
Every 32 seconds a baby is born into poverty.
Every 41 seconds a child is confirmed as abused or neglected.
Every 42 seconds a baby is born without health insurance.
Every minute a baby is born to a teen mother.
Every minute a baby is born at low birthweight.
Every 4 minutes a child is arrested for a drug offense.
Every 7 minutes a child is arrested for a violent crime.
Every 18 minutes a baby dies before his or her first birthday.
Every 45 minutes a child or teen dies from an accident.
Every 3 hours a child or teen is killed by a firearm.
Every 5 hours a child or teen commits suicide.
Every 6 hours a child is killed by abuse or neglect.
Every 15 hours a mother dies from complications of childbirth or pregnancy.
* Based on calculations per school day (180 days of seven hours each)
State of America’s Children® 2010
xvii
Although minority children are disproportionately affected by poverty, violence, homelessness and
other risks, more White children are victims of these risks than any other race.
How Children in America are Faring, by Race/Ethnicity
White,
non-Hispanic
Hispanic
41,563,836
56.2% of child population
16,092,537
21.8%
Public school student suspended*
every 3 seconds
every 7 seconds
High school student drops out*
every 18 seconds
every 41 seconds
Child is arrested
every 29 seconds
Public school student corporally punished*
every 38 seconds
every 4 minutes
Baby born to unmarried mother
every 51 seconds
every minute
Child confirmed abused or neglected
every 2 minutes
every 3 minutes
Baby born into poverty
every 2 minutes
every minute
Baby born without health insurance
every 2 minutes
every 2 minutes
Baby born to teen mother
every 2 minutes
every 4 minutes
Baby born at low birthweight
every 3 minutes
every 7 minutes
Child arrested for drug offense
every 5 minutes
n/a
Child arrested for a violent crime
every 15 minutes
n/a
Baby dies before first birthday
every 29 minutes
n/a
Child or teen dies from an accident
every hour
every 4 hours
Child or teen killed by firearm
every 5 hours
every 13 hours
Child or teen commits suicide
every 6 hours
every 2 days
Child killed by abuse or neglect
every 17 hours
every 2 days
Woman dies from complications of
childbirth or pregnancy
every day
every 3 days
* Based on 180 school days a year
xviii
Children’s Defense Fund
n/a
How Children in America are Faring, by Race/Ethnicity
Black
Asian,
Pacific Islander
American Indian,
Alaska Native
11,222,543
15.2%
3,255,304
4.4%
3,255,304
1.3%
every 4 seconds
every minute
every 2 minutes
every 39 seconds
every 4 minutes
n/a
every minute
every 21 minutes
every 27 minutes
every 3 hours
every 14 minutes
every 13 minutes
every 17 minutes
every 3 minutes
every hour
every hour
every 2 minutes
every 18 minutes
every 31 minutes
every 4 minutes
n/a
n/a
every 5 minutes
every hour
every hour
every 6 minutes
n/a
n/a
every 14 minutes
every 7 hours
every 8 hours
every 14 minutes
every 11 hours
every 17 hours
n/a
n/a
every 4 hours
every day
every day
every 6 hours
every 5 days
every 8 days
every 2 days
every 6 days
every 5 days
every day
n/a
n/a
every 1.5 days
n/a
n/a
every 57 seconds
every minute
every hour
State of America’s Children® 2010
xix
Each day in America
2
4
5
9
32
78
202
377
964
1,210
1,240
2,060
2,175
2,222
2,692
4,435
4,498
18,493
mothers die in childbirth.
children are killed by abuse or neglect.
children or teens commit suicide.
children or teens are killed by firearms.
children or teens die from accidents.
babies die before their first birthdays.
children are arrested for violent crime.
children are arrested for drug offenses.
babies are born at low birthweight.
babies are born to teen mothers.
public school students are corporally punished.*
babies are born without health insurance.
children are confirmed as abused or neglected.
high school students drop out.*
babies are born into poverty.
children are arrested.
babies are born to unmarried mothers.
public school students are suspended.
* Based on 180 school days a year
Each day in America for White children
1
1
4
4
25
50
94
266
463
663
696
794
855
921
1,406
1,684
2,934
7,236
mother dies in childbirth.
child is killed by abuse or neglect.
children or teens commit suicide.
children or teens are killed by firearms.
children or teens die from accidents.
babies die before their first birthdays.
children are arrested for violent crimes.
children are arrested for drug offenses.
babies are born at low birthweight.
public school students are corporally punished.*
babies are born without health insurance.
babies are born into poverty.
babies are born to teen mothers.
children are confirmed as abused or neglected.
high school students drop out.*
babies are born to unmarried mothers.
children are arrested.
public school students are suspended.*
* Based on 180 school days a year
xx
Children’s Defense Fund
Each day in America for Latino children
2
6
103
199
406
416
617
936
1,008
1,420
3,726
children or teens are killed by firearms.
children or teens die from accidents.
public school students are corporally punished.*
babies are born at low birthweight.
babies are born to teen mothers.
children are confirmed as abused or neglected.
high school students drop out.*
babies are born without health insurance.
babies are born into poverty.
babies are born to unmarried mothers.
public school students are suspended.*
* Based on 180 school days a year
Each day in America for Black children
1
4
5
24
103
104
236
311
329
434
442
650
761
1,282
1,363
6,916
child is killed by abuse or neglect.
children or teens are killed by firearms.
children or teens die from accidents.
babies die before their first birthdays.
children are arrested for drug offenses.
children are arrested for violent crimes.
babies are born at low birthweight.
babies are born to teen mothers.
babies are born without health insurance.
children are confirmed as abused or neglected.
public school students are corporally punished.*
high school students drop out.*
babies are born into poverty.
babies are born to unmarried mothers.
children are arrested.
public school students are suspended.
* Based on 180 school days a year
State of America’s Children® 2010
xxi
Each day in America for Asian
and Pacific Islander children
1
2
4
22
22
67
81
94
109
351
child is arrested for a violent crime.
public school students are corporally punished.*
children are arrested for drug offenses.
babies are born to teen mothers.
children are confirmed as abused or neglected.
children are arrested.
babies are born into poverty.
high school students drop out.*
babies are born to unmarried mothers.
public school students are suspended.
* Based on 180 school days a year
Each day in America for American Indian
and Alaska Native children
1
3
23
24
29
47
52
84
264
child is arrested for a violent crime.
children are arrested for drug offenses.
babies are born to teen mothers.
children are confirmed as abused or neglected.
public school students are corporally punished.*
babies are born into poverty.
children are arrested.
babies are born to unmarried mothers.
public school students are suspended.
* Based on 180 school days a year
xxii
Children’s Defense Fund
Child Population
C
hildren constitute 25 percent of our nation’s population—almost 74 million children, a number
that has increased steadily for the past four decades. There are almost twice as many children as
seniors. By 2050, the number of seniors will more than double while the number of children will grow
more slowly; 23 percent of the population will be children, 20 percent will be seniors. Almost 44 percent of our nation’s children are racial or ethnic minorities, who typically lag behind others on many
indicators of well-being. In 15 years it is projected that minorities will constitute more than half our
nation’s child population.
• Of the almost 74 million children in America: 42 million (56.2%) are White, nonHispanic; 16 million (21.8%) are Hispanic; 11 million (15.2%) are Black; 3 million
(4.4%) are Asian/Pacific Islander; and 936,000 (1.3%) are American Indian/Alaska
Native.
• Already the majority of children in the District of Columbia and seven states –
Hawaii, New Mexico, California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada and Florida – are children
of color.
• More than half of our children live in nine states: California, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.
• More than one in four children are under five and more than one in five are teenagers
14–17.
• Vermont has the lowest proportion of children (20.8%); Utah has the highest
(31.0%).
State of America’s Children® 2010
A-1
The child population in the U.S. is becoming majority minority.
Where Children Live
States where the majority of children in each group live:
All
Children
White,
nonHispanic
Black
Hispanic
American
Indian,
Alaska Native
Arizona
Asian,
Pacific Islander
X
California
X
X
X
X
Florida
X
X
X
X
Georgia
X
X
X
Illinois
X
X
X
Maryland
X
X
X
Michigan
X
X
New Jersey
X
New Mexico
X
New York
X
North Carolina
X
X
X
X
Ohio
X
X
Oklahoma
X
Pennsylvania
X
X
Texas
X
X
X
Washington
X
X
X
States Where a Majority of Children Are Racial
or Ethnic Minorities, 2008
Total
number of
children
Hawaii
District of Columbia
New Mexico
California
Texas
Arizona
Nevada
Florida
A-2
Children’s Defense Fund
285,243
112,016
502,450
9,364,530
6,725,771
1,707,221
667,801
4,004,271
Minority children
Number
Percent of total
231,898
89,661
357,673
6,540,398
4,249,231
974,399
376,018
2,016,462
81.3%
80.0
71.2
69.8
63.2
57.1
56.3
50.4
More than one in four of the nearly 74 million children in the U.S. are preschoolers.
Child Population, by Age, 2008
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Total under
age 18
Under age 5
Ages 5–13
1,121,877
179,876
1,707,221
702,481
9,364,530
1,207,135
812,213
206,229
112,016
4,004,271
2,548,841
285,243
412,640
3,179,260
1,584,681
712,613
700,485
1,008,064
1,107,973
274,867
1,340,583
1,427,033
2,390,198
1,254,644
766,720
1,421,469
220,358
446,995
667,801
293,358
2,047,582
502,450
4,408,016
2,243,677
143,048
2,730,377
906,035
867,575
2,762,004
228,540
1,066,227
198,309
1,478,594
6,725,771
849,635
128,930
1,823,201
1,541,175
386,158
1,314,412
128,457
310,504
52,083
515,910
202,070
2,704,659
358,280
211,637
59,319
36,352
1,140,516
740,521
87,207
121,746
894,368
443,089
201,321
202,529
284,601
310,716
71,459
371,787
383,568
625,526
358,471
220,813
399,450
61,114
132,092
199,175
75,297
557,421
148,323
1,208,495
652,823
41,896
743,750
266,547
243,483
737,462
60,934
303,024
58,566
416,334
2,027,307
268,916
32,635
522,672
433,119
105,435
362,277
38,253
552,339
85,640
828,669
343,207
4,499,890
587,154
403,658
99,496
50,439
1,938,695
1,250,460
134,025
201,192
1,558,919
780,199
345,409
342,134
493,536
542,341
133,656
651,923
701,752
1,179,503
606,802
371,502
690,476
106,088
215,265
325,650
144,235
1,011,656
241,326
2,141,490
1,097,890
67,358
1,340,492
438,926
424,167
1,345,341
111,408
517,803
94,438
725,948
3,277,946
413,034
62,538
887,525
750,274
189,649
640,286
60,890
259,034
42,153
362,642
157,204
2,159,981
261,701
196,918
47,414
25,225
925,060
557,860
64,011
89,702
725,973
361,393
165,883
155,822
229,927
254,916
69,752
316,873
341,713
585,169
289,371
174,405
331,543
53,156
99,638
142,976
73,826
478,505
112,801
1,058,031
492,964
33,794
646,135
200,562
199,925
679,201
56,198
245,400
45,305
336,312
1,420,518
167,685
33,757
413,004
357,782
91,074
311,849
29,314
811,373
127,793
1,191,311
500,411
6,659,871
848,855
600,576
146,910
75,664
2,863,755
1,808,320
198,036
290,894
2,284,892
1,141,592
511,292
497,956
723,463
797,257
203,408
968,796
1,043,465
1,764,672
896,173
545,907
1,022,019
159,244
314,903
468,626
218,061
1,490,161
354,127
3,199,521
1,590,854
101,152
1,986,627
639,488
624,092
2,024,542
167,606
763,203
139,743
1,062,260
4,698,464
580,719
96,295
1,300,529
1,108,056
280,723
952,135
90,204
73,941,848
21,005,852
36,004,639
16,931,357
52,935,996
Ages 14–17
Ages 5–17
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, “Estimates of the Resident Population by Selected Age Groups for the United States, States,
and Puerto Rico: July 1, 2008,” at <http://www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/tables/SC-EST2008-01.xls>. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
A-3
Twenty states and the District of Columbia have a minority child population of 40 percent or more.
California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois and Georgia together have the majority of minority children.
Child Population, by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2008
White
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Black
One Race Only
American Indian,
Alaska Native
Asian,
Pacific Islander
737,864
111,989
1,405,353
529,060
7,160,874
1,045,645
648,348
140,590
30,744
2,895,790
1,558,119
71,123
379,475
2,397,703
1,336,322
645,997
596,390
872,628
638,880
256,850
784,644
1,167,533
1,822,923
1,041,446
407,270
1,147,076
185,956
390,138
519,955
272,720
1,472,337
396,279
3,047,793
1,555,645
121,689
2,191,921
652,001
750,259
2,212,755
190,407
668,236
158,723
1,107,706
5,442,860
771,880
121,432
1,248,946
1,230,859
355,366
1,102,239
115,610
344,543
9,400
90,232
137,406
653,791
63,899
104,144
51,668
74,462
865,965
843,633
13,009
6,977
560,966
179,704
29,820
53,690
97,141
422,134
5,771
439,021
134,195
413,585
85,309
334,776
203,031
3,142
27,546
63,112
6,189
347,305
20,462
894,911
546,696
2,594
408,094
89,302
24,465
393,053
20,088
353,620
3,878
308,647
849,492
15,436
2,091
411,454
73,486
18,676
117,622
2,910
5,571
34,106
110,419
7,607
118,951
17,510
4,085
1,012
430
26,108
10,449
2,134
8,056
12,561
5,199
4,777
8,583
2,715
7,726
2,146
5,196
5,302
16,389
22,810
4,838
7,868
21,808
7,607
12,400
901
7,914
61,953
28,487
32,391
13,500
7,378
90,696
15,847
8,539
2,337
5,369
27,671
5,228
52,231
13,806
457
6,901
36,268
799
18,501
4,912
11,558
9,205
43,723
9,224
1,014,190
34,315
31,581
6,521
2,949
100,163
73,535
112,559
5,415
129,465
22,711
13,174
16,368
11,469
16,656
3,433
65,743
77,602
63,143
61,549
6,726
22,956
1,865
8,783
37,838
6,915
164,187
7,825
304,463
50,281
1,360
44,773
15,373
35,457
77,891
7,705
14,703
1,866
22,197
221,983
22,279
1,929
89,713
106,306
2,780
39,715
1,184
56,114,348
11,222,543
936,449
3,255,304
* Persons of Hispanic origin can be of any race.
** Includes all children except White, non-Hispanic children.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, “Annual State Resident Population Estimates for 6 Race Groups (5 Race Alone Groups and
One Group with Two or more Race Groups) by Age, Sex, and Hispanic Origin: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008,” at <http://www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/
files/SC-EST2008-alldata6-ALL.csv>. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
A-4
Children’s Defense Fund
Child Population, by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2008
Two or more
races
Hispanic*
White,
non-Hispanic
Minority**
22,341
15,176
57,494
19,184
416,724
45,766
24,055
6,438
3,431
116,245
63,105
86,418
12,717
78,565
40,745
18,845
25,454
24,111
22,577
6,667
45,979
42,401
74,158
43,530
13,110
40,538
7,587
12,921
34,496
6,633
55,839
15,931
132,362
58,664
3,905
78,211
58,663
41,547
69,766
8,003
24,299
6,171
34,816
159,205
26,234
3,021
66,187
94,256
8,537
36,335
3,841
55,544
15,830
733,290
65,478
4,654,983
354,228
140,526
23,385
12,499
1,013,196
298,594
42,158
64,584
691,902
128,467
52,130
99,706
39,897
45,400
6,182
127,270
187,254
152,950
88,366
24,143
73,289
11,140
58,444
251,847
12,679
424,217
274,405
937,772
271,104
5,097
113,751
111,634
165,025
223,874
43,821
70,483
9,509
93,119
3,116,203
134,018
2,659
179,711
256,992
6,999
111,729
15,054
688,483
100,925
732,822
469,567
2,824,132
721,905
528,501
120,484
22,355
1,987,809
1,289,528
53,345
320,596
1,747,588
1,219,463
598,838
505,959
838,108
600,872
251,504
683,449
1,021,481
1,689,111
968,599
386,552
1,082,597
177,025
337,728
291,783
261,663
1,113,037
144,777
2,315,841
1,311,569
117,580
2,097,618
557,459
599,947
2,034,896
154,066
610,386
151,786
1,029,452
2,476,540
648,778
119,084
1,093,604
1,010,050
349,095
1,003,124
102,375
433,394
78,951
974,399
232,914
6,540,398
485,230
283,712
85,745
89,661
2,016,462
1,259,313
231,898
92,044
1,431,672
365,218
113,775
194,526
169,956
507,101
23,363
657,134
405,552
701,087
286,045
380,168
338,872
43,333
109,267
376,018
31,695
934,545
357,673
2,092,175
932,108
25,468
632,759
348,576
267,628
727,108
74,474
455,841
46,523
449,142
4,249,231
200,857
9,846
729,597
531,125
37,063
311,288
26,082
2,413,204
16,092,537
41,563,836
32,378,012
Minority children
as a percent of
all children
38.6%
43.9
57.1
33.2
69.8
40.2
34.9
41.6
80.0
50.4
49.4
81.3
22.3
45.0
23.0
16.0
27.8
16.9
45.8
8.5
49.0
28.4
29.3
22.8
49.6
23.8
19.7
24.4
56.3
10.8
45.6
71.2
47.5
41.5
17.8
23.2
38.5
30.8
26.3
32.6
42.8
23.5
30.4
63.2
23.6
7.6
40.0
34.5
9.6
23.7
20.3
43.8
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
State of America’s Children® 2010
A-5
By 2050 the number of children will increase by more than one-third and the number
of seniors will more than double; there will be almost as many seniors as children.
Population of Children and Seniors, 1960–2050
Children
Seniors
Total,
all ages
(in 1,000s)
Number
(in 1,000s)
1960
180,676
64,561
35.7%
16,659
9.2%
1970
204,879
69,702
34.0
20,085
9.8
1980
227,738
63,683
28.0
25,713
11.3
1990
248,718
63,923
25.7
31,080
12.5
2000
281,422
72,294
25.7
34,992
12.4
2008
304,060
73,942
24.3
38,870
12.8
2020
341,387
81,685
23.9
54,804
16.1
2030
373,504
87,815
23.5
72,092
19.3
2040
405,655
93,986
23.2
81,238
20.0
2050
439,010
101,574
23.1
88,547
20.2
Percent
of population
Number
(in 1,000s)
Percent
of population
Actual population
Projected population
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States, various years, and “Projections of the
Population by Selected Age Groups for the United States: 2008 to 2050,” at http://www.census.gov/population/www/projections/tablesandcharts/
table_1.xls. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
A-6
Children’s Defense Fund
In every state at least one in five residents is a child. In 11 states there are at least
twice as many children as seniors.
Population, 2008
Children and Seniors
Children
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Total,
all ages
Number
4,661,900
686,293
6,500,180
2,855,390
36,756,666
4,939,456
3,501,252
873,092
591,833
18,328,340
9,685,744
1,288,198
1,523,816
12,901,563
6,376,792
3,002,555
2,802,134
4,269,245
4,410,796
1,316,456
5,633,597
6,497,967
10,003,422
5,220,393
2,938,618
5,911,605
967,440
1,783,432
2,600,167
1,315,809
8,682,661
1,984,356
19,490,297
9,222,414
641,481
11,485,910
3,642,361
3,790,060
12,448,279
1,050,788
4,479,800
804,194
6,214,888
24,326,974
2,736,424
621,270
7,769,089
6,549,224
1,814,468
5,627,967
532,668
1,121,877
179,876
1,707,221
702,481
9,364,530
1,207,135
812,213
206,229
112,016
4,004,271
2,548,841
285,243
412,640
3,179,260
1,584,681
712,613
700,485
1,008,064
1,107,973
274,867
1,340,583
1,427,033
2,390,198
1,254,644
766,720
1,421,469
220,358
446,995
667,801
293,358
2,047,582
502,450
4,408,016
2,243,677
143,048
2,730,377
906,035
867,575
2,762,004
228,540
1,066,227
198,309
1,478,594
6,725,771
849,635
128,930
1,823,201
1,541,175
386,158
1,314,412
128,457
304,059,724
73,941,848
Seniors
Percent
of population
24.1%
26.2
26.3
24.6
25.5
24.4
23.2
23.6
18.9
21.8
26.3
22.1
27.1
24.6
24.9
23.7
25.0
23.6
25.1
20.9
23.8
22.0
23.9
24.0
26.1
24.0
22.8
25.1
25.7
22.3
23.6
25.3
22.6
24.3
22.3
23.8
24.9
22.9
22.2
21.7
23.8
24.7
23.8
27.6
31.0
20.8
23.5
23.5
21.3
23.4
24.1
24.3
Number
641,667
50,277
862,573
407,205
4,114,496
511,094
478,007
121,688
70,648
3,187,797
981,024
190,067
182,150
1,575,308
813,839
444,554
366,706
565,867
540,314
199,187
679,565
871,098
1,304,322
650,519
371,598
805,235
137,312
240,847
296,717
169,978
1,150,941
260,051
2,607,672
1,139,052
94,276
1,570,837
490,637
503,998
1,910,571
147,646
596,295
116,100
819,626
2,472,223
246,202
86,649
940,577
783,877
285,067
750,146
65,614
38,869,716
Percent
of population
13.8%
7.3
13.3
14.3
11.2
10.3
13.7
13.9
11.9
17.4
10.1
14.8
12.0
12.2
12.8
14.8
13.1
13.3
12.2
15.1
12.1
13.4
13.0
12.5
12.6
13.6
14.2
13.5
11.4
12.9
13.3
13.1
13.4
12.4
14.7
13.7
13.5
13.3
15.3
14.1
13.3
14.4
13.2
10.2
9.0
13.9
12.1
12.0
15.7
13.3
12.3
12.8
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, “State Single Year of Age and Sex Population Estimates: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008 –
RESIDENT,” at <http://www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/files/SC-EST2008-AGESEX-RES.csv>. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
A-7
State Overview of Child Population Data
States
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
A-8
States
where a
majority of
all children
in the U.S.
live
States where
a majority
of White,
non-Hispanic
children in
the U.S. live
States where
a majority of
Black
children in
the U.S. live
(A-2)
(A-2)
(A-2)
States where
a majority
of Hispanic
children in
the U.S. live
States where
a majority
of American
Indian,
Alaska Native
children in
the U.S. live
States where
a majority of
Asian, Pacific
Islander
children in
the U.S. live
State where
the majority
of children
are racial/
ethnic
minorities
States where
40% or more
of children are
racial/ethnic
minorities
(A-2)
(A-2)
(A-2)
(A-2)
(A-5)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Children’s Defense Fund
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Child Poverty
A
lthough the United States is home to 406 billionaires and countless millionaires, a baby is born
into poverty every 32 seconds, 2,692 each day. Children are the poorest age group in America—
every fifth child is poor. One in 12 children lives in extreme poverty (half or below the annual poverty
level of $22,050 for a family of four). The gap between rich and poor in the U.S. is the largest on
record. The richest 10 percent of households with children received 38 percent of the nation’s income in
2006, the highest amount in three decades, while the bottom 20 percent received only five percent of
the nation’s income. Poverty could be eliminated for everyone for less than $140 billion, and all families
with children for less than half that amount. Ending poverty is a crucial step to dismantling the cradle
to prison pipeline.
• In 2008, as the recession was just beginning, 14.1 million children were poor, an
increase of 2.5 million children (1.6 million of them in extreme poverty) since 2000.
• More than 5.6 million children are in families living at half the poverty level or less.
For a family of four that is $919 a month, $212 a week and $30 a day. Children in
extreme poverty increased by 1.6 million between 2000 and 2008.
• There are more poor Hispanic children than Black, American Indian/Alaska Native or
Asian/Pacific Islander. Black and Hispanic children are more than twice as likely to be
poor as White, non-Hispanic children.
• Children in female-headed families are the most likely to be poor — four times as
likely as children in married-couple families.
• Nearly 70 percent of poor children live in families where at least one family
member works.
• More than half of all poor children live in eight states (California, Texas, New York,
Florida, Illinois, Georgia, Ohio and Michigan), and more than half of all children in
extreme poverty live in these states plus Pennsylvania.
• Child poverty rates range from 30.4 percent in Mississippi to 9.0 percent in
New Hampshire.
• There are almost as many poor children living in the suburbs as there are in
urban areas.
State of America’s Children® 2010
B-1
Child poverty was at its lowest level 40 years ago. It has been rising since 2000.
Trends in Child Poverty Rates, 1959–2008
30
Percent poor
25
20
15
10
0
1959
1964
1969
1974
1979
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.
B-2
Children’s Defense Fund
1984
1989
1994
1999
2004
2008
The number of poor children has not fallen below 11 million since 1979.
Since 2000 the number of poor children has increased by 2.5 million.
Poverty Trends Among Children, 1959–2008
Year
Number of
children
under 18
who are poor
Child
poverty
rate
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
17,552,000
17,634,000
16,909,000
16,963,000
16,005,000
16,051,000
14,676,000
12,389,000
11,656,000
10,954,000
9,691,000
10,440,000
10,551,000
10,284,000
9,642,000
10,156,000
11,104,000
10,273,000
10,288,000
9,931,000
10,377,000
11,543,000
12,505,000
13,647,000
13,911,000
13,420,000
13,010,000
12,876,000
12,843,000
12,455,000
12,590,000
13,431,000
14,341,000
15,294,000
15,727,000
15,289,000
14,665,000
14,463,000
14,113,000
13,467,000
12,280,000
11,587,000
11,733,000
12,133,000
12,866,000
13,041,000
12,896,000
12,827,000
13,324,000
14,068,000
27.3%
26.9
25.6
25.0
23.1
23.0
21.0
17.6
16.6
15.6
14.0
15.1
15.3
15.1
14.4
15.4
17.1
16.0
16.2
15.9
16.4
18.3
20.0
21.9
22.3
21.5
20.7
20.5
20.3
19.5
19.6
20.6
21.8
22.3
22.7
21.8
20.8
20.5
19.9
18.9
17.1
16.2
16.3
16.7
17.6
17.8
17.6
17.4
18.0
19.0
Number of
children *
under 6
who are poor
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
3,298,000
3,561,000
3,499,000
3,276,000
3,097,000
3,294,000
3,460,000
3,270,000
3,326,000
3,184,000
3,415,000
4,030,000
4,422,000
4,821,000
5,122,000
4,938,000
4,832,000
4,619,000
4,852,000
5,032,000
5,071,000
5,198,000
5,483,000
5,781,000
6,097,000
5,878,000
5,670,000
5,333,000
5,049,000
4,775,000
4,162,000
4,066,000
4,188,000
4,296,000
4,654,000
4,747,000
4,784,000
4,830,000
5,101,000
5,295,000
Poverty
rate for
children *
under 6
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
15.3%
16.6
16.9
16.1
15.7
16.9
18.2
17.7
18.1
17.2
17.8
20.5
22.0
23.3
24.6
23.4
22.6
21.6
22.4
22.6
22.5
23.0
24.0
25.0
25.6
24.5
23.7
22.7
21.6
20.6
18.4
17.8
18.2
18.5
19.8
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.8
21.3
* Related children in families
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.
State of America’s Children® 2010
B-3
The poorest children are preschool children of color living in female-headed
families. Black and Hispanic children are about three times as likely
to be poor as White, non-Hispanic children.
Poor Children in America: A Portrait
Number of
Poor Children
(thousands)
2008
All persons younger than 18
14,068
Percent of Children
Who Are Poor
2008
1973
19.0%
14.4%
White1
Black1
Asian and Pacific Islander1
Hispanic (may be any race)2
Non-Hispanic White2
8,863
3,878
446
5,010
4,364
15.8
34.7
14.6
30.6
10.6
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
South
All other regions
5,664
8,404
20.5
18.1
19.7
11.6
Central city
Suburb
Rural (nonmetropolitan)
6,262
5,329
2,477
26.0
13.8
21.7
20.4
7.8
16.6
Children related to head of household
13,542
18.5
14.2
White1
Black1
Asian and Pacific Islander1
Hispanic (may be any race)2
Non-Hispanic White2
8,463
3,791
433
4,905
4,063
15.3
34.4
14.3
30.3
10.0
9.7
40.6
n/a
27.8
n/a
In female headed family
All other family types
7,609
5,933
43.5
10.7
52.1
7.6
Any family member works
Full time year round
Head of family works
Full time year round
9,544
4,293
7,531
2,918
14.0
7.6
12.7
7.0
n/a
n/a
8.7
4.1
Under age 6
Ages 6–17
5,295
8,212
21.3
17.1
15.7
13.6
22,105
3,656
11.7
9.7
8.3
16.3
Comparison: Adults 18–64
Seniors 65+
1 Starting with poverty data for 2002, the Census Bureau permits persons to choose more than one race; racial
groups shown here may overlap.
2 Persons
of Hispanic origin may be of any race. White non-Hispanic means White alone (no other race) and not
of Hispanic origin.
n/a — not available
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey, 2009 Annual Social
and Economic Supplement and 1974 March Supplement.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
B-4
Children’s Defense Fund
More than Half of All Poor Children Live in Eight States
California
Texas
New York
Florida
Illinois
Georgia
Ohio
Michigan
Number
poor
Percent
poor
1,700,910
1,497,803
829,340
721,284
535,197
501,892
498,387
458,303
18.5%
22.5
19.1
18.3
17.0
20.1
18.5
19.4
Children Are Most Likely to Be Poor in 11 States and
the District of Columbia
Percent
poor
Mississippi
District of Columbia
Arkansas
Louisiana
New Mexico
Kentucky
West Virginia
Oklahoma
Texas
Tennessee
Alabama
South Carolina
30.4%
25.9
24.9
24.7
24.2
23.5
23.0
22.6
22.5
21.8
21.7
21.7
Number
poor
228,572
28,365
171,849
270,794
119,016
232,700
86,988
200,421
1,497,803
316,476
240,518
227,868
State of America’s Children® 2010
B-5
Poverty Guidelines, 2009
A family is poor if its income falls below the federal poverty guideline for its family size:
Size
of family
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Poverty
level
$ 10,830
14,570
18,310
22,050
25,790
29,530
33,270
37,010
Extreme
poverty level
$ 5,415
7,285
9,155
11,025
12,895
14,765
16,635
18,505
The poverty guidelines are adjusted annually to account for inflation. Except for Alaska and Hawaii, which
have slightly higher levels, there are no adjustments for differences in living costs from state to state.
For families with more than eight persons, the federal government adds $3,740 for each additional person.
Source: Federal Register, Vol. 74, No. 14 (January 23, 2009), pp. 4199-4201. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
B-6
Children’s Defense Fund
Every fifth child in America is poor. The lottery of geography results in a child in Mississippi being
more than three times as likely to be poor as a child in New Hampshire.
Child Poverty, by Age, 2008
Number Poor
Under age 18
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Under age 5
Percent Poor
Ages 5–17
Under age 18
Under age 5
Ages 5–17
240,518
19,549
349,390
171,849
1,700,910
179,409
99,580
27,733
28,365
721,284
501,892
28,233
64,473
535,197
283,227
100,685
99,772
232,700
270,794
42,231
134,890
169,460
458,303
140,211
228,572
259,017
45,058
58,354
98,784
25,878
253,378
119,016
829,340
439,518
21,266
498,387
200,421
154,198
455,488
34,816
227,868
33,976
316,476
1,497,803
88,449
16,646
246,734
217,002
86,988
172,180
14,602
80,424
7,124
117,198
56,057
533,433
63,426
31,159
8,451
9,280
241,037
171,472
10,594
24,196
179,388
97,783
35,532
37,264
78,868
89,981
13,793
43,561
51,309
137,837
47,275
70,790
89,338
15,051
21,660
34,295
8,133
79,951
42,769
240,224
145,051
7,870
171,031
66,785
50,725
142,715
10,313
78,657
12,121
108,485
519,594
31,120
5,296
82,535
73,250
31,415
58,522
5,560
160,094
12,425
232,192
115,792
1,167,477
115,983
68,421
19,282
19,085
480,247
330,420
17,639
40,277
355,809
185,444
65,153
62,508
153,832
180,813
28,438
91,329
118,151
320,466
92,936
157,782
169,679
30,007
36,694
64,489
17,745
173,427
76,247
589,116
294,467
13,396
327,356
133,636
103,473
312,773
24,503
149,211
21,855
207,991
978,209
57,329
11,350
164,199
143,752
55,573
113,658
9,042
21.7%
11.0
20.8
24.9
18.5
15.1
12.5
13.6
25.9
18.3
20.1
10.0
15.8
17.0
18.3
14.4
14.5
23.5
24.7
15.8
10.2
12.0
19.4
11.4
30.4
18.6
20.6
13.4
15.0
9.0
12.5
24.2
19.1
19.9
15.3
18.5
22.6
18.1
16.8
15.5
21.7
17.6
21.8
22.5
10.5
13.2
13.8
14.3
23.0
13.3
11.6
26.5%
14.1
23.1
28.8
20.1
18.1
14.9
14.3
26.0
21.5
23.8
12.5
20.2
20.3
22.6
18.2
18.8
28.3
29.6
19.9
11.9
13.6
22.4
13.4
33.2
23.0
24.7
16.9
17.4
11.0
14.5
29.4
20.3
22.7
19.6
23.3
26.0
21.3
19.6
17.4
26.6
21.2
26.5
26.1
11.7
16.3
16.2
17.1
30.8
16.4
14.9
19.9%
9.8
19.8
23.3
17.8
13.8
11.6
13.3
25.8
17.0
18.5
9.0
14.0
15.8
16.6
13.0
12.8
21.6
22.9
14.4
9.6
11.4
18.4
10.5
29.3
16.9
19.0
12.0
14.0
8.3
11.8
22.0
18.6
18.7
13.5
16.7
21.2
16.9
15.7
14.8
19.7
16.1
19.9
21.0
10.0
12.1
12.8
13.2
20.1
12.1
10.2
13,240,870
4,369,698
8,871,172
18.2
21.2
17.0
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2008 American Community Survey, Table B17001. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
B-7
Almost half of all poor children live in extreme poverty—$11,025 a year for a family of four—
$919 a month, $212 a week and $30 a day for four people.
Extreme Poverty Among Children, 2008
Number in Extreme Poverty
Under age 18
Under age 6
Ages 6–17
106,662
7,390
155,535
73,639
629,702
65,287
44,198
9,213
19,339
290,930
213,023
13,712
26,682
234,147
128,092
41,309
38,271
120,310
121,784
18,269
63,034
77,659
211,122
60,776
101,713
112,555
18,568
22,574
40,459
12,079
115,645
48,228
379,319
184,593
11,012
250,104
83,410
63,005
202,455
16,430
106,857
16,896
135,073
599,286
35,885
7,962
107,810
86,708
43,254
76,679
6,335
45,152
3,219
65,031
30,933
236,838
28,943
15,610
3,402
7,322
117,820
87,525
5,455
11,810
96,251
56,243
19,262
17,174
47,720
50,818
8,197
24,117
30,436
80,237
24,471
41,843
48,888
7,777
10,715
16,717
4,447
44,436
23,669
136,030
75,466
4,430
104,848
34,099
26,377
79,613
5,525
47,138
7,698
61,375
245,427
13,833
2,759
45,446
33,139
19,069
31,718
3,304
61,510
4,171
90,504
42,706
392,864
36,344
28,588
5,811
12,017
173,110
125,498
8,257
14,872
137,896
71,849
22,047
21,097
72,590
70,966
10,072
38,917
47,223
130,885
36,305
59,870
63,667
10,791
11,859
23,742
7,632
71,209
24,559
243,289
109,127
6,582
145,256
49,311
36,628
122,842
10,905
59,719
9,198
73,698
353,859
22,052
5,203
62,364
53,569
24,185
44,961
3,031
5,654,979
2,289,772
3,365,207
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Percent in Extreme Poverty
Under age 18
Under age 6
Ages 6–17
9.6%
4.2
9.3
10.7
6.8
5.5
5.5
4.5
17.7
7.4
8.5
4.9
6.5
7.5
8.3
5.9
5.6
12.1
11.1
6.8
4.8
5.5
9.0
4.9
13.5
8.1
8.5
5.2
6.1
4.2
5.7
9.8
8.7
8.4
7.9
9.3
9.4
7.4
7.5
7.3
10.2
8.7
9.3
9.0
4.3
6.3
6.0
5.7
11.4
5.9
5.0
12.6%
5.4
10.8
13.5
7.6
6.9
6.3
4.8
17.9
8.9
10.2
5.5
8.2
9.2
11.0
8.3
7.3
14.4
14.0
9.8
5.5
6.7
10.9
5.9
16.5
10.6
10.7
7.0
7.2
5.0
6.7
13.9
9.7
10.0
9.3
12.0
11.1
9.3
9.1
7.7
13.4
11.2
12.6
10.4
4.4
7.1
7.5
6.6
15.5
7.4
7.4
8.2%
3.5
8.4
9.3
6.4
4.7
5.2
4.3
17.5
6.6
7.6
4.5
5.6
6.6
6.9
4.7
4.7
11.0
9.7
5.5
4.4
4.9
8.1
4.4
12.0
6.8
7.4
4.2
5.6
3.8
5.2
7.6
8.3
7.5
7.2
8.0
8.5
6.4
6.7
7.1
8.5
7.4
7.6
8.2
4.2
5.9
5.3
5.3
9.5
5.2
3.7
7.8
9.4
7.0
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2008 American Community Survey, Table B17024. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
B-8
Children’s Defense Fund
More than Half of All Children in Extreme Poverty
Live in Nine States
Number in
extreme poverty
California
Texas
New York
Florida
Ohio
Illinois
Georgia
Michigan
Pennsylvania
629,702
599,286
379,319
290,930
250,104
234,147
213,023
211,122
202,455
Percent in
extreme poverty
6.8%
9.0
8.7
7.4
9.3
7.5
8.5
9.0
7.5
Children Are Most Likely to Live in Extreme Poverty in
Six States and the District of Columbia
Percent in
extreme poverty
District of Columbia
Mississippi
Kentucky
West Virginia
Louisiana
Arkansas
South Carolina
17.7%
13.5
12.1
11.4
11.1
10.7
10.2
Number in
extreme poverty
19,339
101,713
120,310
43,254
121,784
73,639
106,857
State of America’s Children® 2010
B-9
More Hispanic children are poor than any other racial or ethnic minority. About one-third
of Black and American Indian/Alaska Native children are poor.
Child Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity, 2007–2008
White
Number
Percent
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
96,821
8,468
234,531
91,708
864,206
125,111
45,353
12,384
1,583
407,560
175,115
5,130
53,807
228,999
186,093
78,423
69,032
174,261
78,471
35,269
44,631
87,899
241,635
80,537
60,146
164,436
32,491
37,327
75,316
22,478
105,919
71,749
355,026
180,694
13,165
297,524
108,669
113,072
254,954
18,059
82,697
16,358
180,835
959,528
75,000
14,983
103,683
129,934
77,761
103,049
11,765
7,093,645
13.6%
7.9
18.9
18.4
16.3
13.2
7.6
9.2
5.8
14.9
12.5
8.6
14.8
11.0
14.8
12.7
12.3
20.6
12.7
14.3
6.0
8.1
13.9
7.9
15.5
14.9
17.8
10.3
15.5
8.5
8.0
21.6
13.3
12.9
11.0
13.9
17.9
16.5
12.1
10.8
12.9
10.7
16.9
20.4
10.0
12.7
8.8
11.6
22.2
9.7
10.7
14.0
Black
Number
Percent
129,286
—
19,406
60,657
157,287
15,339
25,566
11,256
25,603
236,123
260,599
—
—
202,013
62,185
11,872
13,914
37,504
178,420
3,295
70,649
23,865
158,529
26,740
159,925
70,419
—
8,622
10,783
1,067
81,068
4,653
231,712
174,230
—
153,568
31,598
6,988
128,520
4,864
125,614
—
108,549
255,452
2,314
—
114,418
17,864
5,682
43,761
—
3,476,821
One Race Only
Asian,
American Indian,
Pacific Islander
Alaska Native
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
38.5%
—
27.2
46.6
27.5
29.3
28.4
22.5
36.2
29.7
31.6
—
—
38.3
39.9
47.0
31.2
44.4
42.7
63.8
17.1
21.1
40.8
35.7
47.6
37.6
—
40.1
20.2
24.9
26.0
34.7
29.0
33.4
—
40.6
43.2
36.2
36.4
29.8
37.5
—
38.1
32.1
17.9
—
29.6
29.6
41.5
41.9
—
1,197
629
5,036
1,069
102,232
1,661
2,644
862
185
9,727
8,914
10,710
936
9,101
3,149
1,654
2,386
221
2,051
803
4,435
8,922
6,932
12,654
1274
3,009
—
513
1,010
173
9,759
291
52,898
5,453
—
4,046
2,579
3,370
9,854
414
883
—
2,356
24,508
3,680
—
6,778
9,440
—
4,490
—
9.8%
9.7
13.5
13.7
10.7
6.0
8.8
13.1
6.5
10.3
12.8
10.7
19.2
7.6
15.2
13.5
16.1
2.0
13.4
29.3
7.2
12.4
12.2
22.3
27.0
15.3
—
7.2
3.2
2.5
6.2
4.4
18.2
12.8
—
10.5
19.0
12.2
14.1
5.7
7.9
—
11.7
11.3
17.5
—
8.3
10.0
—
12.4
—
33.6
350,906
11.5
— Number of poor children in sample too small to calculate reliable counts or rates.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2008 American Community Survey, Table B17020, parts A through I.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
B-10
Children’s Defense Fund
805
6,274
31,788
1,293
17,866
2,749
426
—
—
4,207
947
—
1,492
555
563
858
1,638
—
1,731
477
451
323
4,394
7,182
1,476
1,395
7,427
2,446
852
—
674
20,442
4,379
7,410
5,977
1,622
15,946
9,531
983
—
874
12,256
1,131
8,130
2,971
—
469
8,192
—
4,946
975
207,570
13.4%
23.5
35.4
26.8
24.0
22.9
25.6
—
—
42.1
18.6
—
27.7
11.0
18.4
28.7
26.8
—
24.4
27.9
10.9
10.3
33.8
47.4
38.9
39.4
38.4
57.4
9.3
—
15.0
36.8
26.0
28.3
53.3
39.3
23.8
49.8
20.3
—
31.3
50.2
35.0
27.0
30.4
—
8.1
32.8
—
35.1
22.6
30.9
Child Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity, 2007–2008
Other
Number
5,273
—
44,097
11,419
479,505
24,280
19,169
1,677
—
34,313
43,422
652
1,663
71,296
15,794
2,307
6,218
7,010
3,372
—
6,636
36,951
18,293
4,295
2,069
4,962
—
5,741
6,519
—
43,961
17,770
151,829
53,468
—
9,697
13,839
8,057
32,838
10,049
8,127
—
11,185
211,981
1,878
—
9,851
31,126
—
6,050
—
1,483,181
Percent
38.9%
—
28.9
45.7
28.3
31.8
39.9
30.9
—
24.3
32.7
13.5
18.0
25.2
32.1
16.3
26.1
49.5
29.6
—
14.7
43.0
39.6
22.7
40.5
26.5
—
33.2
17.7
—
28.2
30.6
36.7
40.6
—
37.9
45.0
21.7
41.4
44.4
32.6
—
40.8
30.6
9.8
—
18.5
31.8
—
22.2
—
30.3
Two or more
races
Number
Percent
7,136
3,488
14,532
5,334
79,814
10,245
6,422
1,554
—
28,515
12,629
11,135
5,398
23,172
15,246
5,205
6,584
13,555
6,749
2,049
8,062
11,500
28,482
8,679
3,647
14,796
3,307
3,664
3,960
1,293
11,997
4,111
33,186
18,058
987
31,890
27,186
12,251
28,239
1,020
9,673
3,879
12,420
38,204
2,606
681
11,372
20,446
3,169
9,884
1,222
628,747
Hispanic*
Number
Percent
27.3%
13.2
16.6
21.9
13.2
14.3
18.2
21.8
—
18.2
19.2
10.2
26.6
19.1
23.3
21.6
18.9
39.2
28.7
20.7
13.3
20.0
26.4
16.4
28.3
26.4
29.7
17.0
9.6
15.4
15.8
15.1
20.7
22.2
23.3
28.7
28.1
20.4
28.5
10.8
26.1
42.6
24.9
17.4
8.4
19.1
13.3
16.5
26.4
19.4
16.0
18,102
1,977
224,998
25,291
1,166,840
105,159
43,338
7,306
2,103
233,658
93,035
6,899
17,545
160,053
37,155
12,591
26,100
16,359
11,814
1,738
15,986
64,917
48,457
20,841
5,895
22,017
3,390
15,272
59,481
1,457
90,789
77,607
284,032
90,899
—
36,231
37,221
55,532
78,739
15,497
22,781
1,945
34,646
978,817
27,700
746
27,723
71,242
2,466
25,430
852
35.9%
12.9
31.2
39.2
25.5
30.2
31.4
31.9
17.1
23.4
32.1
16.7
27.8
23.4
29.7
25.4
27.2
41.1
26.4
35.8
12.9
35.1
32.5
24.7
32.5
30.9
28.1
27.8
23.9
11.7
21.7
28.7
30.9
34.3
—
32.1
34.0
34.5
35.7
36.4
33.3
25.1
38.7
31.8
21.0
31.9
16.1
28.1
33.4
23.2
5.9
18.8
4,432,057
28.0
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
State of America’s Children® 2010
B-11
More than half of the children in young families where the head is not a high school
graduate are poor. Even among young families where the parent completed
some college, one-fourth of the children are poor.
Poverty Rates of Children in Young Families,*
by Educational Attainment of Family Householder, 2006–2007
60
51.2%
50
Percent poor
40
34.8%
30
25.5%
20
10
7.7%
7.4%
0
Not high school
graduate
High school
graduate
Some college
Bachelor’s
degree
Master’s degree
or higher
Educational Attainment of Family Householder
* Parent younger than 30.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2005-2007 American Community Survey, analysis by Center for
Labor Market Studies, Northeastern University.
B-12
Children’s Defense Fund
About one in four children living in central cities is poor, but there are almost
as many poor children in the suburbs.
Child Poverty, by Residence, 2007–2008
Metropolitan Areas
Principal City
(urban areas)
Number of
poor children
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Child
poverty rate
80,031
28.3%
7,203
9.1
197,288
23.8
57,514
28.7
888,799
20.6
95,139
21.8
50,973
23.1
4,844
20.9
28,365
25.9
203,031
20.5
118,659
30.4
7,171
11.5
18,308
15.2
268,669
25.5
126,007
25.8
38,042
18.8
42,369
19.1
56,810
24.6
102,087
32.4
9,989
26.7
43,316
19.2
73,624
22.8
206,845
32.5
49,443
18.5
31,462
35.6
78,187
27.8
9,873
20.0
25,449
16.4
47,763
17.1
7,558
17.2
65,466
28.7
38,412
22.3
596,815
27.4
140,618
21.0
6,147
15.5
218,224
34.7
69,324
27.0
53,552
19.0
190,032
32.0
15,879
21.9
41,913
27.0
8,903
18.0
150,664
29.9
828,964
27.2
26,432
16.1
No principal city
96,947
20.4
76,637
17.9
13,046
29.6
76,084
21.0
3,013
11.7
5,693,920
24.4
Not Principal City
(suburban areas)
Number of
poor children
Child
poverty rate
79,456
15.4%
3,592
8.6
117,107
16.1
42,992
18.8
776,814
16.4
64,171
10.6
41,735
8.1
14,804
10.5
No suburban areas
461,457
16.8
266,455
15.9
11,809
8.8
17,837
11.9
199,108
11.4
92,452
12.7
15,499
7.6
17,367
7.6
59,980
16.7
85,762
17.4
13,645
11.0
82,632
8.0
95,810
8.8
172,029
12.9
48,786
7.4
53,082
21.1
94,283
12.5
4,031
14.2
9,788
8.7
43,090
13.5
6,069
4.1
187,912
10.5
33,873
22.4
168,511
9.1
141,303
15.5
3,706
12.8
179,136
11.6
50,726
15.6
60,861
15.6
191,394
11.1
18,937
12.4
120,946
18.6
3,530
8.3
74,914
12.8
481,416
16.7
49,751
8.4
3,292
9.0
100,884
9.2
105,297
11.5
29,841
17.8
47,681
7.9
No suburban areas
5,047,946
13.2
Non-Metropolitan Areas
(rural areas)
Number of
poor children
Child
poverty rate
31,579
7,472
10,631
35,358
10,466
13,817
29.6%
17.1
40.5
27.5
21.6
15.5
No rural areas
No rural areas
No rural areas
22,593
29.0
54,678
28.3
No rural areas
10,474
22.6
24,286
19.3
21,745
24.1
25,318
14.5
13,770
15.6
68,881
31.1
22,134
29.6
13,631
18.6
2,587
15.1
No rural areas
36,439
22.8
20,757
15.1
52,240
32.5
44,309
25.0
19,077
26.3
9,904
14.1
No rural areas
No rural areas
No rural areas
4,482
31.3
16,768
19.7
41,887
26.4
8,024
21.0
25,063
20.5
33,343
26.4
7,691
27.6
14,735
19.2
No rural areas
22,708
37.2
16,831
30.8
39,382
28.7
84,322
26.8
7,079
18.9
2,837
8.7
38,836
23.6
11,845
24.9
21,952
23.8
30,756
18.8
3,476
10.2
1,007,196
23.9
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2008 American Community Survey, Table B17001. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
B-13
More than half of poor urban children live in six states:
California, Texas, New York, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan.
Ten States with the Largest Number of Poor Urban Children
California
Texas
New York
Illinois
Ohio
Michigan
Florida
Arizona
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Number
poor
Percent
poor
888,799
828,964
596,815
268,669
218,224
206,845
203,031
197,288
190,032
150,664
20.6%
27.2
27.4
25.5
34.7
32.5
20.5
23.8
32.0
29.9
More than half of poor suburban children live in seven states:
California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Ten States with the Largest Number of Poor Suburban Children
California
Texas
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Ohio
Michigan
New York
B-14
Children’s Defense Fund
Number
poor
Percent
poor
776,814
481,416
461,457
266,455
199,108
191,394
187,912
179,136
172,029
168,511
16.4%
16.7
16.8
15.9
11.4
11.1
10.5
11.6
12.9
9.1
More than half of poor rural children live in 11 states.
States with the Largest Number of Poor Rural Children
Texas
Kentucky
Georgia
Mississippi
Missouri
North Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia
Michigan
Arkansas
Oklahoma
Number
poor
Percent
poor
84,322
68,881
54,678
52,240
44,309
41,887
39,382
38,836
36,439
35,358
33,343
26.8%
31.1
28.3
32.5
25.0
26.4
28.7
23.6
22.8
27.5
26.4
State of America’s Children® 2010
B-15
State Overview of Child Poverty Data
States
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
More than
half of
all poor
children
live in
eight states
(B-5)
States
where
children
are most
likely to
be poor
(B-5)
States
where
more than
18.2% of
children
live in
poverty
(B-7)
States
where
more than
7.8% of
children live
in extreme
poverty
(B-8)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
States with
the highest
percentages
of children
living in
extreme
poverty
(B-9)
X
X
States
where more
than 40%
of Black
children
are poor
(B-10)
n/a
n/a
States
with the
largest
number
of poor
urban
children
(B-14)
States
with the
largest
number
of poor
suburban
children
(B-14)
States
with the
largest
number of
poor rural
children
(B-15)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
n/a
n/a
X
X
X
States
where the
majority of
poor Black
children
live
(B-10)
X
X
n/a
n/a
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
n/a
n/a
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
n/a
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Children’s Defense Fund
X
X
n/a
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
n/a
X
n/a
X
X
X
n/a
X
X
X
X
n/a – Not available because numbers in sample was too small to calculate a poverty rate.
B-16
States
where the
majority of
children in
extreme
poverty live
(B-9)
X
n/a
X
X
n/a
Family Structure
F
amily structure and stability impact the availability of emotional and financial resources for children
and the extra support that can be directed to their special needs. Loving families come in many
different forms, but whatever the structure, all children deserve safe, permanent and nurturing environments. Many children lack the active support of two parents. Grandparents and other relatives, who
often care for children when parents can’t, frequently get little extra support. When resources are
lacking and children end up moving from relative to relative or foster home to foster home, they are
at increased risk of entering the cradle-to-prison pipeline.
• About 70 percent of all children—but fewer than 40 percent of Black children—live
with two parents. Twenty-three percent of all children and 50 percent of Black
children live with only their mother.
• Black children are more than twice as likely as White or Hispanic children and four
times as likely as Asian/Pacific Islander children to live with neither parent.
• Almost five percent of Black children live with grandparents; Black children are
almost twice as likely as other children to live with other relatives or non-relatives.
• 2.7 million grandchildren live with grandparents who are responsible for them; more
then one in three of them live with grandparents with neither of their parents present.
• 61 percent of the grandparents raising grandchildren are in the labor force.
Grandparents raising children without their parents present have median incomes
43 percent less than other families raising children.
• Close to 20 percent of grandparents raising children live in poverty.
• More than 60 percent of Black and American Indian children are born to unmarried
mothers.
• Birth rates for teens 15–19 increased in 43 states in 2006. The national teen birth rate
increased to 41.9 births per 1,000 teens.
State of America’s Children® 2010
C-1
Seven in 10 children live with two parents. Half of Black children and one-fourth
of Hispanic children live with their mother only.
Living Arrangements of Children, 2009
Total,
all races
White
Black
Asian
Hispanic
Living with two parents
69.8%
75.8%
38.1%
85.2%
68.7%
Living with mother only
22.8
17.7
50.2
10.3
24.9
Living with father only
3.4
3.4
3.4
2.5
2.5
Living with neither parent
4.0
3.1
8.3
2.0
3.9
Grandparents only
2.1
1.6
4.6
0.6
1.6
Other relatives only
1.1
0.8
2.3
1.0
1.4
Nonrelatives only
0.8
0.7
1.3
0.3
0.7
Other arrangement
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.2
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, March 2009 Current Population Survey, America’s Families and Living Arrangements:
2009, Table C9, Children by Presence and Type of Parents, Race, and Hispanic Origin: 2009, at http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/
hh-fam/cps2009.html.
Black children are more than twice as likely as White or Hispanic children (and
four times as likely as Asian children) to live with neither parent.
Children Living with Neither Parent, 2009
10
8.3%
8
Percent
6
4
4.0%
3.9%
3.1%
2.0%
2
0
Total,
All Races
Black
Hispanic
White
Asian
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, March 2009 Current Population Survey, America’s Families
and Living Arrangements: 2009, Table C9, Children by Presence and Type of Parents, Race, and Hispanic Origin: 2009,
at http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2009.html.
C-2
Children’s Defense Fund
5.8 million children lived in relative-headed households in 2000,
75 percent of them with grandparents.
Children Living in Households Headed by Grandparents or Other Relatives, 2000
Not child of householder,
household headed by:
Any relative
Grandparent
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
No parent of child present, household headed by:
Any relative
Number
Percent
108,137
9,963
128,829
60,414
940,397
65,826
49,307
17,388
22,458
336,313
214,593
47,677
15,596
284,268
92,856
26,683
34,813
64,352
142,066
10,882
126,100
82,879
174,773
43,731
99,370
90,911
11,200
17,482
42,722
11,007
165,351
49,959
401,228
166,356
4,807
180,287
69,419
47,903
194,659
13,621
107,140
10,051
122,414
579,486
39,030
4,636
130,792
78,283
26,536
56,808
6,013
89,126
7,415
93,146
49,040
618,927
47,430
37,604
13,593
17,216
253,936
162,628
37,638
11,938
210,046
75,496
20,820
26,532
53,049
115,446
8,931
97,312
64,230
136,950
31,704
81,613
73,805
9,077
12,901
29,650
9,035
124,046
40,068
294,137
129,180
3,692
146,615
55,032
34,848
158,607
10,745
87,261
7,934
98,495
438,768
29,446
3,757
101,025
56,010
22,655
42,865
4,777
51,486
5,110
54,833
30,111
389,631
28,185
21,123
7,803
10,702
151,492
98,773
13,814
7,087
119,676
39,180
11,230
16,184
30,241
64,866
4,326
54,323
30,615
71,200
19,053
46,693
39,188
5,161
8,321
19,278
3,869
63,514
21,279
165,493
80,126
2,414
76,794
34,185
20,735
76,356
5,170
49,894
5,146
56,682
244,100
13,756
1,838
56,663
35,761
10,809
25,373
2,738
5,827,772
4,386,197
2,502,380
47.6%
51.3
42.6
49.8
41.4
42.8
42.8
44.9
47.7
45.0
46.0
29.0
45.4
42.1
42.2
42.1
46.5
47.0
45.7
39.8
43.1
36.9
40.7
43.6
47.0
43.1
46.1
47.6
45.1
35.2
38.4
42.6
41.2
48.2
50.2
42.6
49.2
43.3
39.2
38.0
46.6
51.2
46.3
42.1
35.2
39.6
43.3
45.7
40.7
44.7
45.5
42.9
Grandparent
Number
Percent
38,164
3,222
31,254
21,927
195,269
16,329
12,825
4,858
7,148
94,477
62,874
8,341
4,642
72,416
27,395
7,203
10,171
22,004
46,094
2,910
34,503
18,366
45,805
10,882
33,929
27,454
3,539
5,120
11,105
2,585
36,633
14,630
95,352
53,366
1,533
53,208
23,815
12,499
51,929
3,305
36,042
3,514
39,444
152,951
7,988
1,231
37,041
20,495
8,146
15,445
1,880
1,553,258
42.8%
43.5
33.6
44.7
31.5
34.4
34.1
35.7
41.5
37.2
38.7
22.2
38.9
34.5
36.3
34.6
38.3
41.5
39.9
32.6
35.5
28.6
33.4
34.3
41.6
37.2
39.0
39.7
37.5
28.6
29.5
36.5
32.4
41.3
41.5
36.3
43.3
35.9
32.7
30.8
41.3
44.3
40.0
34.9
27.1
32.8
36.7
36.6
36.0
36.0
39.4
35.4
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2000 Census of Population and Housing. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
C-3
More than 2.7 million grandchildren live with grandparents who are responsible for them.
More than one-third of them have no parent living with them.
Grandchildren Living with Grandparents Responsible for Them, 2008
No parent of grandchild present
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Total
Parent of grandchild
present
Number
Percent
65,158
6,049
67,534
43,998
296,583
40,354
18,580
9,561
6,704
161,105
134,262
9,945
12,556
103,285
56,296
15,520
19,225
51,104
82,905
6,958
48,911
27,883
77,100
21,176
60,553
57,353
7,458
8,606
22,338
4,395
47,389
31,199
131,791
104,029
3,133
93,876
49,572
24,448
82,122
3,227
56,326
6,932
75,945
316,425
18,060
3,117
66,270
39,632
19,860
27,535
5,563
38,293
4,342
49,010
27,108
212,205
23,779
11,925
5,874
3,919
102,433
77,606
7,882
6,583
73,835
34,137
7,700
9,782
25,567
55,281
3,905
32,792
18,716
46,692
14,188
40,519
38,046
4,393
4,740
17,175
3,249
29,392
22,379
95,461
59,586
1,652
56,076
29,447
15,861
53,641
1,593
32,836
4,936
44,603
221,461
12,515
1,877
39,112
26,064
12,985
16,951
2,323
26,865
1,707
18,524
16,890
84,378
16,575
6,655
3,687
2,785
58,672
56,656
2,063
5,973
29,450
22,159
7,820
9,443
25,537
27,624
3,053
16,119
9,167
30,408
6,988
20,034
19,307
3,065
3,866
5,163
1,146
17,997
8,820
36,330
44,443
1,481
37,800
20,125
8,587
28,481
1,634
23,490
1,996
31,342
94,964
5,545
1,240
27,158
13,568
6,875
10,584
3,240
41.2%
28.2
27.4
38.4
28.5
41.1
35.8
38.6
41.5
36.4
42.2
20.7
47.6
28.5
39.4
50.4
49.1
50.0
33.3
43.9
33.0
32.9
39.4
33.0
33.1
33.7
41.1
44.9
23.1
26.1
38.0
28.3
27.6
42.7
47.3
40.3
40.6
35.1
34.7
50.6
41.7
28.8
41.3
30.0
30.7
39.8
41.0
34.2
34.6
38.4
58.2
2,749,906
1,782,427
967,479
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2008 American Community Survey, Table B10002.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
C-4
Children’s Defense Fund
35.2
Moren than 2.6 million grandparents are raising their grandchildren;
almost 40 percent have been doing so for five years or more.
Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren, 2008
Selected Characteristics
No parent of
grandchild
present
Total
number
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Number
60,086
6,112
58,527
40,636
294,608
39,989
19,542
8,176
4,571
149,319
111,608
11,660
13,587
93,645
59,245
16,852
19,995
49,490
69,519
7,992
47,229
31,195
74,738
21,525
51,406
50,811
7,109
8,698
22,555
4,833
50,576
23,943
128,692
97,784
2,762
95,909
46,863
23,380
79,870
4,061
48,665
5,516
71,305
298,742
18,142
3,150
66,057
40,743
19,841
28,390
6,265
26,040
2,028
17,343
16,016
75,349
16,524
5,998
3,192
1,712
55,793
46,202
2,494
6,598
25,867
22,954
8,428
10,344
23,781
23,299
3,144
16,130
9,631
28,153
6,784
19,721
18,559
3,360
3,427
5,911
1,350
15,104
8,552
33,747
42,023
1,113
39,575
21,412
8,924
26,372
1,782
22,185
2,051
30,557
94,122
5,920
1,241
26,944
13,622
8,235
9,887
3,615
2,615,914
923,115
Percent
Number responsible
for five years
or more
Number
Percent
43.3%
33.2
29.6
39.4
25.6
41.3
30.7
39.0
37.5
37.4
41.4
21.4
48.6
27.6
38.7
50.0
51.7
48.1
33.5
39.3
34.2
30.9
37.7
31.5
38.4
36.5
47.3
39.4
26.2
27.9
29.9
35.7
26.2
43.0
40.3
41.3
45.7
38.2
33.0
43.9
45.6
37.2
42.9
31.5
32.6
39.4
40.8
33.4
41.5
34.8
57.7
24,818
2,314
22,314
16,391
111,526
15,160
7,410
3,312
1,970
51,906
39,875
6,331
5,491
37,251
22,432
3,903
5,656
18,357
25,798
2,638
20,820
12,831
25,060
5,905
18,974
20,504
2,746
2,474
7,155
2,044
23,721
8,967
47,809
39,133
587
35,620
17,831
8,736
29,349
925
19,875
2,378
27,095
109,242
6,124
663
22,343
12,810
7,441
10,377
2,348
41.3%
37.9
38.0
40.3
37.8
37.9
37.9
40.5
43.1
34.8
35.7
54.3
40.4
39.8
37.8
23.2
28.3
37.1
37.1
32.8
43.9
41.1
33.5
27.4
36.9
40.4
38.6
28.4
31.7
42.3
46.8
37.5
37.1
39.8
21.3
37.1
38.0
37.3
36.7
22.8
40.8
43.1
38.0
36.6
33.8
21.0
33.8
31.4
37.5
36.5
37.5
35.3
976,740
37.3
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2008 American Community Survey, Tables B10050, B10051,
and B10057. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
C-5
The median family income for grandparents raising grandchildren without the child’s parent
present is 43 percent less than for other families with children. Almost 1 in 5 grandparents
raising grandchildren lives in poverty.
Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren, 2008
Economic Characteristics
Number in
labor force
Number
Percent
32,413
3,528
37,851
25,912
167,234
26,290
12,229
5,747
2,573
92,322
68,464
6,601
8,510
58,084
38,113
11,914
13,561
25,275
39,535
5,386
30,693
19,959
44,256
15,718
30,496
32,768
4,357
6,362
15,217
3,349
31,831
16,072
71,745
61,642
1,638
58,862
29,362
14,371
48,253
3,039
29,073
3,944
45,077
185,836
11,498
2,232
41,357
24,579
9,668
18,866
4,498
12,876
618
13,265
8,112
42,752
5,286
4,064
1,019
915
23,411
24,751
601
1,429
19,529
9,621
2,339
2,342
11,496
17,201
1,011
6,375
3,585
15,772
3,382
14,673
9,008
1,251
1,466
3,415
837
6,505
5,659
24,715
20,982
796
16,635
9,279
5,445
17,049
1,001
12,236
1,529
14,750
66,660
1,643
222
10,485
5,992
4,256
4,258
346
21.4%
10.1
22.6
20.0
14.5
13.2
20.8
12.5
20.0
15.7
22.2
5.2
10.5
20.8
16.2
13.9
11.7
23.2
24.7
12.6
13.5
11.5
21.1
15.7
28.5
17.7
17.6
16.9
15.1
17.3
12.8
23.6
19.2
21.3
28.8
17.3
19.8
23.2
21.3
24.6
25.1
27.7
20.7
22.3
9.1
7.0
15.9
14.7
21.5
15.0
5.5
1,598,160
492,845
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Poor
18.8
Median family income,
grandparent-headed families
All
grandparentNo parent of
headed
grandchild
families
present
Median family
income, all
families with
own children
$ 38,734
72,083
49,173
39,992
55,797
52,436
54,222
56,159
41,350
49,050
43,188
80,288
50,787
48,175
49,411
47,425
48,361
35,577
38,813
42,703
63,442
65,623
45,094
55,959
31,452
45,394
52,941
47,012
64,943
57,309
56,312
43,470
49,230
36,978
34,424
43,199
44,807
43,435
43,055
39,751
34,280
38,695
40,251
45,909
61,838
50,531
52,764
55,158
41,025
49,990
63,045
$ 31,520
40,234
40,897
32,616
38,586
40,678
32,094
36,096
32,171
41,098
32,935
51,643
52,612
33,070
40,292
40,008
40,192
28,956
26,797
30,418
48,765
39,317
34,441
39,296
25,246
37,409
41,392
29,142
59,517
21,735
36,417
32,432
31,297
31,167
34,167
35,646
40,337
30,159
27,864
37,548
26,153
38,322
37,755
31,696
48,779
31,483
37,277
48,266
32,493
36,094
61,786
$ 52,638
73,105
56,385
45,085
64,155
66,975
84,278
66,483
45,287
54,380
56,830
73,073
51,681
66,858
56,695
60,619
59,530
50,696
51,428
54,720
82,946
80,326
60,015
72,008
42,916
56,631
55,154
61,144
60,396
79,437
86,613
45,939
64,248
54,188
61,080
58,608
49,221
57,688
62,670
67,891
52,797
57,784
51,023
53,689
62,211
61,395
71,553
66,818
47,170
64,885
61,091
46,906
34,782
60,944
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2008 American Community Survey, Tables B10010, B10058, B10059, and B19125.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
C-6
Children’s Defense Fund
The teen birth rate rose in 2006 for the first time in 15 years.
Trends in Teen Birth Rates,* 1980–2006
Births per 1,000 females ages 15–19
120
Black
100
Hispanic**
American Indian
80
60
All Races
40
White
Asian
20
0
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
1980
1985
1990
1995
All
Races
White
Black
53.0
52.2
52.4
51.4
50.6
51.0
50.2
50.6
53.0
57.3
59.9
61.8
60.3
59.0
58.2
56.0
53.5
51.3
50.3
48.8
47.7
45.3
43.0
41.6
41.1
40.5
41.9
45.4
44.9
45.0
43.9
42.9
43.3
42.3
42.5
44.4
47.9
50.8
52.6
51.4
50.6
50.5
49.5
47.5
45.5
44.9
44.0
43.2
41.2
39.4
38.3
37.7
37.0
38.2
97.8
94.5
94.3
93.9
94.1
95.4
95.8
97.6
102.7
111.5
112.8
114.8
111.3
107.3
102.9
94.4
89.6
86.3
83.5
79.1
77.4
71.8
66.6
63.8
63.3
62.0
64.6
2000
2006
American
Indian
Asian,
Pacific
Islander
Hispanic**
82.2
78.4
83.5
84.2
81.5
79.2
78.1
77.2
77.5
82.7
81.1
84.1
82.4
79.8
76.4
72.9
68.2
65.2
64.7
59.9
58.3
56.3
53.8
53.1
52.5
52.7
55.0
26.2
28.5
29.4
26.1
24.2
23.8
22.8
22.4
24.2
25.6
26.4
27.3
26.5
26.5
26.6
25.5
23.5
22.3
22.2
21.4
20.5
19.8
18.3
17.4
17.3
17.0
17.0
100.8
100.3
104.6
103.3
101.8
101.3
99.3
94.6
89.6
87.9
86.8
87.3
86.4
83.4
82.3
82.6
81.7
83.0
* Births per 1,000 females ages 15–19
** Persons of Hispanic origin can be of any race; Hispanic data prior to 1989 not available.
Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics
Reports, Vol. 57, No. 7
(January 7, 2009), “Births: Final Data for 2006,” Tables 4 and 8.
State of America’s Children® 2010
C-7
Birth rates for teens 15 to 19 increased in 43 states in 2006, rising to 41.9 births per 1,000 teens.
Teen Birth Rates1
1990
1995
2000
2005
2006
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
71.0
65.3
75.5
80.1
70.6
54.5
38.8
54.5
93.1
69.1
75.5
61.2
50.6
62.9
58.6
40.5
56.1
67.6
74.2
43.0
53.2
35.1
59.0
36.3
81.0
62.8
48.4
42.3
73.3
33.0
40.5
78.2
43.6
67.6
35.4
57.9
66.8
54.6
44.9
43.9
71.3
46.8
72.3
75.3
48.5
34.0
52.9
53.1
57.3
42.6
56.3
68.5
54.5
73.5
71.9
66.8
52.3
38.6
54.6
85.2
60.2
69.8
48.8
48.7
58.4
56.6
38.3
52.0
62.3
69.9
33.9
47.2
33.3
49.1
32.5
79.2
55.1
42.4
37.8
73.4
30.3
37.7
74.0
42.2
63.0
32.9
53.4
63.7
50.1
40.9
39.8
62.8
40.9
66.6
75.6
40.9
28.1
48.4
48.0
52.7
37.9
47.9
60.7
49.0
67.9
66.2
47.0
51.3
31.1
48.0
53.2
51.1
62.8
46.1
42.9
48.0
49.1
34.2
46.1
55.1
62.1
29.2
41.3
25.9
40.2
30.1
70.1
48.7
36.7
37.7
63.0
23.3
31.8
65.6
33.2
58.6
27.3
46.0
59.7
42.8
34.0
33.6
58.0
38.1
59.5
68.9
38.3
23.4
40.9
39.2
46.5
35.2
41.7
49.7
37.3
58.2
59.1
38.8
42.6
23.3
44.0
63.4
42.4
52.7
36.2
37.7
38.6
43.2
32.6
41.4
49.1
49.1
24.4
31.8
21.8
32.5
26.1
60.5
42.5
35.2
34.2
50.1
17.9
23.4
61.6
26.5
48.5
29.7
38.9
54.2
33.0
30.4
31.4
51.0
37.5
54.9
61.6
33.4
18.6
34.4
31.1
43.4
30.3
43.2
53.5
44.3
62.0
62.3
39.9
43.8
23.5
41.9
48.4
45.2
54.2
40.5
39.2
39.5
43.5
32.9
42.0
54.6
53.9
25.8
33.6
21.3
33.8
27.9
68.4
45.7
39.6
33.4
55.8
18.7
24.9
64.1
25.7
49.7
26.5
40.0
59.6
35.7
31.0
27.8
53.0
40.2
54.7
63.1
34.0
20.8
35.2
33.4
44.9
30.9
47.3
United States
59.9
56.0
47.7
40.5
41.9
1 Number
of births to teens ages 15–19 per 1,000 females ages 15–19
Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 52, No. 12 (August 4, 2003),
“Revised Birth and Fertility Rates for the 1990s and New Rates for Hispanic Populations, 2000 and 2001: United States,” Table 10; U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 56, No. 6 (December 5, 2007), “Births: Final Data 2005,” Table
11; and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 57, No. 7 (January 7, 2009),
“Births: Final Data 2006,” Table 11.
C-8
Children’s Defense Fund
State Overview of Family Structure Data
States
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
States where
the majority of
children in households headed by
relatives without
parents of the
child present live
States where
more than 35.2%
of grandchildren
are living with
grandparents
without parents of
the child present
States where
more than 1 in 5
grandparents
raising their
grandchildren
are poor
States where
teen birth rates
increased
between
2005-2006
(C-3)
(C-4)
(C-6)
(C-8)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
State of America’s Children® 2010
C-9
Family Income
T
he wealthiest households continue to reap most of the nation’s income. The gap between the rich
and non-rich is enormous and still growing. Between 2002 and 2007, income of the wealthiest
one percent of U.S. households grew more than 10 times as fast as income of the bottom 90 percent.
The income share for the wealthiest 10 percent of households was the highest ever recorded. Median
income of families varies significantly from state to state and across races and ethnic groups. Median
income for Black families with children is only 55 percent that of White families. The federal minimum
wage income of $7.25 an hour for a full-time year-round worker with two children in most states
leaves the family with income about two-thirds of the federal poverty level for a four-person family.
Growing unemployment and poverty call for significantly increased income supports for children
and their families.
• The monthly Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment in a state’s lowest
cost metropolitan area is more than 40 percent of the minimum wage in every state
and the District of Columbia. In one-third of states, the FMR for a two-bedroom
apartment is more than half the minimum wage.
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefit levels were 30 percent or
less of the federal poverty level in over half the states in July 2006. Only Alaska,
California and New York paid TANF benefits equal to even half the federal
poverty level.
• The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) lifts more children out of poverty than any
other single program. Working families and individuals with adjusted gross incomes
below $50,000 received more than $48.7 billion dollars from the EITC in 2007.
The Child Tax Credit helped more than 25 million working families, many of them
low-income, with more than $31 billion that year.
• Payments were made in only half of the approximately 12 million child support cases
with court orders that came to the attention of the Child Support Enforcement
Program in 2006.
• A record high 39.7 million people – about half of them children – received food
stamps (now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in February 2010.
• Only one in nine low-income children who received free or reduced-price lunch during
the school year is reached by the Summer Food Service Program.
State of America’s Children® 2010
D-1
Income of the top one percent of U.S. households grew more than ten times as fast
as the income of the bottom 90 percent between 2002 and 2007.
Average Income Gains, Adjusted for Inflation, 2002–2007
Dollar
increase
Percent
increase
Bottom 90 percent
$1,206
3.9%
Next 9 percent
19,476
13.0
2.5
Top 1 percent
521,127
61.8
10.1
3,455,384
94.1
14.2
Top 0.1 percent
Average
annual increase
0.8%
Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Top 1 Percent of Americans Reaped Two-Thirds of Income Gains in Last Economic
Expansion: Income Concentration in 2007 Was at Highest Level Since 1928, New Analysis Shows” (September 9, 2009), Table 1.
Based on Internal Revenue Service data analyzed by Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez, available at
http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~saez/TabFig2007.xls.
In the 1960s, 65 percent of the nation’s income gains went to the bottom 90 percent of
U.S. households. Forty years later, 65 percent of the gains went to the top one percent.
Share of Nation’s Income Gains
Share of income growth captured
Bottom 90 percent
70%
70
65%
65%
Top 1 percent
60
50
47%
44%
41%
40
36%
30%
30
20
25%
16%
11%
10
13%
0
1923–1929
1960–1969 1976–1979 1982–1989 1992–2000 2002–2007
Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Top 1 Percent of Americans Reaped Two-Thirds of Income Gains in
Last Economic Expansion: Income Concentration in 2007 Was at Highest Level Since 1928, New Analysis Shows”
(September 9, 2009), Figure 1. Based on Internal Revenue Service data analyzed by Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel
Saez, available at http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~saez/TabFig2007.xls.
D-2
Children’s Defense Fund
The average income of the top one percent of households increased 280 percent while income for
the bottom 90 percent increased only eight percent over the past three decades.
Distribution of Income Gains, 1946–2007
300
279.3%
1946–1976
250
Cumulative growth
1976–2007
200
150
100
89.6%
83.3%
66.1%
50
7.9%
19.8%
0
Per capita
national income
Average income for
bottom 90 percent
Average income for
top 1 percent
Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Top 1 Percent of Americans Reaped Two-Thirds of Income Gains in Last Economic
Expansion: Income Concentration in 2007 Was at Highest Level Since 1928, New Analysis Shows” (September 9, 2009), Figure 3.
Based on Internal Revenue Service data analyzed by Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez, available at http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~saez/
TabFig2007.xls.
The income share for the wealthiest 10 percent of households in 2007
was the highest ever recorded.
Share of total income going to Top 10%
by percent
50
Income Share for the Richest 10 Percent of U.S. Households,
49.74%
1917–2007
45
40
35
30
25
0
1917 1922 1927 1932 1937 1942 1947 1952 1957 1962 1967 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007
— Income is defined as market income including capital gains.
— In 2007, top 10 percent includes all families with annual income above $109,630.
Source: Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez, “Income Inequality in the United States, 1913–1998,” Quarterly Journal of Economics,
Vol. 118, No. 1 (2003), data updated through 2007 at http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~saez/TabFig2007.xls.
State of America’s Children® 2010
D-3
Black families with children have median incomes only 55 percent of those of White families.
The median income of Hispanic families is slightly higher than that of Black families.
Median Income of Families with Children, 2008
$90,000
$81,236
80,000
70,000
$64,416
60,000
$60,055
50,000
$37,863
40,000
$35,222
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
Total,
All Races
Asian
White
Hispanic*
Black
*Persons of Hispanic origin can be of any race.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, FINC-03. Presence of Related Children Under 18 Years
Old – All Families by Total Money Income in 2008, Type of Family, Work Experience in 2008, Race and Hispanic Origin
of Reference Person, at http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/cpstables/032009/faminc/ new03_000.htm.
D-4
Children’s Defense Fund
The median family income for a family of four ranges from a low in New Mexico
of $55,561 to a high in New Jersey of $103,261.
Median Family Income, 2007–2008
Three-person
family
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Four-person
family
$ 55,631
77,544
62,066
48,721
70,890
69,977
86,643
70,075
69,294
58,574
61,104
77,539
52,765
71,329
59,650
64,372
63,438
54,683
53,461
62,076
85,455
82,591
61,737
75,073
46,685
60,371
58,636
63,702
67,052
79,668
86,070
50,630
69,421
56,930
62,635
61,772
54,522
62,832
67,757
76,846
55,296
63,153
54,014
59,222
61,905
65,326
74,151
72,533
51,836
68,123
65,820
$ 65,311
85,422
69,452
57,905
79,477
81,644
102,124
88,725
60,418
69,009
68,502
91,483
62,051
81,465
70,873
72,961
72,610
64,459
66,256
70,374
101,803
99,648
74,824
86,637
58,518
71,059
65,827
72,542
71,104
93,926
103,261
55,561
82,457
67,295
75,140
73,301
62,037
72,667
77,867
87,002
65,655
70,182
64,228
66,381
69,990
74,163
85,939
82,716
58,479
80,530
76,964
64,779
75,782
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2008 American Community Survey, at
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/medincsizeandstate.xls; and U.S. Department of Commerce,
Bureau of the Census, 2008 American Community Survey, Table B19119.
State of America’s Children® 2010
D-5
Only three states—Alaska, California and New York—had Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF) benefits equal to half of the federal poverty level. Except for California and Wisconsin, 2006
benefits in all states were at least 30 percent less in real dollars than in 1970.
AFDC/TANF Benefits, July 1970–July 2006
Maximum monthly benefits for a three-person family
July 1970
Actual
dollars
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
$ 65
328
138
89
186
193
283
160
195
114
107
226
211
232
120
201
222
147
88
135
162
268
219
256
56
104
202
171
121
262
302
149
279
145
213
161
152
184
265
229
85
264
112
148
175
267
225
258
114
184
213
Adjusted
for inflation
(July 2006)*
$ 339
1,711
720
464
971
1,007
1,477
835
1,018
595
558
1,179
1,101
1,211
626
1,049
1,158
767
459
704
845
1,398
1,143
1,336
292
543
1,054
892
631
1,367
1,576
777
1,456
757
1,111
840
793
960
1,383
1,195
444
1,378
584
772
913
1,393
1,174
1,346
595
960
1,111
Actual
dollars
$ 215
923
347
204
723
356
636
338
407
303
280
570
309
396
288
426
429
262
240
485
490
618
459
532
170
292
375
364
348
625
424
389
691
272
477
410
292
471
421
554
240
508
185
223
474
665
389
546
340
673
340
July 2006
Percent change
(compared to
inflation-adjusted
amount)
As percent
of 2006
poverty level
-36.6%
-46.1
-51.8
-56.0
-25.5
-64.6
-56.9
-59.5
-60.0
-49.1
-49.8
-51.7
-71.9
-67.3
-54.0
-59.4
-63.0
-65.8
-47.7
-31.1
-42.0
-55.8
-59.8
-60.2
-41.8
-46.2
-64.4
-59.2
-44.8
-54.3
-73.1
-49.9
-52.5
-64.1
-57.1
-51.2
-63.2
-50.9
-69.6
-53.6
-45.9
-63.1
-68.3
-71.1
-48.1
-52.3
-66.9
-59.4
-42.9
-29.9
-69.4
15.5%
53.4
25.1
14.7
52.3
25.7
46.0
24.4
29.4
21.9
20.2
35.8
22.3
28.6
20.8
30.8
31.0
18.9
17.3
35.1
35.4
44.7
33.2
38.5
12.3
21.1
27.1
26.3
25.2
45.2
30.7
28.1
50.0
19.7
34.5
29.6
21.1
34.0
30.4
40.0
17.3
36.7
13.4
16.1
34.3
48.1
28.1
39.5
24.6
48.7
24.6
*Adjusted by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The CPI-U for July 1970 was 39.0; for July 2006 it was 203.5.
Sources: U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Green Book 2004, Table 7–13; U.S. Congress, House of Representatives,
Committee on Ways and Means, Green Book 2008, Table 7–21; and U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, at
http://stats.bls.gov/cpi/. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
D-6
Children’s Defense Fund
More than four million adults and children receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)—
a 65 percent reduction since August 1996 (when major changes were made in the federal
welfare system). More than half the families receiving assistance are one-parent families.
TANF Recipients and Families, August 1996 and September 2009
Recipients, September 2009
Recipients,
August 1996
Total
Adults
Children
Alabama
47,811
8,479
Alaska
Arizona
83,236
Arkansas
19,755
California
1,355,050
Colorado
25,899
Connecticut
34,645
Delaware
13,396
District of Columbia
12,721
Florida
107,719
Georgia
38,486
Hawaii
24,447
Idaho
2,412
Illinois
55,394
Indiana
98,804
Iowa
55,888
Kansas
37,771
Kentucky
60,477
Louisiana
24,170
Maine
36,026
Maryland
57,609
Massachusetts
130,072
Michigan
n/a
Minnesota
48,387
Mississippi
25,408
Missouri
94,690
Montana
9,174
Nebraska
21,154
Nevada
24,481
New Hampshire
13,183
New Jersey
76,818
New Mexico
49,108
New York
386,303
North Carolina
55,567
North Dakota
5,145
Ohio
227,363
Oklahoma
21,598
Oregon
73,287
Pennsylvania
126,417
Rhode Island
15,523
South Carolina
43,503
South Dakota
6,584
Tennessee
161,733
Texas
108,144
Utah
17,920
Vermont
6,959
Virginia
83,131
Washington
153,888
West Virginia
21,225
Wisconsin
43,391
Wyoming
583
11,726
2,566
20,699
5,458
290,982
6,162
10,400
5,132
2,368
22,096
3,446
7,432
176
5,639
25,232
18,145
12,215
12,960
3,423
12,449
15,543
42,570
n/a
11,329
6,575
29,745
2,693
4,924
6,334
3,816
22,344
13,404
105,785
10,730
1,294
62,282
4,219
22,942
31,848
4,508
10,786
1,030
45,225
14,915
5,442
2,105
24,251
50,267
5,919
8,331
99
36,085
5,913
62,537
14,297
1,064,068
19,737
24,245
8,264
10,353
85,623
35,040
17,015
2,236
49,755
73,572
37,743
25,556
47,517
20,747
23,577
42,066
87,502
n/a
37,058
18,833
64,945
6,481
16,230
18,147
9,367
54,474
35,704
280,518
44,837
3,851
165,081
17,379
50,345
94,569
11,015
32,717
5,554
116,508
93,229
12,478
4,854
58,880
103,621
15,306
35,060
484
100,662
35,544
169,442
56,343
2,581,948
95,788
159,246
23,654
69,292
533,801
330,302
66,482
21,780
642,644
142,604
86,146
63,783
172,193
228,115
53,873
194,127
226,030
502,354
169,744
123,828
222,820
29,130
38,592
34,261
22,937
275,637
99,661
1,143,962
267,326
13,146
549,312
96,201
78,419
531,059
56,560
114,273
15,896
254,818
649,018
39,073
24,331
152,845
268,927
89,039
148,888
11,398
4,250,934 1,049,961
3,200,973
12,077,254
United States
Percent
change
Families, September 2009
Two-parent One-parent Children only
Total
families
families
families
-52.5% 20,071
-76.1
3,086
-50.9
38,368
-64.9
8,670
-47.5
554,268
-73.0
10,364
-78.2
17,305
-43.4
4,730
-81.6
5,907
-79.8
58,646
-88.3
21,008
-63.2
8,447
-88.9
1,600
-91.4
20,332
-30.7
38,392
-35.1
21,530
-40.8
14,620
-64.9
29,755
-89.4
10,752
-33.1
14,005
-70.3
23,942
-42.5
59,635
n/a
n/a
-71.5
22,407
-79.5
12,018
-57.5
39,182
-68.5
3,622
-45.2
8,588
-28.5
9,500
-42.5
6,037
-72.1
32,519
-50.7
18,354
-66.2
154,045
-79.2
27,678
-60.9
2,056
-58.6
99,084
-77.5
9,584
-6.5
28,479
-76.2
52,013
-72.6
6,934
-61.9
18,512
-58.6
3,159
-36.5
62,372
-83.3
47,856
-54.1
6,936
-71.4
3,061
-45.6
36,800
-42.8
65,614
-76.2
9,450
-70.9
19,569
-94.9
291
0
0
0
114
0
0
0
0
0
0
17
8
0
0
0
306
0
0
0
1,307
0
601
n/a
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
947
34
368
0
0
438
0
0
0
0
684
0
0
47
0
125
0
78
0
11,508
1,807
17,616
5,050
254,990
4,973
10,262
2,085
3,545
17,311
3,408
5,617
176
5,647
25,108
14,642
9,307
11,766
3,346
9,543
15,698
39,290
n/a
11,651
6,486
29,983
1,872
5,011
4,483
3,488
22,520
11,233
92,783
10,020
1,551
46,584
4,219
18,386
30,010
4,520
11,061
1,030
48,232
14,646
4,057
1,498
25,178
37,387
4,668
7,066
92
8,474
923
19,409
3,412
247,054
4,772
7,043
2,629
2,362
39,517
17,600
1,688
1,424
14,685
9,643
5,263
4,029
17,461
7,406
2,817
8,244
17,380
n/a
10,756
5,532
9,199
1,381
3,577
4,137
2,397
9,999
6,338
58,916
17,304
505
45,172
5,365
7,908
21,398
2,362
7,451
2,129
12,345
33,210
2,879
1,261
11,622
21,942
4,782
12,195
195
-64.8
5,075
932,410
765,492
1,791,153
n/a — Data not available.
Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Caseload Data 1960–1999,
at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/data-reports/caseload/afdc/1996/1996.xls; and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for
Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, TANF Caseload Data 2009, at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/data-reports/caseload/2009/2009_3_
tanssp.xls. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
D-7
24.6 million working families and individuals received almost $48.7 billion from the EITC
in 2007 and most went to low wage workers with no or limited tax liability.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), 2007
Federal EITC
Total claims
Number
of filers
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Amount
(in 1,000s)
State EITC
Refundable claims
Number
of filers
Amount
(in 1,000s)
531,511
43,162
468,098
303,618
2,729,208
300,892
189,662
64,685
50,677
1,810,981
1,006,290
96,043
115,917
946,867
492,353
194,557
195,798
384,236
526,030
96,183
372,774
348,577
750,743
304,600
402,114
489,777
77,920
123,144
192,465
70,776
531,751
210,318
1,626,782
860,966
41,538
888,325
333,169
254,771
855,479
74,630
472,489
60,141
614,704
2,417,422
156,071
41,357
545,436
394,028
155,013
340,967
33,987
$ 1,221,396
70,296
924,466
637,797
5,311,267
529,992
333,361
121,774
91,561
3,579,925
2,219,893
164,710
215,286
1,894,797
933,890
341,901
358,467
734,795
1,216,077
163,376
693,211
592,854
1,456,800
523,462
945,143
942,096
137,427
224,630
351,437
115,573
1,007,495
413,508
3,142,063
1,761,511
71,975
1,697,471
659,567
442,895
1,559,547
140,582
979,071
108,316
1,238,129
5,368,194
292,123
65,595
1,028,080
693,986
281,098
605,637
57,720
484,306
36,933
415,514
271,945
2,309,375
256,090
161,795
57,411
45,174
1,571,372
909,768
81,863
100,244
828,108
436,790
167,092
171,799
339,447
479,456
79,526
325,317
292,898
660,917
259,919
369,383
430,677
66,044
106,755
169,279
57,924
457,253
188,049
1,369,431
767,173
35,515
784,389
294,324
218,229
744,708
64,921
426,460
52,120
542,229
2,159,616
138,078
33,221
478,367
338,631
137,498
294,264
29,117
$ 1,099,425
62,167
824,216
572,311
4,439,094
461,200
293,456
110,151
82,743
3,072,116
1,969,355
146,838
186,915
1,647,184
839,177
302,240
321,910
652,204
1,097,991
137,239
605,461
515,843
1,272,656
456,916
862,582
841,236
119,590
200,172
313,348
97,528
870,458
373,147
2,623,278
1,575,190
63,983
1,517,454
583,935
386,399
1,392,163
123,268
889,541
97,189
1,085,844
4,666,952
257,519
54,403
916,096
610,119
254,974
536,571
51,358
24,589,002
48,662,223
21,496,714
42,533,105
Does state
have its
own EITC?
Is it
refundable?
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Historical Table 2, SOI Bulletin, at http://www.irs.gov/taxstats/article/0,,id=171535,00.html;
and Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Policy Basics: State Earned Income Tax Credits (August 27, 2009). Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
D-8
Children’s Defense Fund
More than 25 million families received over $31 billion in child tax credits in 2007.
Child Tax Credit, 2007
Number
of filers
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Amount claimed
(in $1,000s)
415,056
74,561
553,069
240,307
3,024,890
426,068
284,182
77,989
33,754
1,412,379
848,822
112,968
139,544
1,103,568
597,946
270,765
259,590
360,527
399,300
104,675
486,739
490,363
821,947
457,426
270,813
503,580
75,979
164,652
254,578
114,862
716,454
173,398
1,389,387
813,005
55,290
1,008,436
316,133
292,853
1,019,297
84,469
395,658
69,371
535,769
2,251,344
276,814
50,624
664,030
569,108
137,014
501,636
50,495
$ 470,213
93,384
658,579
275,602
3,466,146
539,688
358,401
95,478
32,618
1,557,211
948,121
142,987
184,103
1,379,237
777,999
373,338
342,404
443,251
455,636
131,822
577,079
630,029
1,076,230
623,104
289,400
633,677
98,400
226,127
303,017
152,403
863,218
204,043
1,656,341
923,835
77,164
1,297,093
387,349
364,189
1,309,467
103,306
443,391
94,856
624,558
2,638,273
398,653
65,543
807,549
723,536
172,913
674,625
70,623
25,751,484
$ 31,236,209
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Historical Table 2, SOI Bulletin, at
http://www.irs.gov/taxstats/article/0,,id=171535,00.htm. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
D-9
More than three-quarters of child support cases in 2006 had court orders but only about half
received payments. In 20 states there were collections in fewer than half the cases.
Child Support Enforcement, 2006
Caseload
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Cases
with
court order
226,838
44,989
211,039
122,667
1,705,561
142,154
202,174
56,971
77,651
742,584
482,495
102,023
110,112
602,533
355,757
184,197
130,845
320,412
284,244
67,045
265,146
273,213
958,128
249,944
301,355
367,918
40,048
104,974
111,258
36,747
359,530
68,210
893,768
410,399
41,029
956,541
174,065
251,412
550,150
58,171
212,085
45,746
386,180
980,497
78,083
22,711
351,930
344,972
113,473
359,126
35,099
185,315
41,500
155,258
102,559
1,373,276
122,641
143,001
42,789
35,278
547,872
361,008
59,672
86,936
402,438
243,490
158,171
97,760
255,373
207,781
58,777
205,914
203,994
764,500
206,309
163,133
304,641
33,300
82,324
74,317
30,330
294,424
37,618
728,908
332,631
31,626
701,380
121,199
166,833
464,874
34,019
160,444
30,119
246,671
811,184
68,269
19,496
299,804
309,979
96,915
300,940
29,215
15,574,199
12,036,205
Percent
with
court order
81.7%
92.2
73.6
83.6
80.5
86.3
70.7
75.1
45.4
73.8
74.8
58.5
79.0
66.8
68.4
85.9
74.7
79.7
73.1
87.7
77.7
74.7
79.8
82.5
54.1
82.8
83.2
78.4
66.8
82.5
81.9
55.2
81.6
81.1
77.1
73.3
69.6
66.4
84.5
58.5
75.7
65.8
63.9
82.7
87.4
85.8
85.2
89.9
85.4
83.8
83.2
77.3
Cases
with
payment
121,588
32,728
104,458
78,223
769,372
104,098
91,471
27,837
18,071
430,865
224,633
27,619
52,706
228,804
170,247
142,974
71,511
156,120
128,127
39,909
152,646
118,844
429,883
160,413
118,216
197,617
26,643
64,733
50,441
26,291
234,043
29,381
460,127
271,333
24,437
542,352
90,883
115,341
421,185
20,991
100,225
25,566
178,090
657,908
60,744
16,419
216,883
256,026
68,423
224,884
23,985
8,406,314
Percent
with
payment
53.6%
72.7
49.5
63.8
45.1
73.2
45.2
48.9
23.3
58.0
46.6
27.1
47.9
38.0
47.9
77.6
54.7
48.7
45.1
59.5
57.6
43.5
44.9
64.2
39.2
53.7
66.5
61.7
45.3
71.5
65.1
43.1
51.5
66.1
59.6
56.7
52.2
45.9
76.6
36.1
47.3
55.9
46.1
67.1
77.8
72.3
61.6
74.2
60.3
62.6
68.3
54.0
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Support Enforcement, FY 2006
Annual Report to Congress, Tables 51, 55 and 61, at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/pubs/2009/reports/annual_report/.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
D-10
Children’s Defense Fund
The Supplemental Security Income Program helped more than one million
children with disabilities in December 2008.
Children Receiving Supplemental Security
Income (SSI), December 2008
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
29,280
1,188
19,023
22,914
105,820
7,706
7,336
3,486
4,488
84,349
37,511
1,606
4,728
45,149
23,620
7,684
7,879
29,715
32,711
3,736
16,163
20,972
39,095
12,297
22,946
21,293
2,260
3,781
6,817
2,213
23,824
8,515
77,436
40,565
1,044
45,911
16,194
8,891
66,304
4,172
19,630
2,199
23,859
112,875
4,803
1,783
23,222
16,063
9,233
18,475
810
1,153,574
Source: SSI Annual Statistical Report, 2008 (September 2009), Table 17, at
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/ssi_asr/2008.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
D-11
More than 3 million children of disabled, deceased or retired workers receive Social Security benefits.
Children Receiving Social Security Benefits, December 2008
Total
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Children under age 18
Children of:
Deceased
Disabled
workers
workers
Retired
workers
Total
Students ages 18–19
Children of:
Disabled Deceased
workers
workers
76,568
7,132
59,539
47,248
276,040
36,156
30,750
9,409
4,946
181,086
101,770
11,120
15,050
114,345
69,474
25,408
26,110
64,508
63,492
17,586
49,508
64,293
113,012
39,720
52,753
71,238
9,737
14,927
22,729
15,469
75,184
23,588
183,314
103,679
4,937
108,935
44,583
30,236
132,538
10,914
57,487
6,999
80,762
232,676
22,623
6,832
75,131
50,851
28,656
49,969
4,796
42,389
2,361
27,781
27,303
120,590
15,804
15,804
4,724
1,571
82,422
46,117
4,180
7,587
53,080
35,464
12,761
12,639
39,580
30,605
11,845
19,907
40,346
59,394
21,224
27,678
37,638
4,327
7,451
9,581
10,066
36,352
10,590
101,705
54,261
2,357
54,248
21,677
13,830
73,020
6,728
28,936
3,090
41,501
105,520
9,325
4,133
38,368
24,906
17,792
26,807
1,902
28,527
3,769
26,328
16,731
120,213
17,109
12,046
3,983
2,812
77,194
46,787
4,691
6,200
49,681
29,156
10,877
11,540
21,527
28,293
4,723
25,131
19,529
44,003
16,002
20,870
28,957
4,400
6,438
10,465
4,577
31,089
10,890
61,212
41,977
2,255
46,546
19,618
12,891
50,020
3,386
23,993
3,411
33,494
106,904
11,410
2,070
30,623
21,003
9,082
19,745
2,520
5,654
1,002
5,436
3,219
35,254
3,242
2,901
703
563
21,482
8,874
2,250
1,263
11,594
4,855
1,772
1,933
3,405
4,600
1,019
4,473
4,420
9,618
2,498
4,210
4,645
1,010
1,039
2,683
828
7,745
2,110
20,400
7,443
325
8,154
3,289
3,519
9,505
801
4,560
500
5,766
20,265
1,892
631
6,143
4,948
1,783
3,418
374
4,271
316
2,562
2,251
7,996
1,661
994
442
145
8,794
5,823
173
616
5,743
4,834
1,314
1,344
2,911
2,935
711
1,245
2,672
5,331
2,209
3,055
4,210
539
798
695
646
3,134
1,001
6,085
4,870
292
6,600
2,623
1,394
6,721
306
2,964
390
3,986
11,138
707
291
3,585
2,753
1,433
2,504
234
2,008
88
894
1,051
2,591
574
386
192
28
3,006
2,142
49
221
1,987
1,989
515
501
1,494
1,101
396
344
1,264
2,143
894
1,288
1,806
169
343
200
327
1,167
329
2,434
2,010
102
2,630
1,002
457
2,852
133
1,246
125
1,568
3,802
221
131
1,423
987
748
1,034
74
1,848
186
1,318
983
4,123
901
466
209
99
4,386
3,010
82
307
2,932
2,335
670
703
1,189
1,543
253
750
1,080
2,558
1,091
1,455
2,005
303
384
372
250
1,510
538
2,707
2,372
165
3,255
1,356
721
3,130
139
1,421
227
2,049
5,995
390
119
1,726
1,381
557
1,175
133
415
42
350
217
1,282
186
142
41
18
1,402
671
42
88
824
510
129
140
228
291
62
151
328
630
224
312
399
67
71
123
69
457
134
944
488
25
715
265
216
739
34
297
38
369
1,341
96
41
436
385
128
295
27
3,025,813
1,509,267
1,246,698
270,016
140,247
54,466
68,857
16,924
Source: Social Security Administration, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, 2009 (February 2010), Table 5.J10.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
D-12
Retired
workers
Children’s Defense Fund
In every state and the District of Columbia, the monthly Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom
apartment is more than 40 percent of the state’s minimum wage. In 17 of these the rent
is far beyond affordability at more than half of the state minimum wage.
Rental Housing Affordability
Fair Market Rent vs. Minimum Wage, 2010
Monthly Fair Market
Rent (FMR)
two-bedroom apt.*
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
$ 536
981
788
515
672
678
947
838
1,364
588
548
1,704
617
563
588
547
567
570
567
667
588
801
606
596
567
517
591
551
911
991
951
576
723
588
565
588
557
675
579
963
554
546
543
588
663
1,116
571
642
543
588
662
Minimum wage**
Hourly
Monthly
$ 7.25
7.25
7.25
7.25
8.00
7.25
8.25
7.25
8.25
7.25
7.25
7.25
7.25
8.00
7.25
7.25
7.25
7.25
7.25
7.25
7.25
8.00
7.40
7.25
7.25
7.25
7.25
7.25
7.55
7.25
7.25
7.50
7.25
7.25
7.25
7.30
7.25
8.40
7.25
7.40
7.25
7.25
7.25
7.25
7.25
8.06
7.25
8.55
7.25
7.25
7.25
$ 1,257
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,387
1,257
1,430
1,257
1,430
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,387
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,387
1,283
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,309
1,257
1,257
1,300
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,265
1,257
1,456
1,257
1,283
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,257
1,397
1,257
1,482
1,257
1,257
1,257
7.25
1,257
FMR as percent
of minimum
wage
42.6%
78.0
62.7
41.0
48.4
53.9
66.2
66.7
95.4
46.8
43.6
135.6
49.1
40.6
46.8
43.5
45.1
45.3
45.1
53.1
46.8
57.8
47.2
47.4
45.1
41.1
47.0
43.8
69.6
78.8
75.7
44.3
57.5
46.8
44.9
46.5
44.3
46.4
46.1
75.1
44.1
43.4
43.2
46.8
52.7
79.9
45.4
43.3
43.2
46.8
52.7
Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, “Proposed
Fair Market Rents for the Housing Choice Voucher Program and Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy Program, Fiscal Year 2010,” Federal
Register, Vol. 74, No. 148 (August 4, 2009), pp. 38716–38764; and U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Age and
Hour Division, “Minimum Wage Laws in the States – January 1, 2010,” at <http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm>.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
* Rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the lowest cost metropolitian area in the state.
**In all but 13 states, the state minimum wage is the same as the federal minimum wage.
For further information, see National Low Income Housing Coalition, Out of Reach 2009, Persistent Problems, New Challenges for Renters,
April 2009, at www.nlihc.org/oor2009.
State of America’s Children® 2010
D-13
After peaking in 1994, the number of children receiving food stamps has been
rising rapidly again since 2000.
Children Receiving Food Stamps, 1989–2008
15
14
13
In millions
12
11
10
9
8
7
0
1989
1994
1999
2004
2008
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, unpublished tabulations.
The 38.2 million people receiving food stamps in October 2009 was the largest
number ever receiving benefits.
Food Stamp / SNAP Recipients, October 2007 – October 2009
Number of recipients in millions
40
35
30
25
0
Oct
2007
April
2008
Oct
2008
April
2009
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, at <http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/34SNAPmonthly.htm>.
D-14
Children’s Defense Fund
Oct
2009
During 2008 an average of 13.5 million children received food stamps each month,
an increase of more than 44 percent since 1999.
Number of Children Receiving Food Stamps,
FY 1989–FY 2008
FY 1989
FY 1994
FY 1999
FY 2004
FY 2007
FY 2008
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
203,627
13,852
142,460
103,406
1,130,068
108,030
62,617
15,639
29,772
319,164
247,169
39,780
29,783
480,701
139,258
80,704
60,856
190,408
356,575
38,077
127,879
153,172
445,279
120,559
224,555
192,188
26,322
45,161
19,408
9,273
191,648
75,537
722,389
177,509
18,890
492,247
123,659
90,838
441,560
29,370
137,577
25,213
230,158
846,306
52,402
14,362
148,798
153,771
111,043
175,538
14,572
280,653
24,710
280,587
134,327
2,206,228
142,831
123,647
28,661
52,408
748,014
415,623
56,673
43,834
546,825
254,607
96,003
89,723
228,424
403,454
59,146
206,048
240,069
539,922
175,763
252,405
295,224
35,654
62,558
45,887
30,016
290,707
126,461
1,094,408
313,632
22,968
598,321
190,671
134,838
544,571
51,496
205,812
24,734
347,335
1,406,259
68,105
29,579
275,223
231,318
135,908
181,645
16,868
216,200
20,743
150,380
130,021
1,336,701
84,579
86,894
19,432
42,400
425,329
328,559
61,446
29,799
397,268
159,095
60,457
56,731
167,608
280,474
41,572
142,036
131,011
343,440
95,861
152,968
197,603
28,819
45,471
28,936
19,239
193,346
92,563
718,290
258,261
16,147
305,001
131,670
103,126
395,157
41,458
157,901
22,140
217,141
800,811
53,059
18,208
168,992
152,780
96,025
96,597
12,554
256,164
26,409
297,908
160,903
1,241,903
123,636
87,480
28,835
40,083
532,930
421,231
41,147
45,628
529,423
259,955
83,382
78,205
235,191
355,683
50,107
129,061
178,840
449,409
114,724
200,443
291,754
37,002
58,361
59,580
24,456
176,165
118,897
641,795
385,631
18,638
466,333
180,314
185,357
447,651
39,641
250,296
28,656
344,082
1,256,104
67,001
15,969
217,235
192,982
109,115
176,275
14,199
276,831
25,630
298,550
176,187
1,296,318
127,338
80,830
33,312
34,796
546,972
474,327
36,989
44,148
593,394
279,973
105,476
84,800
251,041
307,897
61,232
145,358
191,733
530,380
134,878
207,351
427,138
34,452
59,053
59,270
25,313
192,124
121,240
711,247
430,347
20,513
490,566
198,018
183,006
479,009
35,963
257,284
29,105
374,945
1,365,363
63,880
18,822
235,793
219,633
104,475
202,616
10,681
291,898
26,523
341,683
177,424
1,390,566
129,819
84,597
37,847
35,532
640,032
516,910
38,777
51,601
605,282
297,523
111,610
84,907
257,537
323,236
64,234
159,185
207,960
526,251
139,669
217,663
459,828
34,988
59,931
69,267
25,913
206,272
123,018
779,428
459,199
21,997
523,686
193,676
185,055
502,300
38,382
271,376
30,856
394,134
1,412,481
70,383
21,322
254,592
246,904
108,705
207,662
11,320
United States
9,429,127
14,390,783
9,332,299
11,772,169
12,695,597
13,470,941
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, unpublished tabulations from Fiscal Year QC database.
State of America’s Children® 2010
D-15
More than 30 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program.
About 60 percent of them receive free or reduced-price meals.
National School Lunch Program Participation, FY 2008
Free
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Reduced Price
Paid
Total
304,558
28,093
358,875
195,435
1,914,449
165,422
118,005
37,869
28,529
861,701
658,549
35,202
66,283
625,379
296,123
114,461
126,310
267,265
339,521
44,492
181,781
210,306
429,361
178,219
263,617
268,599
32,818
77,396
101,280
25,622
278,807
135,160
965,631
491,422
21,110
479,927
228,550
158,321
434,085
44,772
279,896
34,910
364,301
1,905,987
99,543
17,985
273,203
235,841
96,844
194,276
15,880
53,624
6,233
68,775
36,467
408,321
36,229
25,906
6,144
3,298
189,409
124,680
13,018
22,878
92,112
72,417
33,378
39,811
50,401
46,049
10,118
47,999
38,730
81,650
54,894
38,389
60,956
9,600
25,545
24,908
8,498
62,454
23,849
178,594
99,730
6,732
94,449
45,115
33,893
99,226
6,725
43,067
10,011
62,732
317,469
38,383
5,443
69,816
66,678
21,130
52,841
6,767
228,660
17,586
219,996
116,957
798,635
175,098
172,685
44,338
10,919
506,627
500,729
53,050
79,296
420,644
394,787
244,337
184,562
231,239
199,964
53,886
211,173
308,788
390,474
379,047
102,688
309,606
44,064
137,015
69,559
78,740
328,498
58,083
673,426
374,408
52,196
531,084
150,755
115,946
611,505
32,418
176,111
60,698
268,337
949,344
189,665
31,391
408,870
226,179
93,132
349,994
32,434
586,842
51,911
647,645
348,858
3,121,406
376,748
316,596
88,351
42,746
1,557,738
1,283,958
101,270
168,458
1,138,135
763,328
392,175
350,683
548,904
585,533
108,496
440,953
557,824
901,486
612,159
404,694
639,160
86,482
239,956
195,747
112,861
669,759
217,092
1,817,651
965,560
80,038
1,105,460
424,419
308,159
1,144,816
83,915
499,074
105,620
695,370
3,172,799
327,591
54,819
751,889
528,698
211,106
597,111
55,081
15,111,971
3,075,543
12,399,621
30,587,134
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, unpublished tabulations.
D-16
Children’s Defense Fund
More than 80 percent of the 10.5 million children in the National School Breakfast Program
receive free or reduced-price breakfasts.
National School Breakfast Program Participation, FY 2008
Free
Reduced Price
Paid
Total
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
153,377
10,320
155,327
110,915
834,132
64,958
46,743
19,414
14,292
407,903
384,978
16,843
40,761
222,690
137,474
47,004
59,370
162,335
183,781
21,133
85,018
99,969
187,541
79,152
155,438
146,995
15,459
32,138
41,377
10,229
110,102
87,538
393,913
259,313
10,073
236,203
136,838
88,183
181,721
18,749
174,904
16,371
198,035
1,067,922
38,560
10,841
139,356
107,546
58,217
80,149
7,172
17,352
1,673
22,173
14,419
134,850
11,639
5,153
2,294
1,602
63,915
52,725
4,495
8,732
18,311
19,109
7,995
12,160
21,661
16,793
3,214
17,098
9,929
19,579
17,900
14,981
23,054
2,863
6,026
7,027
1,764
14,979
12,605
53,881
35,869
1,906
26,209
20,032
14,945
23,652
1,807
20,024
2,504
25,243
130,601
8,586
2,182
23,138
25,495
9,816
13,374
1,910
34,999
3,027
41,933
25,810
143,367
21,596
11,838
9,277
5,054
128,240
113,311
13,237
18,595
37,019
39,683
26,369
20,447
51,678
37,812
9,977
42,173
24,020
44,513
41,008
22,175
56,045
6,525
16,751
13,113
9,074
30,143
24,261
107,776
70,696
7,973
74,611
40,777
35,823
65,626
4,681
49,281
6,152
50,669
247,160
15,673
6,693
62,615
29,556
28,812
33,103
4,641
205,728
15,020
219,432
151,143
1,112,349
98,193
63,734
30,985
20,948
600,058
551,014
34,575
68,087
278,020
196,266
81,369
91,977
235,674
238,386
34,324
144,289
133,918
251,633
138,060
192,593
226,094
24,847
54,915
61,518
21,068
155,224
124,403
555,570
365,878
19,953
337,023
197,647
138,951
271,000
25,236
244,209
25,027
273,947
1,445,683
62,820
19,716
225,110
162,598
96,845
126,627
13,722
United States
7,368,771
1,029,244
2,065,390
10,463,405
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, unpublished tabulations.
State of America’s Children® 2010
D-17
Only one in nine low-income children who eats a free or reduced-price school lunch
during the school year is reached by the Summer Food Service Program.
Summer Food Service Program Participation, FY 2008
Total
Summer Food
Service Program
participants
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
School Lunch
Program participants
receiving free or
reduced-price meals
Summer Food Service
participants as
a percent of School
Lunch free or reducedprice recipients
26,156
1,780
10,339
15,679
107,494
10,320
12,545
9,676
44,077
120,505
112,426
4,960
20,397
52,937
48,131
8,982
17,225
35,807
30,033
6,188
58,971
50,274
49,305
30,435
20,027
32,761
8,644
7,534
5,246
4,706
45,522
46,512
441,500
49,213
2,246
60,665
11,686
36,043
98,914
6,982
58,328
4,222
31,562
106,482
17,658
2,751
50,870
37,543
14,183
36,498
2,880
358,182
34,326
427,650
231,902
2,322,770
201,651
143,911
44,013
31,827
1,051,110
783,229
48,220
89,161
717,491
368,540
147,839
166,121
317,666
385,570
54,610
229,780
249,036
511,011
233,113
302,006
329,555
42,418
102,941
126,188
34,120
341,261
159,009
1,144,225
591,152
27,842
574,376
273,665
192,214
533,311
51,497
322,963
44,921
427,033
2,223,456
137,926
23,428
343,019
302,519
117,974
247,117
22,647
7.3%
5.2
2.4
6.8
4.6
5.1
8.7
22.0
138.5
11.5
14.4
10.3
22.9
7.4
13.1
6.1
10.4
11.3
7.8
11.3
25.7
20.2
9.6
13.1
6.6
9.9
20.4
7.3
4.2
13.8
13.3
29.3
38.6
8.3
8.1
10.6
4.3
18.8
18.5
13.6
18.1
9.4
7.4
4.8
12.8
11.7
14.8
12.4
12.0
14.8
12.7
2,125,820
18,187,514
11.7
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, unpublished tabulations. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
D-18
Children’s Defense Fund
More than 3.1 million children receive nutritious meals and snacks in child care programs
through the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, FY 2008
Family
child care
homes
Child care
centers
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
6,148
2,189
11,853
5,328
129,059
6,634
4,970
5,331
266
12,348
22,704
732
1,813
27,210
23,484
12,541
23,885
4,501
28,562
7,523
19,370
20,051
40,410
72,764
2,533
14,538
6,715
18,767
994
1,336
3,208
19,018
58,223
14,372
9,623
23,582
19,429
15,057
14,086
2,480
6,431
5,101
9,369
34,293
13,048
3,816
11,097
22,164
5,770
20,881
3,469
United States
849,072
Adult care
centers
Total
36,712
6,901
33,166
34,053
180,356
26,366
12,392
9,297
5,171
160,085
114,330
8,318
8,244
91,658
37,737
23,577
22,146
40,915
29,587
4,972
19,859
33,472
41,457
22,817
34,579
45,608
6,649
20,263
9,272
5,673
59,651
22,028
210,804
107,045
7,295
94,257
35,080
23,066
100,541
7,076
24,776
7,849
48,952
220,111
12,767
3,074
43,636
49,785
16,968
43,349
5,376
2,449
131
654
2,372
23,334
365
580
273
35
3,669
3,338
203
0
1,704
163
603
110
2,068
400
21
6,959
3,738
0
456
346
972
12
874
180
307
11,612
196
7,849
842
13
1,390
477
238
1,336
392
2,891
0
766
20,699
20
216
1,471
705
202
573
0
45,309
9,220
45,672
41,752
332,749
33,365
17,941
14,901
5,471
176,102
140,372
9,252
10,057
120,572
61,384
36,720
46,140
47,483
58,549
12,516
46,187
57,260
81,867
96,036
37,459
61,118
13,376
39,903
10,447
7,316
74,471
41,242
276,876
122,258
16,931
119,229
54,986
38,361
115,962
9,947
34,098
12,950
59,087
275,103
25,830
7,105
56,204
72,654
22,940
64,803
8,845
2,269,109
108,197
3,226,374
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, unpublished tabulations.
State of America’s Children® 2010
D-19
Infants and young children are 75 percent of WIC recipients. Since the recession began
in late 2007, participation increased by more than 800,000.
Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Program
for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), FY 2008
Infants
Children
ages 1–4
32,699
6,198
49,505
24,450
348,206
24,366
12,653
4,874
4,627
121,415
77,900
8,394
9,949
73,655
39,977
17,404
17,747
31,253
37,446
5,883
35,590
30,865
54,546
33,710
25,164
37,712
4,611
10,644
16,195
4,316
38,956
15,702
128,371
64,064
3,464
69,272
29,969
27,072
58,013
5,895
35,380
5,110
44,756
230,720
17,757
3,516
41,401
42,857
12,432
29,247
3,339
37,851
6,084
53,531
25,681
323,115
26,041
15,431
6,076
5,058
122,942
80,696
8,413
10,150
85,934
43,326
17,220
18,863
34,271
42,139
5,862
35,967
29,484
55,358
32,814
34,428
39,923
4,898
11,072
16,497
4,606
41,747
16,642
126,993
68,089
3,636
89,604
32,035
24,645
62,986
6,192
37,233
5,951
47,996
235,211
14,313
3,285
40,175
40,586
12,542
30,023
3,292
64,293
12,968
94,549
39,601
740,889
48,395
28,245
11,294
6,736
220,024
146,919
17,243
21,682
135,096
72,513
37,931
36,629
70,742
62,119
14,039
64,053
63,589
128,294
74,916
49,423
65,372
10,405
22,791
28,281
8,983
78,362
35,556
241,963
128,280
7,825
134,061
60,836
56,283
130,159
13,737
54,343
11,549
76,680
468,665
34,181
9,901
69,244
92,562
26,796
62,485
5,986
134,842
25,251
197,586
89,731
1,412,210
98,802
56,328
22,244
16,421
464,381
305,516
34,050
41,781
294,685
155,816
72,555
73,238
136,266
141,704
25,784
135,610
123,938
238,198
141,440
109,015
143,007
19,914
44,507
60,973
17,905
159,064
67,900
497,327
260,433
14,925
292,937
122,840
108,000
251,159
25,823
126,956
22,609
169,432
934,597
66,252
16,702
150,820
176,005
51,770
121,754
12,617
2,109,245
2,176,907
4,197,465
8,483,618
Women
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, unpublished tabulations.
D-20
Children’s Defense Fund
Total
State Overview of Family Income Data
States
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
States where
States
TANF
where TANF
recipients
benefits are
decresed by
less than
more than
33.3% of the 50% between
poverty level 1996-2009
(D-6)
(D-7)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
States where
fewer than
50% of child
support cases
had payments
(D-10)
X
States where
fair market rent
for a 2-bedroom
apartment in the
lowest cost metropolitan area is more
than half of the
minimum wage
(D-13)
X
X
States where
the number of
children receiving food stamps
increased by
more than 50%
between 1999
and 2008
(D-15)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
States where
20% or fewer
of students
receiving free or
reduced price
lunch were in
Summer Food
Service programs
(D-18)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
n/a
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
State of America’s Children® 2010
D-21
Child Health
W
ithout a healthy start in life, a child can fall behind developmentally and have trouble catching
up, socially, emotionally and academically. Unmet health and mental health needs greatly
increase the likelihood of a child entering the cradle to prison pipeline. The number of uninsured
children in America is the lowest it has been in 20 years, thanks to Medicaid and the Children’s Health
Insurance Program (CHIP), which provide health coverage to almost 40 million children each year.
Yet more than 8.1 million children—one in 10—remain uninsured. Two-thirds of them are eligible
for coverage in Medicaid or CHIP but not enrolled largely due to state-imposed barriers that differ
across states.
• One in six Hispanic and American Indian children and one in nine Black and
Asian/Pacific Islander children are uninsured compared to one in 14 White children.
Black and Hispanic children, poor children and uninsured children are far more likely
than White, higher income and insured children to be in poor health.
• More than one in four of all uninsured children live in just two states—Texas and
California. A Texas child is almost five times as likely to be uninsured as a
Massachusetts child.
• The United States has the second highest infant mortality rate among 30 industrialized
nations, and its low birthweight rate is tied for 21st among those same 30 nations.
• Black and Hispanic babies in a majority of states are more than twice as likely as
White babies to be born to mothers who receive late or no prenatal care.
• Black babies are about twice as likely as White or Hispanic babies to be born at low
birthweight and more than twice as likely as White babies to die before their first
birthday.
• Since the onset of the AIDS epidemic, there have been more than three and a half
times as many cases of AIDS in Black children under 13 as among White children of
the same age.
• One-quarter of two-year-olds are not fully immunized despite a 16 percent increase in
immunization rates between 2002 and 2008. Racial differences in rates have narrowed,
but Black children still lag behind other children.
• Almost one-third of all children in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Black teens are
26 percent more likely and Hispanic teens 32 percent more likely than White teens
to be overweight or obese.
State of America’s Children® 2010
E-1
Nearly 80 percent of the uninsured children are White or Hispanic;
almost 90 percent live in working families.
Uninsured Children, 2008
Of the 8.1 million uninsured children*:
Percent of
the uninsured
Uninsured
number***
Race/Ethnicity**
White
Hispanic
Black
Asian/Pacific Islander
American Indian
Other (multi-racial)
Total
38.5%
38.1
15.7
4.7
1.1
1.9
100.0
3.1 million
3.1 million
1.3 million
380,000
91,000
152,000
8.1 million
Age
Birth through age 5
Age 6 through age 12
Age 13 through age 18
Total
27.3
32.7
40.0
100.0
2.2 million
2.6 million
3.2 million
8.1 million
Family Income
100% poverty & below
Over 100% through 200%
Over 200% through 300%
Over 300% through 400%
Over 400%
Total
31.5
31.6
18.6
8.6
9.6
99.9
2.5 million
2.6 million
1.5 million
698,000
776,000
8.1 million
43.8
63.2
81.7
3.5 million
5.1 million
6.6 million
Working Family
Income from work
No income from work
Total
86.2
13.8
100.0
7.0 million
1.1 million
8.1 million
Citizenship
Child is a U.S. citizen
Child is not a U.S. citizen
Total
88.8
11.2
100.0
7.2 million
904,000
8.1 million
Selected income groups
133% and below
200% and below
300% and below
Upper limit, annual
income for family of 4
$22,050
44,100
66,150
88,200
$29,327
44,100
66,150
* Children are ages birth through 18.
** Hispanic children are in a separate category and are not included in the other racial categories.
*** Numbers may not add to total because of rounding.
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2009 Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current
Population Survey; and Federal Register, Vol. 74, No. 14 (January 23, 2009), pp. 4199-4201. Calculations by Children’s Defense
Fund, October 2009.
E-2
Children’s Defense Fund
Hispanic and American Indian children are more than twice as likely as White children to be
uninsured. Children in families below 200 percent of the poverty level are more likely
to be uninsured than families above that level.
Odds of a Child Being Uninsured, 2008
Percent who
are uninsured
All ages (birth through 18)
10.3%
Race/Ethnicity*
White
Hispanic
Black
Asian/Pacific Islander
American Indian
Other (multi-racial)
Age
Birth through age 5
Age 6 through age 12
Age 13 through age 18
Family Income
100% poverty & below
Over 100% through 200%
Over 200% through 300%
Over 300% through 400%
Over 400%
Odds of being
uninsured:
Number who
are uninsured
1 in 10
8.1 million
7.1
17.9
11.2
11.5
16.3
6.8
14
6
9
9
6
15
3.1 million
3.1 million
1.3 million
380,000
91,000
152,000
8.7
9.4
12.7
11
11
8
2.2 million
2.6 million
3.2 million
16.6
15.3
10.7
6.7
3.5
6
7
9
15
29
2.5 million
2.6 million
1.5 million
698,000
776,000
16.6
15.9
14.3
6
7
7
3.5 million
5.1 million
6.6 million
Working Family
Income from work
No income from work
9.7
16.5
10
6
7.0 million
1.1 million
Citizenship
Child is a U.S. citizen
Child is not a U.S. citizen
9.4
38.5
11
3
7.2 million
904,000
Selected income groups
133% and below
200% and below
300% and below
Upper limit, annual
income for family of 4
$22,050
44,100
66,150
88,200
$29,327
44,100
66,150
Note: Children ages birth through 18.
* Hispanic children are in a separate category and are not included in the other racial categories.
** Numbers may not add to total because of rounding.
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2009 Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey; and
Federal Register, Vol. 74, No. 14 (January 23, 2009), pp. 4199-4201. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund, October 2009.
State of America’s Children® 2010
E-3
One in six Hispanic and American Indian children and one in nine Black and
Asian/Pacific Islander children are uninsured.
Percentage of Children Who Are Uninsured, 2008
Children Under Age 19
20
17.9%
16.3%
Percent uninsured
15
11.5%
11.2%
10.3%
10
7.1%
5
0
Total,
All Races
Hispanic
American
Indian
Asian/Pacific
Islander
Black
White
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2009 Annual Social and Economic Supplement
to the Current Population Survey. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
Texas and California have more than one million uninsured children each.
Ten States With Most Uninsured Children in 2008
Texas
California
Florida
New York
Georgia
North Carolina
Arizona
New Jersey
Illinois
Pennsylvania
E-4
Children’s Defense Fund
1,469,000
1,180,000
795,000
398,000
323,000
290,000
288,000
274,000
266,000
222,000
A child in Texas is four and a half times as likely to be uninsured as a child in Massachusetts.
The odds of Texas children being uninsured are double those in 31 other states.
Uninsured Children Younger than 19 in the States, 2006–2008
Estimated
number
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
78,000
23,000
288,000
66,000
1,180,000
171,000
53,000
22,000
9,000
795,000
323,000
17,000
49,000
266,000
111,000
41,000
66,000
103,000
160,000
17,000
129,000
69,000
143,000
94,000
124,000
133,000
30,000
48,000
124,000
19,000
274,000
88,000
398,000
290,000
13,000
202,000
108,000
113,000
222,000
18,000
148,000
20,000
134,000
1,469,000
108,000
10,000
188,000
116,000
26,000
77,000
12,000
United States (2008)*
8.1 million
Percent
6.6%
12.3
16.1
8.9
11.9
13.5
6.1
10.0
7.6
18.7
12.0
5.6
11.3
7.9
6.6
5.5
9.0
9.6
13.5
5.8
9.0
4.5
5.6
7.1
15.3
8.9
13.0
10.2
17.8
6.0
12.6
16.5
8.4
12.2
8.8
7.0
11.3
12.3
7.5
7.2
13.1
9.4
8.6
20.8
12.1
7.0
9.7
7.1
6.5
5.5
8.9
10.3
* The percentage and number of uninsured children in the United States are from the most recent year of data and represent coverage in 2008.
Notes: The estimated percentage of uninsured children in each state is an average of the percentage of uninsured children in that state over three years. Threeyear averages are used because of small sample sizes in some states. The average percentage of uninsured children in this table is based on the 2007, 2008,
and 2009 ASEC surveys. The estimated number of uninsured children in each state is calculated by applying that average percentage to the most recent Census
estimate of children younger than 19 in the state.
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey, 2007, 2008, and 2009 Annual Social and Economic Supplement
(ASEC); and U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, State Single Year of Age and Sex Population Estimates: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008 –
RESIDENT,” at <http://www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/files/SC-EST2008-AGESEX-RES.csv>. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
E-5
Black and Hispanic children, poor children and uninsured children are more likely
to be in only fair or poor health than White children, insured children and
those in non-poor families.
Children’s Health Status, 2008
Percent of Children* Who:
Were in only
fair or poor
health
Ever told by
doctor they
had asthma
Missed one
or more weeks
of school due
to illness
Made two or more
visits to the
emergency room
Race/ethnicity
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Asian, non-Hispanic
Hispanic
1.3%
3.9
—
2.1
13.3%
21.1
8.0
11.1
28.6%
19.2
13.6
23.0
6.7%
8.7
—
7.8
Insurance status
Uninsured
Insured
2.8
1.8
10.5
14.4
25.4
25.3
6.0
7.3
Family income
Under 100% of poverty
100% to 199% of poverty
200% of poverty or more
4.8
2.2
0.9
16.8
14.7
13.3
30.6
25.8
23.9
11.2
9.1
5.3
* Children ages 0 through 18, with exception of school days missed, which includes only children ages 5 through 17.
— Sample too small to calculate reliable rates.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, 2008 National Health Interview Survey.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
E-6
Children’s Defense Fund
Uninsured children are eight times as likely as insured children to have no usual
source of care and to have an unmet medical need.
Children’s Access to Health Care, 2008
Percent of Children* Who Had:
No usual
place of
care
Race/ethnicity
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Asian, non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Insurance status
Uninsured
Insured
Family income
Under 100% of poverty
100% to 199% of poverty
200% of poverty or more
4.6%
6.1
6.6
9.5
More than two
years since
contact with
health provider**
3.0%
3.5
4.3
6.8
Delayed
medical care
due to cost
4.6%
4.9
—
6.1
Unmet
medical
need
2.2%
3.8
—
4.2
29.9
3.5
16.5
2.6
19.2
3.3
13.8
1.7
9.3
9.9
3.3
5.5
6.2
2.1
4.9
8.5
3.5
3.7
5.4
1.7
* Children ages 0 through 18
** Includes children who had never seen a health provider.
— Sample too small to calculate reliable rates.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, 2008 National Health Interview Survey.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
E-7
Uninsured children are almost six times as likely as insured children to have an unmet
dental need and twice as likely not to have seen a dentist in more than two years.
Children’s Dental Health and Access to Dental Care, 2008
Percent of Children* Who Had:
More than two
years since last
dental contact**
Unmet
dental need
Mouth and teeth
in fair or poor
condition
Race/ethnicity
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Asian, non-Hispanic
Hispanic
14.3%
13.8
17.3
21.2
5.6%
7.9
—
10.6
8.4%
13.7
7.0
14.5
Insurance status
Uninsured
Insured
34.1
13.7
27.7
4.7
18.7
9.7
Family income
Under 100% of poverty
100% to 199% of poverty
200% of poverty or more
20.8
20.1
11.9
9.8
12.4
4.3
16.8
13.4
7.9
* Children ages 2 through 18
** Includes children who had never seen a dental provider.
— Sample too small to calculate reliable rates.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, 2008 National Health Interview Survey.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
E-8
Children’s Defense Fund
Black and Hispanic children and low-income children are at increased risk of being overweight.
Black teens are 26 percent and Hispanic teens 32 percent more likely than White teens
to be overweight or obese.
Overweight* and Obesity* Among Children and Teens, 2007–2008
Percent of children or teens who are:
Overweight
Obese
Overweight
or Obese
Total, all races
Ages 2 to 5
Ages 6 to 11
Ages 12 to 19
Ages 2 to 19
10.8%
15.9
16.1
14.8
10.4%
19.6
18.1
16.9
21.2%
35.5
34.2
31.7
8.3
15.5
15.7
14.0
9.1
19.0
15.6
15.3
17.4
34.5
31.3
29.3
14.6
18.2
15.1
15.9
11.4
19.4
24.4
20.0
26.0
37.6
39.5
35.9
13.5
17.5
19.5
17.3
14.2
25.1
21.7
20.9
27.7
42.6
41.2
38.2
Insurance status
Uninsured
Insured
16.6
15.4
14.9
14.5
31.4
29.9
Family income
Under 100% of poverty
100% to 199% of poverty
200% of poverty or more
18.5
16.3
14.3
16.0
17.7
13.1
34.6
34.0
27.4
White, non-Hispanic
Ages 2 to 5
Ages 6 to 11
Ages 12 to 19
Ages 2 to 19
Black, non-Hispanic
Ages 2 to 5
Ages 6 to 11
Ages 12 to 19
Ages 2 to 19
Hispanic
Ages 2 to 5
Ages 6 to 11
Ages 12 to 19
Ages 2 to 19
Adolescents ages 12 to 19:
* Overweight and obesity are determined from the body mass index (BMI) for each child. A child is overweight if his or her BMI is at or above the 85th percentile
but below the 95th percentile for age. A child is obese if his or her BMI is at or above the 95th percentile for age. BMI percentiles are in U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, 2000 CDC Growth Charts for the United States: Methods and Development, Vital and Health
Statistics, Series 11, Number 246 (May 2002).
Sources: Data by race/ethnicity are from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, 2007–2008 National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey, C.L. in Ogden, M.D. Carroll, L.R. Curtin, et al., Prevalence of High Body Mass in U.S. Children and Adolescents, 2007–2008,
JAMA, at http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/2009.2012v1. Data on insurance coverage and poverty status, available only for children and teens ages 12
through 19, are from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, 2008 National Health Interview Survey.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
E-9
Although their immunization rates increased more than 16 percent from 2002 to 2008,
one-quarter of young children are not fully immunized.
Immunization of Two-Year-Olds*,
by Race/Ethnicity and Poverty Status, 2002 and 2008
Percent Fully Immunized
4:3:1:3:3:1 Series**
4:3:1:3:3:1:4 Series***
2002
2008
2008
All Income Levels
Total, all races
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Asian
American Indian, Alaska Native
Hispanic
65.5%
66.2
61.7
74.0
n/a
66.0
76.1%
75.3
72.7
82.2
77.3
77.7
68.4%
68.2
65.9
73.5
62.6
68.5
Below Poverty
Total, all races
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Asian
American Indian, Alaska Native
Hispanic
61.6
58.9
59.3
n/a
n/a
66.0
72.4
67.7
70.2
n/a
n/a
74.9
63.1
59.1
62.9
n/a
n/a
64.0
* Children ages 19 through 35 months
** 4 or more doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine, or diphtheria and tetanus toxoids; 3 or more doses of poliovirus vaccine; 1
or more doses of measles-containing vaccine; 3 or more doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine; 3 or more doses of hepatitis B vaccine;
and 1 or more doses of varicella vaccine
*** 4 or more doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine, or diphtheria and tetanus toxoids; 3 or more doses of poliovirus vaccine;
1 or more doses of measles-containing vaccine; 3 or more doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine; 3 or more doses of hepatitis B vaccine; 1 or more doses of varicella vaccine; and 4 or more doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7).
n/a — data not available
Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunizations and
Respiratory Diseases, at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/stats-surv/nis/tables/02/tab32_pov_race.xls and http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/statssurv/nis/tables/
08/tab32_pov_race.xls.
E-10
Children’s Defense Fund
In nine states, more than 30 percent of 2-year-olds are not fully immunized.***
Immunization Rates Among Two-Year-Olds,* 2008
Percent Fully Immunized
4:3:1:3:3**
Series
4:3:1:3:3:1***
Series
4:3:1:3:3:1:4****
Series
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
76.3%
76.2
79.2
78.0
80.6
80.7
72.5
73.0
78.6
81.8
72.7
78.3
65.9
78.1
78.4
77.3
78.2
76.8
83.0
76.2
82.6
83.9
76.8
77.4
76.5
76.0
65.5
74.8
70.1
85.0
72.8
79.1
76.2
72.4
74.2
82.9
73.6
72.3
80.4
79.5
78.8
80.8
83.1
78.6
78.1
74.4
73.2
77.7
78.0
83.6
67.6
75.1%
69.2
76.4
75.5
78.7
79.4
69.8
71.8
77.6
79.9
71.9
77.4
60.4
74.8
75.5
74.7
76.7
74.1
81.9
73.6
80.2
82.3
74.5
74.6
75.8
72.9
59.2
71.5
67.8
81.0
68.5
77.0
73.3
70.8
69.8
81.8
71.7
71.0
77.7
77.5
78.4
77.4
81.2
77.8
76.6
64.5
72.9
73.5
76.5
79.6
64.6
67.2%
63.4
69.1
64.9
70.5
74.3
66.0
63.9
68.8
71.0
67.4
74.4
54.2
65.0
70.3
67.2
69.5
66.4
72.5
66.5
73.6
76.2
69.8
66.8
68.9
61.5
56.0
63.0
54.2
74.6
59.7
72.9
65.1
64.4
65.5
71.5
56.4
68.3
71.3
68.6
70.6
62.7
73.6
70.5
65.5
60.8
68.1
67.3
62.8
72.6
56.2
United States
78.2
76.1
68.4
* Children born between January 2005 and June 2007.
** 4:3:1:3:3 — 4 or more doses of DTaP, 3 or more doses of poliovirus vaccine, 1 or more doses of any MMR, 3 or more doses of Hib, and 3 or
more doses of HepB
*** 4:3:1:3:3:1— 4:3:1:3:3 plus 1 or more doses of varicella vaccine
****4:3:1:3:3:1:4 — 4:3:1:3:3:1 plus 4 or more doses of PCV7
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and
Respiratory Diseases, 2008 National Immunization Survey, at <http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/stats-surv/nis/tables/08/tab03_antigen_state.xls>.
State of America’s Children® 2010
E-11
A baby born in the U.S. is about twice as likely to be low birthweight
as a baby in Estonia or Lithuania.
International Rankings, Low Birthweight*
Percent
Rank
(rounded to nearest
whole number)
Estonia
Finland
Lithuania
Sweden
Denmark
Latvia
Norway
Canada
Ireland
Italy
New Zealand
Poland
Spain
Switzerland
Australia
Austria
Czech Republic
France
Germany
Slovakia
Belgium
Greece
Israel
Japan
Portugal
United Kingdom
United States
Hungary
Netherlands
Slovenia
4%
4
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
9
n/a
n/a
1
1
1
1
5
5
5
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
15
15
15
15
15
15
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
28
n/a
n/a
30 industrialized nations as designated on p. 44 of The State of the World’s Children: Special Edition,
Statistical Tables (November 2009), excluding those with populations of fewer than 1 million.
Data for The Netherlands and Slovenia not available.
*Percent of infants born weighing less than 2,500 grams (5 lbs., 8 oz.)
Source: United Nations Children’s Fund, The State of the World’s Children: Special Edition, Statistical
Tables (November 2009), Table 2. Ranks calculated by Children’s Defense Fund.
E-12
Children’s Defense Fund
The U.S. ranks next to last in infant mortality among 30 industrialized nations.
International Rankings, Infant Mortality Rate*
Rate*
Rank
(rounded to nearest
whole number)
Sweden
Austria
Czech Republic
Finland
France
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Norway
Portugal
Slovenia
Belgium
Denmark
Estonia
Germany
Israel
Netherlands
Spain
Switzerland
Australia
Hungary
New Zealand
United Kingdom
Canada
Lithuania
Poland
Slovakia
United States
Latvia
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
8
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
21
21
21
21
25
25
25
28
28
30
30 industrialized nations as designated on p. 44 of The State of the World’s Children: Special Edition,
Statistical Tables (November 2009), excluding those with populations of fewer than 1 million.
*Probability of dying between birth and exactly one year of age, per 1,000 live births.
Source: United Nations Children’s Fund, The State of the World’s Children: Special Edition, Statistical
Tables (November 2009), Table 1. Ranks calculated by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
E-13
After four decades of decline, the infant mortality rate increased in 2002 and again in 2005.
Trend in Infant Mortality Rates, 1980–2006
Infant deaths before the first birthday
per 1,000 live births
15
10
5
0
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2006
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics.
The rate of babies born at low birthweight has increased by 24 percent since 1984.
Trend in Low Birthweight Rates, 1980–2006*
Percent of total births
9
8
7
6
0
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2006
* Birthweight less than 2,500 g (5 lbs. 8 oz.)
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics
Reports, Volume 57, Number 7 (January 7, 2009), Table 33.
E-14
Children’s Defense Fund
The 8.3 percent of babies born at low birthweight in 2006 was the same as in 1966.
Trends in Infant Mortality and Low Birthweight
Infant Mortality Rates*
Year
Total
1940
1950
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
47.0
29.2
26.4
26.0
25.3
25.3
25.2
24.8
24.7
23.7
22.4
21.8
20.9
20.0
19.1
18.5
17.7
16.7
16.1
15.2
14.1
13.8
13.1
12.60
11.93
11.52
11.16
10.79
10.64
13.35
10.08
9.95
9.81
9.22
8.94
8.52
8.37
8.02
7.59
7.32
7.23
7.20
7.06
6.91
6.85
6.97
6.85
6.79
6.87
6.69
White
43.2
26.8
23.2
22.9
22.4
22.3
22.2
21.6
21.5
20.6
19.7
19.2
18.4
17.8
17.1
16.4
15.8
14.8
14.2
13.3
12.3
12.0
11.4
10.86
10.34
9.94
9.61
9.30
9.17
8.80
8.48
8.36
8.08
7.56
7.30
6.92
6.82
6.57
6.29
6.07
6.03
5.95
5.77
5.68
5.65
5.79
5.72
5.66
5.73
5.56
Black
72.9
43.9
44.8
44.3
41.8
42.6
42.8
42.3
41.7
40.2
37.5
36.2
34.8
32.6
30.3
29.6
28.1
26.8
26.2
25.5
23.6
23.1
21.8
22.19
20.81
20.48
19.98
19.15
19.01
18.90
18.75
18.54
18.61
17.96
17.57
16.85
16.52
15.83
15.12
14.68
14.16
14.31
14.56
14.09
14.02
14.36
14.01
13.79
13.73
13.29
Black-White
Ratio
Low
Birthweight**
1.69
1.64
1.93
1.93
1.87
1.91
1.93
1.96
1.94
1.95
1.90
1.89
1.89
1.83
1.77
1.80
1.78
1.81
1.85
1.92
1.92
1.93
1.91
2.04
2.01
2.06
2.08
2.06
2.07
2.15
2.21
2.22
2.30
2.38
2.41
2.43
2.42
2.41
2.40
2.42
2.35
2.41
2.52
2.48
2.48
2.48
2.45
2.44
2.40
2.39
n/a
n/a
n/a
7.7%
7.8
8.0
8.2
8.2
8.3
8.3
8.2
8.2
8.1
7.9
7.7
7.7
7.6
7.4
7.4
7.3
7.1
7.1
6.9
6.8
6.8
6.8
6.8
6.7
6.8
6.8
6.9
6.9
7.0
7.0
7.1
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.6
7.6
7.7
7.8
7.9
8.1
8.2
8.3
* Infant deaths before the first birthday per 1,000 live births
** Birthweight less than 2,500 grams (5 lbs., 8 oz.)
n/a — data not available
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
E-15
Black babies are about twice as likely as White and Hispanic babies to be born at low birthweight.
Low Birthweight* Babies, 2006
Total
Number Rate Rank
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
6,624
654
7,289
3,749
38,411
6,317
3,395
1,108
980
20,614
14,232
1,531
1,671
15,577
7,268
2,809
2,933
5,327
7,231
967
7,269
6,138
10,637
4,807
5,698
6,555
912
1,900
3,335
994
9,882
2,668
20,790
11,585
576
13,180
4,503
2,963
12,562
988
6,292
836
8,108
33,727
3,700
447
8,914
5,641
2,024
4,974
682
10.5%
6.0
7.1
9.2
6.8
8.9
8.1
9.3
11.5
8.7
9.6
8.1
6.9
8.6
8.2
6.9
7.2
9.1
11.4
6.8
9.4
7.9
8.4
6.5
12.4
8.1
7.3
7.1
8.3
6.9
8.6
8.9
8.3
9.1
6.7
8.8
8.3
6.1
8.5
8.0
10.1
7.0
9.6
8.4
6.9
6.9
8.3
6.5
9.7
6.9
8.9
351,974
8.3
48
1
15
41
6
36
21
42
50
34
44
21
8
32
24
8
17
39
49
6
43
19
29
3
51
21
18
15
25
8
32
36
25
39
5
35
25
2
31
20
47
14
44
29
8
8
25
3
46
8
36
White, non-hispanic
Number Rate Rank
3,251
377
2,930
2,192
10,056
3,654
1,782
506
156
8,134
5,234
269
1,368
7,033
5,114
2,339
2,047
4,275
2,994
901
2,807
3,855
6,144
3,264
2,006
4,439
716
1,313
1,400
875
4,241
744
8,853
5,547
478
8,860
2,757
2,016
7,875
473
2,674
617
4,823
10,681
2,805
413
4,446
3,340
1,877
3,356
564
168,871
8.5%
6.0
6.8
7.9
6.4
8.7
6.9
7.7
7.3
7.6
7.5
5.9
7.0
7.4
7.6
6.8
6.9
8.7
8.5
6.8
7.6
7.2
7.1
6.0
8.9
7.1
7.3
6.6
8.3
6.8
7.4
8.7
7.1
7.8
6.7
7.7
7.9
6.0
7.4
7.7
7.8
6.7
8.4
7.6
6.6
6.7
7.1
6.0
9.5
6.2
9.1
7.3
44
2
13
40
7
46
17
35
25
31
30
1
19
27
31
13
17
46
44
13
31
24
20
2
49
20
25
8
42
13
27
46
20
38
10
35
40
2
27
35
38
10
43
31
8
10
20
2
51
6
50
Black, non-hispanic
Number Rate Rank
3,001
38
459
1,172
3,850
467
646
442
703
6,862
7,021
51
17
4,474
1,459
168
371
769
3,934
22
3,393
859
3,224
651
3,514
1,673
3
239
470
23
2,464
76
5,343
4,218
9
3,432
753
93
2,877
115
3,099
24
2,578
6,518
51
10
3,031
399
112
938
7
86,122
15.5%
9.6
12.8
15.0
12.0
15.7
12.5
14.8
14.5
13.4
14.4
10.2
—
14.3
14.1
10.6
12.4
14.6
16.2
—
13.4
12.1
14.2
10.3
16.7
13.6
—
14.0
14.1
—
14.1
15.0
12.6
14.2
—
14.5
15.4
8.5
14.0
11.6
15.2
—
14.8
14.2
11.0
—
13.0
10.7
16.3
13.4
—
14.0
39
2
14
35
9
40
12
33
30
16
29
3
—
28
22
5
11
32
41
—
16
10
25
4
43
19
—
20
22
—
22
35
13
25
—
30
38
1
20
8
37
—
33
25
7
—
15
6
42
16
—
Hispanic
Number Rate Rank
287
37
3,128
303
18,332
1,914
747
117
102
4,936
1,452
238
232
3,180
564
205
371
201
169
21
681
906
605
357
111
266
27
266
1,037
54
2,197
1,499
4,738
1,315
22
481
465
583
1,148
204
373
33
526
15,139
618
4
862
987
10
427
61
6.1%
4.9
6.9
6.9
6.3
8.4
8.8
6.2
7.7
7.0
6.1
7.8
6.1
7.2
6.7
6.4
5.6
7.2
7.2
—
6.8
8.4
7.0
5.9
7.1
5.8
—
6.7
6.6
9.3
7.5
9.1
8.0
6.2
—
7.2
6.6
5.9
8.7
8.0
6.4
8.3
6.6
7.6
7.5
—
6.0
6.3
—
6.2
6.8
72,538
7.0
7
1
24
24
13
41
44
10
36
26
7
37
7
29
20
15
2
29
29
—
22
41
26
4
28
3
—
20
17
46
33
45
38
10
—
29
17
4
43
38
15
40
17
35
33
—
6
13
—
10
22
* Birthweight less than 2,500 grams (5 lbs. 8 oz.)
— Number of low birthweight births too small to calculate a stable rate.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 57, No. 7, “Births: Final
Data for 2006” (January 7, 2009), Table 36. Ranks calculated by Children’s Defense Fund.
E-16
Children’s Defense Fund
Black infants are more than twice as likely as White infants to die in the first year of life.
Infant Deaths, Infant Mortality Rates,* and Rankings, 2006
Total, all races
Deaths
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Rate
571
76
651
350
2,835
404
260
99
96
1,717
1,206
107
165
1,309
708
208
292
438
629
89
616
370
940
381
488
603
73
149
257
87
632
173
1,407
1,033
50
1,170
432
267
1,138
76
522
82
733
2,486
273
36
765
407
155
462
54
9.03
6.91
6.36
8.54
5.04
5.71
6.22
8.26
11.26
7.25
8.11
5.64
6.82
7.25
7.99
5.12
7.13
7.52
9.92
6.29
7.95
4.76
7.37
5.18
10.60
7.41
5.84
5.57
6.42
6.05
5.49
5.78
5.63
8.08
5.80
7.77
8.00
5.48
7.63
6.14
8.40
6.88
8.69
6.22
5.10
5.53
7.10
4.68
7.41
6.39
7.04
28,527
6.69
White
Black
Rank
Deaths
Rate
Rank
Deaths
Rate
Rank
48
27
22
46
3
13
19
44
51
31
43
12
25
31
40
5
30
36
49
21
39
2
33
6
50
34
16
10
24
17
8
14
11
42
15
38
41
7
37
18
45
26
47
19
4
9
29
1
34
23
28
288
31
534
220
2,171
354
164
52
12
1,014
540
17
156
835
510
185
218
351
232
84
263
285
572
278
172
406
53
123
188
77
363
141
848
550
36
736
284
233
728
59
222
50
431
1,835
258
35
407
312
135
308
47
6.73
4.46
6.04
6.86
4.78
5.48
4.86
6.20
—
5.91
5.76
—
6.70
6.00
6.67
4.90
6.05
6.79
6.21
6.21
5.98
4.57
5.78
4.70
7.11
6.10
4.95
5.22
5.77
5.68
4.40
5.68
4.90
5.95
4.89
6.05
6.79
5.31
6.19
5.65
5.67
5.26
6.77
5.49
5.10
5.55
5.37
4.38
6.74
5.03
6.57
43
3
32
48
6
18
7
37
—
28
25
—
42
31
41
9
33
46
38
38
30
4
27
5
49
35
11
14
26
23
2
23
9
29
8
33
46
16
36
21
22
15
45
19
13
20
17
1
44
12
40
275
6
69
125
413
39
83
44
83
678
639
13
4
432
195
15
61
82
389
2
331
75
345
63
308
186
1
20
56
6
242
8
500
451
1
429
77
15
381
14
296
6
294
589
4
1
325
35
20
130
2
14.17
—
16.93
15.72
12.05
12.39
14.77
14.30
14.46
11.91
12.93
—
—
13.68
18.66
—
19.25
15.00
15.82
—
11.75
7.99
14.94
8.32
14.60
14.92
—
—
15.70
—
11.53
—
9.18
15.05
—
16.87
15.39
—
15.21
—
13.76
—
16.01
11.97
—
—
13.32
7.37
—
18.28
—
15
—
31
27
9
10
19
16
17
7
11
—
—
13
33
—
34
22
28
—
6
2
21
3
18
20
—
—
26
—
5
—
4
23
—
30
25
—
24
—
14
—
29
8
—
—
12
1
—
32
—
18,403
5.56
8,858
13.29
* Infant deaths before the first birthday per 1,000 live births
— Number of infant deaths too small to calculate a stable rate.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 57, No. 14,
“Deaths: Final Data for 2006” (April 2009), Table 32. Ranks calculated by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
E-17
More than 60 percent of Black and Native American babies are born to unmarried mothers.
Black women are more than three times as likely as White women to die
from complications of pregnancy or childbirth.
Selected Maternal and Infant Health Indicators,
by Race and Hispanic Origin of Mother, 2006
Characteristic
Percent
Preterm births 1
Low birthweight 2
Very low birthweight 3
Births to teens
Births to unmarried women
All
Races
12.8%
8.3
1.5
10.4
38.5
Mother’s age at first birth (mean) 25.0
Per 1,000
Infant mortality rate 4
Per 100,000
Maternal mortality rate 5
6.68
13.3
Total
White
Non-Hispanic
Total
Black
Non-Hispanic
Native
American
Asian,
Pacific
Islander
Hispanic*
11.8%
7.2
1.2
9.4
33.3
11.7%
7.3
1.2
7.4
26.6
18.1%
13.6
3.1
17.0
70.2
18.5%
14.0
3.2
17.2
70.7
14.2%
7.5
1.3
17.6
64.6
10.9%
8.1
1.1
3.3
16.5
12.2%
7.0
1.2
14.3
49.9
25.3
26.0
22.7
22.7
21.9
28.5
23.1
5.57
5.58
12.90
13.35
9.5
9.1
32.7
34.8
8.28
na
4.55
na
5.41
10.2
* Persons of Hispanic origin can be of any race; includes races other than White and Black.
na – data not available
1
2
3
4
5
Prior to 37 completed weeks of gestation.
Less than 2,500 grams (5 lbs., 8 oz.).
Less than 1,500 grams (3 lbs., 4 oz.).
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 57, No. 7, “Births: Final
Data for 2006” (January 7, 2009), Tables 14, 15, 23, and 24; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, National
Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 57, No. 17, “Deaths: Final Data for 2006” (April 2009), Tables 33 and 34; and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 58, No. 17, “Infant Mortality Statistics From the 2006 Period Linked Birth/Infant
Death Data Set” (May 2010), Table C.
E-18
Children’s Defense Fund
In a majority of states, Black and Hispanic babies are more than twice as likely as White babies to
be born to mothers who received late or no prenatal care.
Prenatal Care, 2006
Total 3
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticu
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York (excluding
New York City)
New York City
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Early Prenatal Care 1
White,
Black,
non-Hispanic non-Hispanic Hispanic4
81.7%
81.1
77.7
79.5
85.9
79.7
85.8
75.9
78.9
69.9
83.3
81.8
71.5
86.2
79.0
86.4
75.2
73.2
87.0
87.7
81.7
88.6
85.4
86.5
83.2
87.2
83.7
75.4
71.5
80.9
77.6
74.7
88.5%
85.0
86.8
83.0
89.8
85.7
91.4
82.5
92.2
76.1
89.4
85.2
74.5
90.7
82.8
88.5
80.5
75.1
92.3
88.3
89.2
91.4
89.5
90.4
89.6
89.5
86.5
78.9
79.9
82.1
87.1
81.4
76.0%
82.9
77.9
72.6
81.9
73.7
75.0
73.1
74.9
61.0
78.9
85.5
64.0
76.7
66.5
73.0
64.4
64.7
79.9
69.8
76.2
80.4
71.9
74.5
77.3
79.2
86.7
64.9
66.3
64.6
62.4
76.3
50.6%
82.4
70.2
69.7
83.8
69.4
75.1
55.5
67.0
66.2
73.3
82.0
58.1
82.5
64.1
71.7
55.6
56.1
79.9
82.5
65.0
81.4
78.6
72.1
73.1
77.6
80.2
62.6
62.5
66.0
66.1
74.3
76.1
79.9
82.6
74.7
72.9
75.6
79.2
71.8
84.5
66.7
70.5
67.6
61.6
80.2
83.8
84.2
70.3
82.8
84.5
72.4
81.6
87.7
89.8
78.8
76.3
79.5
82.4
77.2
90.0
74.1
76.9
74.8
72.2
84.1
84.4
89.7
74.0
83.5
88.0
74.6
60.3
75.0
76.0
64.0
58.6
69.7
72.1
55.8
74.2
60.9
45.5
54.3
53.9
57.4
48.6
79.4
63.7
68.4
75.5
73.1
61.0
77.9
67.6
59.8
60.3
64.5
70.1
55.0
75.7
45.2
48.1
43.4
55.2
66.4
78.1
69.0
60.5
76.1
73.2
63.5
Total 3
4.5%
4.9
6.1
4.7
2.8
4.5
1.8
6.1
5.5
7.2
4.1
3.6
6.1
2.4
4.5
2.5
4.9
5.8
2.6
1.8
4.3
2.3
3.1
2.1
3.2
2.3
3.1
4.2
8.8
4.1
5.0
6.7
4.4
4.9
3.1
5.6
6.3
6.1
4.3
6.6
1.9
8.1
5.7
9.6
11.5
3.9
2.6
4.1
6.6
3.2
3.1
6.5
Late or No Prenatal Care2
White,
Black,
non-Hispanic non-Hispanic Hispanic4
2.2%
3.8
3.0
3.6
2.1
2.8
1.1
3.7
1.8
5.2
2.3
2.3
5.1
1.5
3.4
2.0
3.5
5.2
1.3
1.7
2.2
1.6
2.2
1.3
1.7
1.8
2.2
3.2
6.4
3.8
2.7
4.5
4.8%
—
4.8
7.3
3.8
7.0
3.9
7.1
7.4
10.4
4.9
—
—
5.4
8.5
6.2
8.3
8.9
4.2
—
6.0
5.0
6.6
5.4
4.3
4.5
—
7.2
11.6
—
10.5
5.3
22.4%
4.8
8.7
7.2
3.2
7.2
3.0
13.8
6.3
8.3
8.1
3.4
10.1
2.4
8.0
4.9
9.9
10.5
4.9
—
8.1
3.4
4.0
4.4
9.0
3.8
5.1
7.3
11.1
7.8
6.8
6.8
3.1
2.2
1.7
4.0
5.0
5.4
3.7
5.0
1.0
5.7
3.1
6.3
7.1
2.7
2.4
2.3
5.5
3.0
2.3
5.5
9.1
7.4
4.7
—
11.6
7.5
6.1
12.4
4.0
9.5
10.0
15.1
14.8
16.8
—
5.2
9.2
6.8
6.2
—
6.8
5.3
5.7
9.2
10.9
7.7
5.6
10.1
3.0
16.9
13.6
21.8
14.1
7.5
—
9.0
8.4
—
5.4
10.2
— Number too small to calculate a stable rate.
1
2
3
4
Care begun in the first trimester (first three months) of pregnancy.
Care begun in the last trimester (last three months) of pregnancy, or not at all.
Includes races other than White and Black.
Persons of Hispanic origin can be of any race.
Note: Prior to 2003, information on start of prenatal care was obtained from the mother. Starting in 2003, some states began to use medical records for this
information. These two methods produce different results, and hence the data from these two systems cannot be combined to produce national estimates of
prenatal care. In 2006, 18 states were using the new method to obtain data on prenatal care. New York City’s vital statistics system is separate from that of the
rest of New York State. New York State switched to the new system in 2004; New York City still used the old system in 2006. No overall percentages can be
calculated for New York.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 57, No. 7, “Births: Final
Data for 2006” (January 7, 2009), Tables 26a and 26b.
State of America’s Children® 2010
E-19
Children are the least expensive to cover with health insurance. They represent almost half of
all Medicaid recipients but only one-quarter of Medicaid payments.
Children Enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP
Number of
children enrolled
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
465,710
69,299
704,473
371,420
4,127,410
327,952
260,319
83,353
76,623
1,527,424
1,014,664
93,440
131,494
1,259,975
563,677
219,375
207,861
410,539
598,007
113,055
362,341
439,787
1,024,882
382,899
398,337
519,103
61,380
128,958
142,645
83,252
512,535
299,293
1,812,778
860,004
34,540
986,551
398,066
268,217
1,001,369
91,172
450,568
70,028
683,933
2,758,009
163,321
65,985
462,575
635,177
192,424
429,296
49,827
28,395,322
Medicaid, FY 2007
Children as a percent of:
Enrollment
Payments
CHIP,
FY 2008
Number enrolled
50.7%
59.5
48.4
54.6
39.5
59.2
49.1
45.1
47.1
53.7
60.0
44.0
63.7
55.2
57.1
47.5
58.9
49.7
56.7
32.9
49.7
32.2
55.3
48.7
53.1
53.2
55.3
58.5
57.7
58.0
54.7
60.4
37.2
52.9
49.9
49.4
57.3
52.3
47.9
49.0
51.8
59.3
47.5
66.1
56.1
41.8
54.7
54.6
49.0
44.7
63.7
31.8%
38.0
49.4
36.2
23.5
25.9
16.7
27.2
21.9
28.0
34.7
22.4
32.6
24.9
24.6
23.5
30.0
30.1
21.3
25.8
24.6
20.3
27.9
24.3
28.5
26.1
30.0
29.1
31.5
27.6
20.3
35.1
14.9
32.5
16.1
18.4
31.9
26.1
29.7
25.2
32.4
30.5
24.9
41.5
31.9
29.7
28.6
27.7
25.5
17.9
29.4
110,821
18,707
112,072
93,446
1,692,087
99,555
22,270
11,192
8,746
354,385
311,234
28,803
43,526
356,460
124,954
50,390
51,162
67,717
147,863
30,947
132,864
200,950
67,763
5,621
84,370
136,135
22,679
48,827
38,592
12,236
151,805
14,944
517,256
251,653
7,617
251,278
117,507
73,686
256,627
26,031
73,620
15,277
63,619
731,916
51,092
6,496
155,289
16,831
37,645
52,940
8,976
49.4
25.5
7,368,479
Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, FY2007 Medicaid Statistical Information System,
at http://msis.cms.hhs.gov/, accessed February 22, 2010; and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services, SCHIP Statistical Enrollment Data System, January 20, 2009, at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalCHIPPolicy/downloads/FY2008StateTotal
Table012309FINAL.pdf, accessed June 2, 2009. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
E-20
Children’s Defense Fund
AIDS in Children,* 2002–2007
Number of children under age 13 with AIDS
Total
since beginning
of AIDS epidemic
Year diagnosed with AIDS
2003
2004
American Indian/Alaska Native
Asian
Black/African American
Hispanic/Latino
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
White
0
0
49
10
0
12
1
0
34
9
1
8
Total
73
55
2005
2006
2007
0
1
39
9
0
4
0
1
29
4
0
3
0
0
21
2
0
5
32
47
5,699
1,757
7
1,602
54
38
28
9,209*
* Includes children who have died; does not include children who are HIV positive but not diagnosed with AIDS.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2007,
Vol. 19 (2009), Table 5.
AIDS in Children,* 1992–2007
Estimated number of cases diagnosed among children under age 13
1000
894
882
800
800
Number of cases
672
600
512
400
334
246
201
200
133
126
109
73
55
54
38
28
0
1992
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
2004 2005 2006 2007
* Includes children who have died; does not include children who are HIV positive but not diagnosed with AIDS.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS Surveillance
Report, 2007, Vol. 19 (2009), Figure 1.
State of America’s Children® 2010
E-21
Black teens and adults were almost three times as likely to have contracted HIV in 2006
as Hispanics teens and adults. New HIV infections were identified that year in
15,000 women, most of child-bearing age.
New HIV Infections,* 2006
Males
Estimated
Number**
Rate***
Females
Estimated
Number*
Rate**
Total
Estimated
Number*
Rate**
Race/Ethnicity
American Indian/Alaska Native
Asian/Pacific Islander
Black/African American
Hispanic/Latino
White
150
1,010
16,120
7,420
16,280
15.5
18.0
115.7
43.1
19.6
130
180
8,810
2,300
3,300
12.8
3.0
55.7
14.4
3.8
290
1,200
24,900
9,700
19,600
14.6
10.3
83.7
29.3
11.5
13–29
30–39
40–49
50 or older
14,400
12,750
10,100
4,130
39.2
61.8
45.0
10.1
4,860
4,620
3,780
1,710
14.0
22.8
16.6
3.5
19,200
17,400
13,900
5,800
26.8
42.6
30.7
6.5
Total
41,400
34.3
15,000
11.9
56,300*
22.8
Age at Infection
* Does not include others previously diagnosed with HIV or AIDS.
** Numbers may not add to totals because of rounding.
*** Number of cases per 100,000 population.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2007,
Vol. 19 (2009), Table 3.
E-22
Children’s Defense Fund
State Overview of Child Health Data
States
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
States
where the
majority of
uninsured
children live
(E-5)
States where
more than
10.3% of
children are
uninsured
(E-5)
X
X
States where
Black infants
are more than
twice as likely
as White infants
to be born to
mothers with
late or no
prenatal care
(E-19)
States where
Hispanic
infants are more
than twice as
likely as White
infants to be
born to mothers
with late or no
prenatal care
(E-19)
X
X
*
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
*
*
X
X
X
X
X
X
*
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
*
X
X
States where
more than
States where 30% of
Black infants 2-year-olds
States
are more than are not fully
with infant
twice as likely immunized
mortality
(E-11,
rates of more to die as
White infants 4:3:1:3:3:1
than 6.7%
(E-17)
Series)
(E-17)
X
X
X
X
X
States with
low birthweight rates
of more
than 8.3%
(E-16)
States where
Black infants
are more
than twice as
likely to be
born at low
birthweight as
White infants
(E-16)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
*
X
X
X
X
X
X
*
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
*
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
*
X
X
X
*
X
X
X
X
X
*
*
X
X
*
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
*
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
*
X
X
*
X
*
X
X
X
X
X
*
*
*
*
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
*
X
X
X
*
X
*
X
X
X
X
*
*
X
X
X
X
X
*
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
*
X
X
*
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
*
*
X
*
*
*
X
X
*
*
X
X
*
X
X
*
X
* Number too small to calculate ratio.
State of America’s Children® 2010
E-23
Early Childhood Development
T
he early years, ages birth to five, are critical years for children to develop social, emotional and
cognitive competencies that lead to healthy development and behaviors and academic success.
But poverty and the lottery of geography—which gives children in some states more supports than in
others—prevent many children from reaching their full potential. Every 32 seconds a baby is born into
poverty; every 42 seconds a baby is born without health insurance; every minute a baby is born at low
birthweight. Poor children’s development at nine months already is behind their higher income peers.
The learning gap widens from there, pushing children without the early help they need into the cradle
to prison pipeline. By kindergarten, it is even harder to catch up.
• More than 20 percent of children under age five are poor; more than 40 percent of
Black and more than 33 percent of Hispanic children.
• Infants are the most likely to be victims of abuse and neglect, and nearly one-third percent
of all victims are younger than four; 30 percent of children in foster care are preschool age.
• More than 63 percent of mothers of young children are in the labor force.
• The annual cost of child care for a 4-year-old is more than the annual in-state tuition
at a public four-year college in 36 states and the District of Columbia.
• In 20 states, a family must have an income that is below 175 percent of the poverty
level to receive a public child care subsidy.
• In 2008, fewer than 10 percent of all child care centers and fewer than one percent of
all family child care homes were accredited.
• Only 14 percent of 3-years-olds and 38 percent of 4-year-olds in 2007 were being
served by state-funded prekindergarten, Head Start or special education programs.
• Only eight states and the District of Columbia require 5-year-olds to be enrolled
in school.
• Only 13 states and the District of Columbia require school districts to offer full-day
kindergarten. Six states do not require local districts to offer any kindergarten.
State of America’s Children® 2010
F-1
For almost 20 years, 60 percent or more of women with young children
have been in the labor force.
Labor Force Participation of Women with Children
Under Age Six, Selected Years
All Women
Number
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
–
–
–
–
–
–
6,538,000
8,215,000
9,397,000
10,322,000
10,316,000
10,199,000
9,474,000
9,460,000
9,375,000
10,424,000
10,430,000
10,894,000
10,452,000
– Data not available
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
F-2
Children’s Defense Fund
Percent
–
–
–
–
–
–
46.8%
53.5
58.2
64.4
65.3
64.9
64.3
63.0
62.5
62.6
63.0
63.5
63.6
Married Women
Number
Percent
1,399,000
2,012,000
2,474,000
3,117,000
3,914,000
4,518,000
5,227,000
6,406,000
7,247,000
7,246,000
7,341,000
7,317,000
7,057,000
7,051,000
6,980,000
7,309,000
7,366,000
7,664,000
7,285,000
11.9%
16.2
18.6
23.2
30.3
36.7
45.1
53.4
58.9
61.8
62.8
62.5
61.1
60.0
59.6
59.8
60.3
61.5
61.6
More than 60 percent of children under age six and 70 percent of school-age children
in 44 states and the District of Columbia have all parents in the labor force.
Parental Labor Force Participation, 2008
Mothers* in the labor force
by age of youngest child
(percent)
Under age 6 Ages 6–17
Children with mothers
in the labor force
(percent)
Under age 6 Ages 6–17
Children with all parents
in the labor force
(percent)
Under age 6
Ages 6–17
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
66.6%
67.3
62.7
67.5
62.7
66.6
71.1
72.5
67.4
69.8
67.7
69.1
61.2
68.0
71.6
77.6
71.4
66.8
67.4
70.9
74.7
70.9
69.9
76.8
70.7
72.8
69.0
77.5
64.1
74.2
68.3
64.3
66.4
68.9
79.4
71.4
64.6
66.0
68.4
74.4
69.3
82.2
68.2
62.2
56.0
80.0
69.6
63.6
63.4
76.9
69.0
76.7%
77.9
76.6
79.9
74.1
78.8
78.8
84.0
80.4
79.7
78.5
84.2
77.0
78.8
80.3
86.1
83.9
75.1
75.2
83.7
84.4
80.5
79.3
85.2
77.9
81.0
80.8
85.8
79.4
82.4
79.3
77.6
77.6
79.7
87.9
81.2
77.5
78.6
79.3
81.4
78.9
87.1
77.9
75.0
74.1
84.3
79.7
77.6
73.8
85.4
79.2
60.8%
57.8
53.3
60.0
53.7
59.0
63.3
61.8
58.3
61.0
58.4
59.0
54.3
60.0
62.6
68.8
64.8
57.7
59.3
62.8
67.2
64.5
62.9
68.4
63.6
63.9
58.7
69.4
54.3
66.6
61.6
55.0
58.8
60.5
72.3
64.2
56.6
57.2
60.1
67.8
60.2
72.9
60.7
54.7
49.4
68.8
62.5
55.7
56.3
69.6
57.6
68.4%
64.7
63.7
70.0
63.0
67.7
71.5
74.2
67.0
70.5
69.3
73.3
65.2
68.5
70.7
76.5
73.6
66.0
67.9
74.2
74.4
72.4
70.3
75.4
69.2
71.5
71.6
76.1
67.1
72.3
70.3
65.6
66.9
70.1
79.4
70.6
66.0
67.6
68.5
73.5
71.2
76.6
68.2
64.6
60.2
76.3
70.0
66.6
65.9
74.7
69.1
64.6%
64.9
59.7
63.5
60.2
63.4
67.6
70.9
63.2
67.4
63.1
66.3
58.2
64.7
68.1
74.0
68.7
62.5
65.9
69.1
71.8
67.9
66.4
73.7
68.6
69.1
64.6
75.1
62.4
70.1
65.0
61.8
63.2
66.5
74.8
68.6
61.4
61.3
65.2
71.1
65.9
78.1
64.9
60.0
51.5
75.4
66.6
60.0
60.8
73.8
64.1
71.0%
70.1
68.8
71.5
67.7
71.9
73.9
78.4
74.2
75.0
72.7
77.0
69.0
72.1
74.6
80.7
76.6
68.4
70.6
77.9
78.1
75.1
72.8
79.5
72.2
75.1
75.1
80.4
73.1
76.8
73.1
72.1
69.8
73.8
80.7
74.8
71.2
72.0
71.7
75.6
74.0
80.2
71.2
68.3
63.5
80.3
73.2
70.8
67.4
78.8
75.0
United States
67.6
78.5
59.4
68.3
64.5
72.0
* Mothers ages 20–64 only.
Sources: U.S Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2008 American Community Survey, Tables B23003 and B23008, accessed September 22,
2009. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
F-3
Just over one million low-income children were enrolled in Head Start during 2008,
yet that number fell far short of those who were eligible.
Head Start Enrollment, 2008
Total
Funded Enrollment*
Early
Head Start Head Start
Head Start Preschool
Migrant
Total
Actual Enrollment**
Early
Head Start Head Start
Head Start Preschool
Migrant
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
15,664
3,064
19,649
9,615
106,434
10,629
7,259
1,926
3,281
39,760
23,681
3,049
4,105
39,499
14,210
7,804
9,118
16,399
20,463
3,980
10,397
12,883
36,203
15,035
25,552
16,832
4,606
5,397
3,116
1,632
12,491
8,912
49,256
19,997
3,353
37,971
16,568
13,193
35,221
n/a
12,525
4,522
16,828
74,129
6,149
1,563
13,367
15,654
7,458
16,217
2,001
644
334
1,135
640
7,654
814
439
173
327
2,653
1,285
377
406
2,637
908
1,076
1,794
1,094
952
561
877
846
2,018
1,608
963
1,363
439
882
276
204
728
903
3,832
1,487
421
1,466
1,136
749
2,331
n/a
638
635
880
3,884
423
277
1,136
1,650
394
1,176
311
14,910
2,730
17,762
8,575
92,852
9,115
6,820
1,702
2,954
31,621
22,027
2,672
2,902
36,393
13,302
6,728
7,324
15,160
19,431
3,419
9,520
11,964
32,750
12,411
24,589
15,469
4,167
4,450
2,840
1,428
11,572
8,009
44,809
17,568
2,932
36,505
15,432
9,895
32,451
n/a
11,610
3,887
15,684
62,270
5,324
1,286
11,885
10,835
7,064
14,511
1,690
110
0
752
400
5,928
700
0
51
0
5,486
369
0
797
469
0
0
0
145
80
0
0
73
1,435
1,016
0
0
0
65
0
0
191
0
615
942
0
0
0
2,549
439
n/a
277
0
264
7,975
402
0
346
3,169
0
530
0
18,101
3,597
21,923
11,561
131,435
13,075
8,772
2,340
3,643
46,063
28,356
3,726
4,741
49,302
17,709
9,554
11,656
19,532
23,193
4,910
12,295
15,637
42,684
17,945
28,730
21,739
5,470
6,528
3,744
2,117
14,307
10,165
57,463
23,121
4,005
47,488
19,946
15,135
41,424
n/a
14,256
5,416
20,290
87,296
7,307
2,026
15,794
19,250
8,862
18,707
2,387
877
481
1,791
1,002
12,610
1,387
666
285
416
3,665
1,680
624
605
4,095
1,600
1,624
2,932
1,669
1,367
900
1,382
1,344
3,200
2,305
1,105
2,342
762
1,305
400
362
1,058
1,277
5,767
2,038
641
2,592
1,883
1,049
3,481
n/a
851
936
1,334
6,059
702
445
1,782
2,855
588
1,810
444
17,113
3,116
19,379
10,143
112,550
10,985
8,106
2,004
3,227
37,171
26,295
3,102
3,338
44,661
16,109
7,930
8,724
17,718
21,732
4,010
10,913
14,220
37,997
14,729
27,625
19,397
4,708
5,152
3,344
1,755
13,084
8,888
51,092
20,305
3,364
44,896
18,063
11,500
37,513
n/a
13,163
4,480
18,691
72,688
6,194
1,581
13,695
13,054
8,274
16,356
1,943
111
0
753
416
6,275
703
0
51
0
5,227
381
0
798
546
0
0
0
145
94
0
0
73
1,487
911
0
0
0
71
0
0
165
0
604
778
0
0
0
2,586
430
n/a
242
0
265
8,549
411
0
317
3,341
0
541
0
United States
858,617
59,836
763,206
35,575
1,024,723
92,375
896,077
36,271
* The number of funded Head Start slots for the year.
** The number of children enrolled at any point during the year.
n/a — data not available.
Source: Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), CLASP DataFinder, at http://www.clasp.org/data. Data are from U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 2008 Program Information Report.
F-4
Children’s Defense Fund
Black and Hispanic children account for the majority of children in Head Start.
Head Start Enrollment, by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2008
Percent of Enrollment
American
Indian,
Alaska Native
Other race,
multi-racial
or
unspecified race
White
Black
Hispanic*
Asian,
Pacific
Islander
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
19%
17
58
45
36
53
25
10
0
34
21
14
63
22
59
65
47
72
16
85
19
39
46
49
14
51
49
59
29
84
20
42
33
24
50
47
40
59
47
n/a
11
39
51
59
50
87
32
50
86
54
59
73%
3
3
38
9
7
32
47
78
50
69
2
1
46
21
13
21
18
79
4
65
17
33
20
82
36
1
15
17
5
38
2
25
52
3
40
16
5
33
n/a
81
2
42
18
2
4
50
8
7
23
1
7%
4
59
14
72
64
47
54
18
34
19
6
39
31
14
17
27
6
2
3
14
41
16
24
3
8
3
27
57
11
45
61
36
23
3
7
17
47
15
n/a
7
3
10
69
44
2
14
45
1
24
25
0%
5
0
1
6
1
3
1
3
0
1
65
0
2
8
1
3
0
0
1
1
5
1
3
0
1
0
2
2
1
2
0
5
1
1
1
1
3
2
n/a
0
0
1
1
3
1
2
5
0
4
3
0%
57
25
3
5
3
4
0
0
2
0
0
9
1
3
3
1
0
0
2
1
1
2
8
1
0
41
6
9
1
0
22
2
3
38
0
24
6
0
n/a
0
47
0
0
12
1
0
10
0
6
15
7%
18
14
13
44
36
37
43
18
12
8
18
26
30
10
18
26
9
3
7
13
38
17
19
3
12
8
17
43
9
40
34
35
19
8
12
19
27
18
n/a
7
10
7
23
34
7
15
28
6
13
22
United States
39
29
36
3
4
25
* Persons of Hispanic origin can be of any race.
n/a — data not available.
Source: Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), CLASP DataFinder, at http://www.clasp.org/data. Data are from U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, 2008 Program Information Report.
State of America’s Children® 2010
F-5
In 36 states and the District of Columbia the annual cost of center-based child care for a 4-year-old is
more than annual in-state tuition at a public four-year college. In five of these, it is at least twice the cost.
Child Care vs. College Costs, 2008
Yearly cost
for 4-year-old
in center-based
care
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
$ 4,992
7,000
6,626
4,536
8,234
9,067
9,832
6,899
10,660
6,033
5,973
7,536
5,360
8,117
6,990
7,062
6,526
5,720
4,610
7,228
7,821
11,678
7,540
9,700
4,056
4,532
6,467
6,760
7,133
8,035
8,489
5,931
10,541
6,804
5,966
7,384
4,881
7,500
8,060
7,800
4,756
6,500
5,732
6,084
5,580
7,485
8,268
7,800
4,560
8,424
6,500
Annual in-state
tuition at
public 4-year
college
$ 4,907
4,747
4,954
5,427
4,879
5,250
7,465
7,823
3,140
2,980
4,006
4,653
4,381
8,982
6,604
6,219
5,406
6,342
3,835
7,250
7,141
7,922
8,471
7,707
4,762
6,643
5,418
5,443
3,053
9,610
9,702
4,143
5,065
4,301
5,765
8,090
4,471
5,939
9,593
7,120
8,389
5,395
5,366
5,538
4,046
10,401
6,887
5,353
4,377
6,177
2,990
Ratio
1.02
1.47
1.34
0.84
1.69
1.73
1.32
0.88
3.39
2.02
1.49
1.62
1.22
0.90
1.06
1.14
1.21
0.90
1.20
1.00
1.10
1.47
0.89
1.26
0.85
0.68
1.19
1.24
2.34
0.84
0.87
1.43
2.08
1.58
1.03
0.91
1.09
1.26
0.84
1.10
0.57
1.20
1.07
1.10
1.38
0.72
1.20
1.46
1.04
1.36
2.17
Sources: National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, “2008 Price of Child Care” (March 2009),
at <http://www.naccrra.org/randd/docs/2008_Price_of_Child_Care.pdf>; and U.S. Department of Education, National
Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics: 2008 (March 2009), Table 332.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
F-6
Children’s Defense Fund
Eligibility for public child care subsidies is limited in 20 states to children in families with
incomes below 175 percent of the poverty level ($32,043 for a family of three).
Child Care Assistance, 2009
Income Limits for a Family of Three
As annual
dollar amount
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
$ 22,320
46,243
29,052
28,345
44,664
22,880 – 39,600
39,405
35,208
40,225
27,465
26,560
47,124
23,184
35,208
22,356
25,524
32,568
26,400
35,244
40,006
29,990
37,526
23,880
32,167
34,999
22,620
26,400
21,120
41,640
44,000
35,200
35,200
35,200
36,684
29,556
35,208
35,100
33,874
35,200
31,680
26,400
36,675
30,312
26,400 – 42,703
31,111
35,484
26,400 – 44,000
35,208
26,400
33,876
34,968
As percent of
poverty
122%
202
159
155
244
125 – 216
215
192
220
150
145
224
127
192
122
139
178
144
192
218
164
205
130
176
191
124
144
115
227
240
192
192
192
200
161
192
192
185
192
173
144
200
166
144 – 233
170
194
144 – 240
192
144
185
191
As percent of
state median
income
44%
77
53
65
71
36 – 62
50
54
67
50
47
66
48
56
39
45
57
52
70
75
38
50
39
47
79
43
52
36
75
60
44
81
55
71
52
61
76
62
57
48
53
69
60
53 – 85
58
62
40 – 67
56
56
56
58
Source: Karen Schulman and Helen Blank, “State Child Care Assistance Policies 2009: Most States Hold the Line,
but Some Lose Ground in Hard Times,” National Women’s Law Center (September 2009), Table 1A.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
F-7
Almost 6.5 million families receive help with child care expenses through the federal
Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.
Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, 2007
Number
of filers
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Amount claimed
(in $1,000s)
104,625
14,365
111,954
52,247
716,269
105,057
81,367
24,558
14,080
421,655
231,205
30,168
29,690
271,646
120,430
85,499
65,919
73,887
89,088
28,078
176,126
146,185
176,750
147,160
60,080
127,146
17,773
54,016
54,475
31,144
228,505
28,640
495,953
221,528
18,319
175,910
62,992
69,464
224,448
20,263
103,574
24,805
124,035
494,849
37,177
14,097
191,737
118,831
18,015
106,938
10,496
$ 54,657
7,665
58,287
26,148
410,893
53,545
42,569
13,560
8,848
228,711
123,022
13,831
14,004
152,353
59,200
39,649
32,139
35,122
47,168
14,028
104,171
74,737
84,911
66,469
32,857
61,639
7,530
25,698
31,365
15,956
134,280
13,702
301,405
110,969
8,748
86,262
30,448
32,659
117,109
10,757
55,847
12,159
63,836
278,038
18,051
7,108
104,216
61,306
7,886
47,414
4,983
6,453,218
$ 3,447,915
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Historical Table 2, SOI Bulletin, at
http://www.irs.gov/taxstats/article/0,,id=171535,00.html. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
F-8
Children’s Defense Fund
On average 1.7 million children were assisted under the Child Care and
Development Fund each month in 2007.
Child Care and Development Fund, FY 2007
Monthly Average Number Receiving Assistance
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Families
Children
16,800
2,300
18,000
3,200
91,800
9,200
6,200
4,200
2,700
71,800
28,300
6,400
4,600
41,300
18,400
10,200
12,000
16,400
27,300
3,800
13,900
20,700
38,700
14,000
16,600
22,100
2,700
8,400
3,600
5,200
24,300
12,600
69,400
30,700
2,300
31,000
14,000
10,500
53,900
4,700
11,700
3,200
21,100
71,300
6,700
4,200
15,000
33,100
5,500
14,500
2,700
31,700
3,800
29,900
4,700
144,500
16,500
9,700
7,000
3,900
108,900
53,600
10,000
8,700
76,200
35,200
17,900
22,500
29,400
44,800
5,600
23,900
28,600
75,500
25,600
30,600
38,100
4,500
14,900
6,100
7,600
35,100
21,300
115,500
64,200
3,800
54,300
24,100
19,600
95,700
7,700
20,500
5,100
40,400
132,000
12,600
6,100
24,400
54,100
9,300
25,700
4,400
983,200
1,695,800
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families,
Child Care Bureau, Child Care and Development Fund: Average Monthly Adjusted Number of Families
and Children Served (FFY 2007), at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ccb/data/ccdf_data/07
acf800/table1.htm.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
F-9
In most states, the child-staff ratio is 4:1 for 9-month-old infants; in 15 states it is 5:1 or higher.
Child-Staff Ratios and Group Sizes for Child Care Centers1, 2007
Maximum children per caretaker
9 months
27 months
4 years
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Maximum Recommended Level2
Maximum group size in child care centers
9 months
27 months
4 years
5:1
5:1
5:1 or 11:2
6:1
4:1
5:1
4:1
4:1
4:1
4:1
6:1
4:1
NL
4:1
4:1
4:1
3:1
5:1
6:1
4:1
3:1
3:1 or 7:2
4:1
4:1
5:1
4:1
4:1
4:1
6:1
4:1
4:1
6:1
4:1
5:1
4:1
5:1 or 12:2
4:1
4:1
4:1
4:1
5:1
5:1
4:1
4:1
4:1
4:1
4:1
4:1
4:1
4:1
4:1
8:1
6:1
8:1
9:1
6:1
7:1
4:1
8:1
4:1
11:1
10:1
8:1
NL
8:1
5:1
6:1
7:1
10:1
12:1
4:1 or 5:1
6:1
4:1 or 9:2
4:1
7:1
12:1
8:1
8:1
6:1
10:1
6:1
10:1
10:1
5:1
10:1
5:1
7:1
8:1
5:1
6:1
6:1
9:1
5:1
7:1
11:1
7:1
5:1
10:1
7:1
8:1
6:1
8:1
18:1
10:1
15:1
15:1
12:1
12:1
10:1
12:1
10:1
20:1
18:1
16:1
NL
10:1
12:1
12:1
12:1
14:1
16:1
8:1 or 10:1
10:1
10:1
12:1
10:1
16:1
10:1
10:1
12:1
13:1
12:1
12:1
12:1
8:1
20:1
10:1
14:1
15:1
10:1
10:1
10:1
18:1
10:1
13:1
18:1
15:1
10:1
12:1
10:1
12:1
13:1
12:1
NR
10
NR
12
NR
10
8
NR
8
NR
12
8
NL
12
8
NR
9
10
NR
8
6
7
12
8
10
8
NR
12
NR
12
12
NR
8
10
8
10
8
8
8
8
NR
20
8
10
8
8
NR
8
8
8
10
NR
12
NR
18
12
14
8
NR
8
NR
20
NR
NL
16
10
NR
14
20
NR
10 or 12
12
9
12
14
14
16
NR
NR
NR
18
20
NR
12
20
10
14
16
10
12
12
NR
20
14
22
14
10
NR
14
16
12
18
NR
20
NR
30
NR
24
20
NR
20
NR
36
NR
NL
20
24
NR
24
28
NR
20 or 24
20
20
NR
20
20
NR
NR
NR
NR
24
20
NR
21
25
20
28
30
20
20
20
NR
20
20
35
30
20
NR
20
24
24
30
3:1 to 4:1
4:1 to 6:1
8:1 to 10:1
6 to 8
8 to 10
16 to 20
NL — not licensed at the state level
NR — not regulated at the state level
1 There may be some exceptions to these ratio and group size requirements in some states under certain circumstances. For example, some states have
different requirements for small centers, classes with mixed-age groups, or different levels of licensing. See original source for details.
2 Maximum Recommended Level: As recommended in the accreditation guidelines developed by the National Association for the Education of Young
Children and in the National Health and Safety Performance Standards developed by the American Public Health Association and the American Academy
of Pediatrics.
Source: National Association for Regulatory Administration, Findings from the 2007 Child Care Licensing Study, Table 27, Center Child-Staff Ratio
Requirements in 2007, at <http://www.naralicensing.org/associations/4734/files/Table_27_Ratios_Center_2007.pdf>, and Table 28, Center Group Size
Requirements in 2007, at <http://www.naralicensing.org/associations/4734/files/Table_28_Groupsize_Center_2007.pdf>.
F-10
Children’s Defense Fund
Fewer than 10 percent of all child care centers and fewer than one percent of all family
child care homes are accredited.
Accredited Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes, 2008
Child care centers
Total
Accredited
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
1,183
220
1,901
2,082
11,054
2,620
2,177
493
337
10,427
3,074
474
517
5,581
642
1,549
576
2,520
1,840
677
1,514
2,415
4,524
2,061
1,174
2,562
461
904
416
811
3,881
692
3,984
5,060
127
5,866
1,794
1,438
5,025
395
1,924
267
3,843
9,281
325
653
2,523
2,044
387
2,638
241
91
16
204
532
716
89
453
29
101
1,469
482
131
24
566
125
100
66
107
35
74
169
1,135
255
253
13
436
18
74
38
55
281
120
308
154
7
323
166
32
352
50
130
3
119,174
Family child care homes
Total
Accredited
18
10
74
30
314
34
5
0
26
217
201
6
12
117
100
24
44
12
3
52
142
73
56
6
0
69
20
14
6
4
35
9
29
49
1
59
38
2
56
3
3
1
638
17
258
194
114
27
161
29
1,863
1,001
2,199
742
38,132
3,334
2,638
1,252
219
7,305
5,518
555
1,131
11,568
4,049
11,633
6,248
756
7,422
2,056
8,976
7,532
8,742
11,847
1,000
2,041
951
2,947
479
755
3,031
341
13,956
3,829
1,248
6,371
2,874
4,756
3,387
1,054
1,721
920
1,272
16,765
1,352
1,091
5,353
5,313
1,749
6,235
594
11,220
238,103
2,306
133
9
12
47
21
12
98
0
Source: National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, 2008 Child Care Capacity (March 2009).
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
F-11
Thirty eight states had state-funded prekindergarten programs in 2008–2009 but served only
25.4 percent of 4-year-olds and 3.7 percent of 3-year-olds.
Prekindergarten Enrollment of 3- and 4-year-olds, 2008–2009
Percent of Age Group Enrolled
State-funded prekindergarten program
3-year-olds
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
0.0%
0.0
0.0
5.9
5.4
6.0
8.2
0.0
n/a
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
21.2
0.0
1.3
0.0
10.0
0.0
0.0
1.2
2.9
0.0
1.1
0.0
1.9
0.0
2.9
0.6
0.0
17.3
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
5.3
0.0
4.8
4.8
0.0
4.1
0.0
0.8
4.7
0.0
17.3
0.0
2.4
8.5
1.0
0.0
3.7
4-year-olds
State-funded prekindergarten program,
Head Start, or special education
3-year-olds
5.5%
0.0
5.4
43.7
12.6
20.2
10.9
7.3
n/a
66.7
53.4
0.0
0.0
28.7
0.0
28.7
21.2
28.3
31.7
19.0
35.1
11.3
19.1
1.6
0.0
3.9
0.0
7.3
2.3
0.0
26.5
16.5
42.6
25.0
0.0
8.1
71.0
8.3
16.4
0.0
38.1
0.0
21.6
45.4
0.0
53.0
14.1
7.2
50.6
48.4
0.0
10.7%
12.5
8.8
21.5
13.0
14.2
18.3
7.3
n/a
8.3
9.6
9.2
7.0
29.6
9.7
11.1
12.5
20.0
18.0
13.0
12.9
13.8
13.8
10.6
24.6
13.0
15.1
12.1
5.5
8.1
26.2
13.6
14.7
7.8
16.9
17.1
14.3
14.1
16.2
9.9
15.6
14.9
9.1
13.5
7.0
29.1
8.0
11.0
19.5
12.8
16.4
23.1%
18.9
20.2
62.7
25.9
32.1
24.4
19.5
n/a
76.8
61.1
14.3
14.5
42.8
14.7
39.2
37.1
44.4
48.2
36.0
47.9
25.7
37.7
15.7
37.6
19.8
22.5
20.6
11.1
11.6
37.4
37.7
56.6
36.0
25.4
24.2
86.6
21.4
31.1
16.0
49.0
25.9
34.7
55.3
11.9
67.8
24.3
19.8
73.3
59.4
26.5
25.4
13.8
38.9
Source: National Institute for Early Education Research, The State of Preschool 2009 (May 2010), Tables 2 and 4.
F-12
Children’s Defense Fund
4-year-olds
School Attendance Requirements for Young Children
Only eight states and the District of Columbia require 5-year-olds to
enroll in school:
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Maryland
New Mexico
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Virginia
Pennsylvania and Washington do not require school attendance until age 8.
Only 11 states and the District of Columbia require that children attend
kindergarten:
Arkansas
Delaware
District of Columbia
Maryland
New Mexico
Ohio
Oklahoma
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia
West Virginia
Only 13 states and the District of Columbia require school districts to
offer full-day kindergarten:
Alabama
Arkansas
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
West Virginia
State of America’s Children® 2010
F-13
Six states do not require local school districts to offer either full- or half-day kindergarten.
School Attendance Requirements, 2008
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Ages at which
attendance
is compulsory
Age at which
children enter
kindergarten
7-16
7-16
6-16 or completion of grade 10
5-17
6-18
6-17
5-18
5-16
5-18
6-16
6-16
6-18
7-16
7-17
7-18
6-16
7-18
6-16
7-18
7-17
5-16
6-16
6-16
7-16
6-17
7-16
7-16
6-18
7-18
6-18 (effective July 1, 2009)
6-16
5-18
6-16
7-16
7-16
6-18
5-18
7-18
8-17
6-16
5-17
6-18 (effective July 1, 2009)
6-17
6-18
6-18
6-16 or completion of grade 10
5-18
8-18
6-16
6-18
7-16 or completion of grade 10
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Local decision
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Local decision
Local decision
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Local decision
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Kindergarten program must
be offered by local district
Full-day
Half-day
Mandatory
kindergarten
attendance
Yes
Yes
Yes
either full- or half-day
either full- or half-day
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
either full- or half-day
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
N/A
Yes
either full- or half-day
either full- or half-day
Yes
Yes
Yes
either full- or half-day
Yes
either full- or half-day
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
either full- or half-day
either full- or half-day
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
either full- or half-day
Yes
either full- or half-day
Yes
either full- or half-day
either full- or half-day
Yes
Yes
Yes
either full- or half-day
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Sources: Education Commission of the States, Compulsory School Age Requirements (April 2009); and Council of Chief State School Officers, Key State
Education Policies on PK–12 Education: 2008 (2009), Tables 5 and 6.
F-14
Children’s Defense Fund
Early Child Care and Development Quality Rating
and Improvement Systems
The quality of early childhood development programs is a focus of work in the field of early care and
education. To assess quality, a growing number of states are using Child Care and Development Fund
monies to create quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS).
The QRIS systems are composed of five common elements: (1) standards, (2) accountability measures,
(3) program and practitioner outreach and support, (4) financial incentives, and (5) parenting consumer
education efforts.
As of September 2009, only the following states and the District of Columbia had implemented statewide
QRIS with the five core elements in place:
Colorado
Delaware
District of Columbia
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Mississippi
Montana
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Vermont
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, National Child Care Information and Technical
Assistance Center, “QRIS and the Impact on Quality in Early and School-Age Care Settings,” at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/poptopics/qrs-impact
qualitycc.html.
State of America’s Children® 2010
F-15
The median salary for preschool teachers is only half that of kindergarten teachers.
Annual Salaries of Early Childhood Educators, 2008
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Head Start
teachers
(mean)
Child care
workers
(median)
Preschool
teachers
(median)
Kindergarten
teachers
(median)
Elementary
teachers
(median)
$ 19,289
25,259
25,531
22,707
30,935
26,016
27,390
19,064
37,123
28,446
29,519
31,773
17,720
29,229
22,187
25,080
25,968
23,701
23,816
25,135
31,696
26,670
26,135
23,470
18,108
22,511
18,887
24,267
25,827
21,467
38,812
24,425
31,395
23,177
25,489
24,679
25,942
20,344
30,285
n/a
19,361
23,761
23,434
25,062
20,364
25,707
27,473
23,512
27,164
27,580
24,652
$ 15,710
21,060
17,950
15,580
21,490
19,970
21,650
18,740
24,300
18,280
16,200
17,160
17,060
20,080
17,360
16,860
17,980
16,560
15,980
21,270
19,720
21,660
20,320
19,180
15,430
17,540
17,010
16,700
18,160
19,390
21,110
17,310
23,210
17,990
16,050
19,730
16,310
19,420
18,460
20,660
16,150
17,750
16,070
16,270
17,740
19,520
18,120
20,150
15,430
21,180
18,360
$ 23,070
26,420
21,250
19,990
27,920
24,400
27,290
22,320
30,410
22,440
19,260
27,890
17,780
26,000
22,630
20,860
21,890
22,210
17,840
25,850
26,250
28,920
28,270
27,800
19,120
22,770
20,660
21,240
21,400
25,750
29,710
20,500
29,460
20,090
25,530
20,480
21,250
22,470
22,970
26,940
20,330
25,920
18,870
19,610
19,850
25,830
23,770
25,130
21,800
20,720
26,060
$ 42,940
53,090
37,670
41,600
54,470
43,120
61,540
48,100
39,900
47,470
45,290
36,350
36,820
40,530
44,950
38,200
42,510
46,630
42,410
44,270
49,990
54,650
50,960
49,670
40,060
39,260
32,760
41,890
40,900
42,060
53,750
50,560
63,650
38,850
38,880
49,980
37,420
45,700
48,990
64,600
44,230
34,820
41,970
44,710
41,010
45,450
50,030
49,800
43,770
45,220
48,450
$ 44,610
57,560
38,600
41,140
59,850
45,520
64,200
50,280
53,710
47,940
50,480
46,840
50,200
55,390
47,650
37,890
40,600
45,770
42,390
44,850
55,320
59,740
54,680
48,240
40,640
40,380
37,810
42,700
45,550
49,220
55,460
47,660
62,370
40,710
42,630
53,720
38,620
50,340
49,790
67,940
43,970
35,980
44,230
45,860
45,520
48,020
52,130
54,220
43,430
49,100
52,290
26,145
18,970
23,870
47,100
49,330
Sources: Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), CLASP DataFinder, at http://www.clasp.org/data; data are from U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 2008 Program Information Report; and U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2008 State Occupational Employment and
Wage Estimates and May 2008 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, at http://stats.bls.gov/oes/2008/ may/oes_dl.htm#2008.
— Some of the differences in compensation are related to requirements regarding the credential and education levels of teachers.
F-16
Children’s Defense Fund
State Overview of Early Childhood Development Data
States
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
n/a – not available
General cost
of centerbased child
care for 4-year
olds is at least
1 1/2 times
the cost of an
in-state tuition
at a public 4year university
(F-6)
Eligibility for
public child
care subsidies
limited to
children in
families with
incomes
below 175%
of poverty
(F-7)
X
X
X
States where
fewer than
3.7% of
3-year-olds
are in state
funded Pre-K
programs
(F-12)
States where
fewer than
25.7% of
4-year-olds
are in state
funded Pre-K
programs
(F-12)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
n/a
X
X
X
X
X
n/a
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
States where
fewer than
38.9% of
4-year-olds
are in statefunded Pre-K,
Head Start
or Special
Education
(F-12)
States where
fewer than
13.8% of
3-year-olds
are in statefunded Pre-K,
Head Start or
Special
Education
(F-12)
X
n/a
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
n/a
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
No state
requirement
that fullor half-day
kindergarten
be offered by
local school
districts
(F-14)
No requirement for
mandatory
kindergarten
attendance
(F-14)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
State of America’s Children® 2010
F-17
Education
A
merican education, which used to be the envy of the world, is in dire straits. The U.S. ranks 21st
among 25 developed countries on overall educational achievement for 15-year-olds. Many public
school students, kindergarten through 12th grade, are struggling; minority children and poor children
are struggling the most. Too often they fall behind in school and drop out, increasing their risk of
entering the cradle to prison pipeline. Staying in school and receiving a quality education are the best
deterrents to juvenile delinquency and the surest route towards responsible, productive adulthood.
• The U.S. spends almost three times as much per prisoner as per public school pupil.
• American schools are resegregating: 73 percent of Black students and 78 percent of
Hispanic students are in predominantly minority schools.
• More than 60 percent of fourth grade public school students are reading or doing
math below grade level. Eighty-five percent of Black and 84 percent of Hispanic
students are reading below grade level. In math, 85 percent of Black and 79 percent
of Hispanic students are achieving below grade level.
• Black students are more than three times as likely as White or Asian/Pacific Islander
and twice as likely as Hispanic students to be suspended from school.
• 46 percent of Black high school students, 39 percent of Hispanic and 11 percent of
White students attend the 2,000 “dropout factories” across our country, where less than
60 percent of the freshman class will graduate in four years with a regular diploma.
• Teachers in high poverty schools are more likely to have less experience, less training
and fewer advanced degrees than teachers in low poverty schools.
• While the Black/White high school completion gap for young people 25–29 has
closed, the Black/White gap in college completion persists. Lifetime earnings for a
college graduate are almost twice those of a high school graduate.
State of America’s Children® 2010
G-1
Over the past 50 years, the high school completion rate for Blacks has risen sharply,
closing the Black/White gap; the gap in college graduation rates persists.
High School Completion Rates Among Young Adults,
1957–2008
Percent ages 25–29 who have a
high school credential
100
White
80
60
Black
40
20
0
1957
1962
1967
1972
1977
1982
1987
1992
1997
2002
2008
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Table A-2, Percent of People 25 Years Old and Over Who Have
Completed High School or College, by Race, Hispanic Origin and Sex: Selected Years 1940 to 2008, at
<http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/education/cps2008/tabA-2.xls>.
College Graduation Rates Among Young Adults, 1957–2008
35
Percent ages 25–29 who completed
4 years of college or more
30
25
White
20
15
Black
10
5
0
1957
1962
1967
1972
1977
1982
1987
1992
1997
2002
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Table A-2, Percent of People 25 Years Old and Over Who Have
Completed High School or College, by Race, Hispanic Origin and Sex: Selected Years 1940 to 2008, at
<http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/ education/cps2008/tabA-2.xls>.
G-2
Children’s Defense Fund
2008
College graduates earn more than twice as much as those with only a high school diploma
and more than two and a half times the amount earned by high school dropouts.
Lifetime earnings follow a similar pattern.
Earnings by Educational Attainment, 2008
Mean Earnings of Persons Who Worked Full-Time, Year-Round
Highest Level of
Education
Earnings
Amount
Increase
Some high school, no diploma
High school, including GED
Some college, no degree
Associate (2-year) degree
College degree or more
$29,824
38,800
44,011
47,424
79,252
$ 8,976
5,211
3,413
31,828
Percent
30.1%
13.4
7.8
67.1
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2009 Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, Table
PINC-04, Educational Attainment – People 18 Years Old and Over, by Total Money Earnings in 2008, Work Experience in 2008, Age, Race, Hispanic
Origin, and Sex, at http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/cpstables/ 032009/perinc/ new04_001.htm. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
Expected Lifetime Earnings by Education Level
Compared to
High School Grad
Not a high school graduate
High school graduate
Some college, no degree
Associate degree
Bachelor’s degree
Bachelor’s degree or higher
Master’s degree
Doctoral degree
Professional degree
Compared to
High School Dropout
Lifetime
Earnings
Ratio
Amount
Ratio
$ 941,370
1,266,730
1,518,300
1,620,730
2,054,380
2,284,110
2,401,565
3,073,240
3,706,910
0.74
1.00
1.20
1.28
1.62
1.80
1.90
2.43
2.93
$ -325,360
1.00
1.35
1.61
1.72
2.18
2.43
2.55
3.26
3.94
251,570
354,000
787,650
1,017,380
1,134,835
1,806,510
2,440,180
Amount
$ 325,360
576,930
679,360
1,113,010
1,342,740
1,460,195
2,131,870
2,765,540
Source: College Board, Education Pays: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society, 2007 (2009), Appendix A, p. 44.
State of America’s Children® 2010
G-3
Fifty-six years after Brown v. Board of Education outlawed school
segregation, American schools are resegregating racially.
Racial Isolation of Black and Latino Students in
the Public Schools, 1968–2006
Percent of Black Students in:
Predominantly (>50%)
Minority Schools
1968
1980
1988
1991
2005
2006
77%
63
63
66
73
73
Intensely Segregated
(90–100%) Minority Schools
64%
33
32
34
38
39
Gary Orfield and Chungmei Lee, Historic Reversals, Accelerating Resegregation, and the Need for New
Integration Strategies (2007), Tables 10 and 14; and Gary Orfield, Reviving the Goal of an Integrated Society:
A 21st Century Challenge (January 2009), Table 23.
Percent of Latino Students in:
Predominantly (>50%)
Minority Schools
1968
1980
1984
1988
1994
2005
2006
55%
68
71
74
74
78
78
Intensely Segregated
(90–100%) Minority Schools
23%
29
31
33
34
39
40
Gary Orfield and Chungmei Lee, Historic Reversals, Accelerating Resegregation, and the Need for New
Integration Strategies (2007), Tables 16 and 17; and Gary Orfield, Reviving the Goal of an Integrated Society:
A 21st Century Challenge (January 2009), Table 23.
G-4
Children’s Defense Fund
Southern schools, which became the least segregated in the nation
in the 50 years following Brown, are rapidly resegregating.
Change in Black Segregation in the South,
1954–2005
Percent of Black Students in Majority White Schools
1954
1960
1964
1967
1968
1970
1972
1976
1980
1986
1988
1991
1994
1996
1998
2000
2001
2005
0.001%
0.1
2.3
13.9
23.4
33.1
36.4
37.6
37.1
42.9
43.5
39.2
36.6
34.7
32.7
31.0
30.2
27.0
(one in 100,000)
(one in 1,000)
(330 in 1,000)
(435 in 1,000)
(270 in 1,000)
Source: Gary Orfield and Chungmei Lee, Historic Reversals, Accelerating Resegregation, and the Need for
New Integration Strategies (2007), Table 8.
State of America’s Children® 2010
G-5
The vast majority of children in fourth, eighth, and twelfth grades in
public schools do not read or do math at grade level.
Reading and Math Achievement
Percent of Public School Students Not Reading or Doing Math at Grade Level
Reading
Math
4th graders
Total, all races
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian, Pacific Islander
American Indian, Alaska Native
68%
59
85
84
52
78
62%
50
85
79
39
77
70
61
87
84
56
79
67
57
88
83
47
80
65
57
84
80
64
74
77
71
94
92
64
94
8th graders
Total, all races
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian, Pacific Islander
American Indian, Alaska Native
12th graders
Total, all races
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian, Pacific Islander
American Indian, Alaska Native
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, National Assessment of Educational Progress, The Nation’s Report Card:
Reading 2007 (2007), Tables A-8, A-9, A-15, and A-16; U.S. Department of Education, National Assessment of
Educational Progress, The Nation’s Report Card: Mathematics 2009 (2009), Tables A-1, A-12, A-19, and A-20;
and U.S. Department of Education, National Assessment of Educational Progress, The Nation’s Report Card: 12thGrade Reading and Mathematics 2005 (2007), pp. 5, 7, 15, and 17. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
G-6
Children’s Defense Fund
More than 60 percent of fourth grade public school students are reading and doing math
below grade level. For Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native students,
the rates range from 77 to 85 percent.
Reading and Math Achievement of 4th Graders, 2009
Percent of Fourth-Grade Public School Students Achieving Below Grade Level
Reading
Math
Asian,
Pacific
Black Hispanic Islander
American
Indian,
Alaska
Native
Total
American
Asian, Indian,
Pacific Alaska
White Black Hispanic Islander Native
Total
White
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
72%
73
75
71
76
60
58
65
83
64
71
74
68
68
66
66
65
64
82
65
63
53
70
63
78
64
65
65
76
59
60
80
64
68
65
64
72
69
63
64
72
67
72
72
69
59
62
67
74
67
67
64%
62
63
65
61
49
48
53
25
55
60
58
64
56
62
64
60
61
72
64
50
44
64
57
65
60
63
60
66
58
49
65
55
56
63
58
67
65
58
56
62
63
66
57
64
58
53
60
74
62
66
87%
87
80
86
86
73
78
81
89
82
85
82
—
89
85
78
80
87
91
82
81
77
91
88
90
84
—
81
86
72
82
87
82
86
—
87
89
83
85
83
89
—
88
80
86
71
82
79
84
91
—
82%
73
86
84
89
82
85
76
83
69
80
73
86
84
85
80
80
78
84
—
70
80
83
87
81
74
74
80
87
70
81
86
78
83
—
70
83
87
86
86
83
71
84
82
90
—
74
86
—
84
78
—
81%
59
—
52
47
45
43
—
44
47
78
67
37
—
54
50
44
—
—
41
44
58
66
—
—
—
60
62
55
38
61
48
48
—
—
—
57
39
70
—
—
—
48
70
—
43
65
—
64
—
—
91%
88
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
80
—
—
84
—
—
—
—
90
—
82
84
—
73
83
—
—
—
89
—
—
83
—
—
73
—
82
81
76%
62
72
64
70
55
54
64
83
60
66
63
59
62
58
59
54
63
77
55
56
43
65
46
78
59
55
62
68
44
51
74
60
57
55
55
67
63
54
61
66
58
72
62
59
49
57
57
72
55
60
66%
48
56
54
49
43
42
50
19
47
52
49
56
48
52
55
45
61
63
54
40
33
57
39
63
54
51
55
54
43
37
53
50
41
51
46
60
57
47
50
54
53
64
39
52
49
46
49
72
47
56
93%
83
81
88
87
77
86
83
91
80
85
67
—
89
87
83
82
86
92
72
79
70
91
75
92
83
—
90
88
—
81
81
81
82
—
86
86
82
83
85
86
83
93
77
85
—
84
76
80
89
—
89%
73
85
74
86
76
82
78
76
67
74
72
82
80
77
83
76
78
77
—
68
75
80
71
—
63
59
84
81
69
75
82
75
73
—
75
80
84
77
86
72
73
81
74
84
—
72
80
—
78
78
—
65%
55
—
39
49
35
34
—
27
40
65
—
27
—
34
36
31
—
—
33
30
45
56
—
38
—
45
55
33
28
—
33
38
—
—
—
52
38
60
—
—
—
29
61
—
36
44
—
61
—
—
86%
87
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
73
—
—
77
—
—
—
—
86
—
70
83
—
71
85
—
—
—
85
—
—
83
—
—
79
—
79
—
United States
68
59
85
84
52
78
62
50
85
79
39
77
— Data not reported because number of students too small to calculate a reliable rate.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, National Assessment of Educational Progress, The Nation’s Report Card: Reading 2009 (2010), Tables A–11 and
A–12; and U.S. Department of Education, National Assessment of Educational Progress, The Nation’s Report Card: Mathematics 2009 (2009), Tables A–11
and A–12. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
G-7
More than two-thirds of eighth grade public school students are reading or doing math below
grade level. For Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native students,
the rates range from 79 to 88 percent.
Reading and Math Achievement of 8th Graders, 2009
Percent of Eighth-Grade Public School Students Achieving Below Grade Level
Reading
Math
Asian,
Pacific
Black Hispanic Islander
American
Indian,
Alaska
Native
Total
American
Asian, Indian,
Pacific Alaska
White Black Hispanic Islander Native
Total
White
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
76%
73
73
73
78
68
57
69
86
68
73
78
67
67
68
68
67
67
80
65
64
57
69
62
81
66
62
65
78
61
58
78
67
71
66
63
74
67
60
72
76
63
72
73
67
59
68
64
78
66
66
69%
64
61
67
63
59
49
59
—
60
65
65
63
58
64
66
61
65
72
65
52
51
64
56
69
62
60
61
69
60
49
62
56
61
65
58
71
63
54
66
66
60
66
58
63
59
60
59
78
61
64
91%
88
79
92
89
85
89
84
90
85
85
80
—
90
85
88
86
85
90
78
84
83
91
90
92
86
—
88
90
—
83
84
87
88
—
87
84
—
84
91
90
—
89
87
—
—
86
87
82
91
—
77%
75
85
81
87
84
81
79
79
73
80
76
89
82
85
82
84
70
—
—
75
83
74
84
—
75
—
81
87
73
80
86
84
81
—
84
86
86
88
89
70
—
79
83
87
—
78
83
—
85
77
—
79%
44
—
65
57
36
62
—
36
39
81
—
40
—
—
64
—
—
—
40
50
—
70
—
—
—
—
72
—
36
—
51
54
—
—
—
52
40
65
—
—
—
47
67
—
52
58
—
66
—
—
89%
87
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
75
—
—
—
—
—
—
74
—
—
80
—
—
—
—
88
—
84
78
—
75
72
—
—
—
84
—
—
90
—
—
75
—
—
—
80%
67
71
73
77
60
60
68
89
71
73
75
62
67
64
66
61
73
80
65
60
48
69
53
85
65
56
65
75
57
56
80
66
64
57
64
76
63
60
72
70
58
75
64
65
57
64
61
81
61
65
71%
56
58
66
61
49
51
57
—
61
61
69
57
56
59
63
55
71
71
64
44
41
63
47
75
61
53
59
64
56
46
61
56
51
54
59
71
59
55
65
57
54
70
46
60
56
56
54
80
55
62
94%
83
77
92
90
84
90
87
92
87
89
79
—
91
86
91
85
92
93
86
85
77
95
87
95
89
—
90
90
—
83
87
87
88
—
89
90
88
87
92
88
—
90
83
—
—
86
84
89
89
—
90%
77
84
85
89
82
86
78
82
78
82
74
85
83
81
85
78
78
—
—
74
79
83
79
—
63
73
90
87
78
78
88
85
76
—
84
88
85
82
92
84
87
81
75
89
—
77
87
—
80
85
—
69%
48
—
54
45
39
31
—
45
51
75
—
40
—
—
—
—
—
—
24
34
41
65
—
—
—
—
67
38
23
—
37
35
—
—
62
50
40
60
—
—
—
33
73
—
45
47
—
60
—
—
85%
88
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
79
—
—
84
—
—
—
—
90
—
86
84
—
81
75
—
—
—
83
—
—
82
—
—
77
—
—
—
United States
70
61
87
84
56
79
67
57
88
83
47
80
— Data not reported; number of students too small to calculate a reliable rate.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, National Assessment of Educational Progress, The Nation’s Report Card: Reading 2009 (2010), Tables A–19 and
A–20; and U.S. Department of Education, National Assessment of Educational Progress, The Nation’s Report Card: Mathematics 2009 (2009), Tables A–19
and A–20. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
G-8
Children’s Defense Fund
Alaska, Delaware, New York, Wyoming and the District of Columbia spend more than twice
as much per pupil as Utah but have lower graduation rates.
Public School Education, Selected Indicators
Pupil/
teacher ratio
Fall 2006
Averaged
freshman
graduation rate*
2006–2007
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
13.2
16.8
20.2
13.6
20.9
16.9
14.7
15.2
13.5
16.4
14.3
16.0
18.1
15.0
17.1
13.6
13.3
15.8
16.6
11.5
14.6
13.2
17.5
16.2
15.3
13.7
13.9
13.4
18.5
13.1
12.4
14.9
12.8
13.8
12.1
16.6
15.1
21.3
15.2
13.3
14.1
13.4
15.7
14.8
22.1
10.8
11.6
19.1
14.5
14.8
12.6
67.1%
69.1
69.6
74.4
70.7
76.6
81.8
71.9
54.9
65.0
64.1
75.4
80.4
79.5
73.9
86.5
78.9
76.4
61.3
78.5
80.0
80.8
77.0
86.5
63.6
81.9
81.5
86.3
52.0
81.7
84.4
59.1
68.8
68.6
83.1
78.7
77.8
73.8
83.0
78.4
58.9
82.5
72.6
71.9
76.6
88.6
75.5
74.8
78.2
88.5
75.8
United States
15.5
73.9
Expenditures per pupil
2005–2006
Dollars
Rank
$ 7,683
11,476
6,515
8,030
8,301
8,166
13,072
11,621
13,752
7,812
8,595
9,876
6,469
9,113
8,929
8,355
8,640
7,668
8,486
10,841
10,909
12,564
9,575
9,159
7,173
8,273
8,626
9,324
7,177
10,396
14,954
8,354
14,615
7,396
8,728
9,692
6,941
8,645
10,723
12,609
8,120
7,775
7,004
7,480
5,464
12,805
9,452
7,984
9,440
9,993
11,437
41
9
49
37
33
35
4
8
3
39
29
16
50
23
24
31
27
42
30
12
11
7
18
22
46
34
28
21
45
14
1
32
2
44
25
17
48
26
13
6
36
40
47
43
51
5
19
38
20
15
10
9,154
* Percent of 9th graders who graduate within four years with a regular diploma.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Public School Graduates and Dropouts
from the Common Core of Data: School Year 2006-07, First Look (October 2009), Table 1; and U.S. Department of
Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics 2008 (March 2009), Tables 66 and
184. Ranks calculated by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
G-9
The U.S. spends almost three times as much per prisoner as per public school pupil;
three states spend five times as much or more.
Spending on Prisoners vs. Spending on Public School Students, 2006
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia*
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Expenditure
per prisoner
Expenditure
per pupil
$ 12,545
64,129
22,346
23,929
31,358
21,395
45,007
44,178
19,375
20,543
37,599
22,419
20,738
19,479
25,652
26,430
19,472
10,252
48,482
38,460
59,594
28,570
23,756
13,249
16,885
29,625
19,089
16,545
27,806
34,915
32,885
31,968
28,871
38,742
22,612
17,208
26,540
30,668
72,356
16,417
25,253
14,827
16,660
39,238
30,012
21,380
34,452
35,725
31,504
33,448
$ 7,683
11,476
6,515
8,030
8,301
8,166
13,072
11,621
13,752
7,812
8,595
9,876
6,469
9,113
8,929
8,355
8,640
7,668
8,486
10,841
10,909
12,564
9,575
9,159
7,173
8,273
8,626
9,324
7,177
10,396
14,954
8,354
14,615
7,396
8,728
9,692
6,941
8,645
10,723
12,609
8,120
7,775
7,004
7,480
5,464
12,805
9,452
7,984
9,440
9,993
11,437
2.5
2.4
3.8
3.5
2.3
2.2
3.1
3.1
2.5
1.2
4.5
3.5
4.7
3.0
2.6
1.8
2.0
3.4
2.0
2.3
2.7
2.3
3.9
2.2
3.9
4.4
2.3
2.5
3.1
2.9
5.7
2.0
3.2
2.1
2.2
7.2
2.3
2.3
4.3
3.8
3.2
2.9
24,354
9,154
2.7
Ratio
1.6
5.6
3.4
3.0
3.8
2.6
3.4
3.8
* The District of Columbia does not have a prison system.
Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Justice Expenditure and Employment Abstracts, 2006
(December 2008), Table cjee0610, Detail of direct expenditure for correctional activities of State governments by character
and object, fiscal 2006, at <http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=1022>; U.S. Department of Justice,
Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2006 (June 2007), Appendix Table 2; and U.S.
Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics 2008 (March 2009),
Table 184. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
G-10
Children’s Defense Fund
Black students are more than three times as likely as White or Asian/Pacific Islander students and
more than twice as likely as Hispanic students to be suspended.
School Discipline, 2006
Number of Suspensions per 100 Public School Students
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Total,
all
races
American Indian,
Alaska
Native
Asian,
Pacific
Islander
Hispanic
Black
White
10.113
5.895
5.892
7.313
7.507
6.031
6.838
10.938
0.360
10.459
8.831
5.473
3.585
6.439
7.377
2.963
5.091
6.565
10.349
4.565
7.087
5.563
8.205
3.731
10.216
7.286
4.475
3.702
7.400
5.567
5.670
5.265
3.799
10.763
2.173
6.246
4.887
4.942
6.786
8.380
11.882
2.686
7.240
5.563
3.197
3.994
7.233
5.947
10.206
4.970
2.850
4.835
8.209
9.973
4.684
12.238
8.652
5.218
—
—
7.170
3.742
5.996
8.607
2.906
6.063
5.181
5.807
3.791
6.791
6.365
8.543
4.976
6.754
10.016
12.689
6.999
9.597
6.712
6.612
—
3.654
8.282
4.473
14.883
8.047
3.724
3.992
7.169
3.425
11.771
9.571
6.841
3.415
3.053
6.859
—
4.039
11.305
8.201
13.506
6.416
3.188
4.609
2.609
3.492
3.268
3.242
2.386
3.312
—
2.871
2.110
5.528
1.649
1.664
1.791
1.605
2.921
1.514
2.618
2.935
2.156
2.520
2.202
2.463
3.000
2.888
2.333
1.913
3.859
2.235
1.433
2.526
0.690
2.661
—
2.055
1.778
2.091
2.669
7.162
2.873
2.988
2.694
1.625
4.210
—
2.065
3.689
2.369
2.119
—
4.289
5.944
6.359
4.879
7.876
8.138
11.407
9.216
—
7.702
5.424
5.655
5.105
5.971
7.383
3.190
6.559
3.982
4.716
5.732
12.907
11.952
7.422
5.350
4.259
5.366
3.501
5.047
8.482
12.104
6.897
5.388
2.790
7.206
3.139
5.970
5.309
5.479
8.694
12.576
6.500
4.310
5.351
5.730
6.662
4.121
5.598
7.158
11.208
7.528
3.102
18.272
10.014
11.805
15.892
17.093
13.153
17.182
20.058
0.400
19.334
15.007
7.008
3.486
14.478
17.266
11.432
14.614
13.324
14.643
8.956
8.176
10.277
17.782
14.432
14.757
20.153
4.919
12.584
15.476
8.733
12.371
6.988
7.285
20.027
5.003
14.602
12.056
8.807
18.903
14.617
19.220
7.122
12.847
12.674
7.759
5.838
13.939
11.979
21.493
19.721
3.168
5.801
4.564
4.462
5.011
5.962
4.544
4.019
6.384
—
7.863
4.798
4.879
3.278
3.758
5.957
2.432
3.824
5.809
7.063
4.453
5.760
4.230
6.091
2.427
5.548
4.573
3.737
2.564
5.139
5.365
3.668
3.951
3.350
6.480
1.478
4.558
3.910
4.780
4.165
6.664
6.892
1.934
5.538
2.887
2.432
3.989
4.723
5.255
9.683
2.714
2.721
6.864
7.931
2.712
6.777
14.982
4.760
— Number too small to calculate a stable rate.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 2006 Civil Rights Data Collection, projections. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
G-11
A Look at America’s “Dropout Factories”
Over 50 percent of our nation’s dropouts come from just 2,000 American high
schools. These high schools have been identified by Johns Hopkins University
researchers as “dropout factories” because 60 percent or fewer of the students in any
given ninth grade class will graduate in four years. The students attending these
“dropout factories” are overwhelmingly minority and overwhelmingly poor.
• Students in these dropout factories represent a large percentage of the total
minority student population in America: 46 percent of the nation’s Black
students and 39 percent of its Latino students (and only 11 percent of its
White students). (2004)
• 20 percent of high school students in the United States are likely to attend
a dropout factory. (2005)
• Nearly 90 percent of the nation’s dropout factories educate large numbers
of low-income students. However, only about one-quarter of these schools
currently receives Title 1 funds. (2005)
• 70 percent of these schools are found in just 17 states, and these states
produce about 70 percent of the nation’s dropouts. (2009)
• In many cities and rural counties, the only public high school available to
students is a dropout factory. (2004)
• Around 900 dropout factories are located in cities, and close to 800 are
located in towns and rural areas. (2005)
• Dropout factories come in all sizes: 250 are small high schools (fewer than
300 students) and 300 are large high schools (more than 2,000 students).
(2005)
Sources: “Locating the Dropout Crisis: Which High Schools Produce the Nation’s Dropouts? Where Are They
Located? Who Attends Them?” Robert Balfanz and Nettie Legters of Johns Hopkins University, Center for Research
on the Education of Students Placed at Risk (CRESPAR), 2004; “The Graduation Gap: Using Promoting Power to
Examine the Number and Characteristics of High Schools with High and Low Graduation Rates in the Nation and
Each State,” Robert Balfanz and Nettie Legters, The Johns Hopkins Center for the Social Organization of Schools,
2005; “The Graduation Rate Crisis We Know and What Can be Done About It,” Robert Balfanz and Nettie Legters,
Education Week Commentary, July 12, 2006; and “Graduating America: Meeting the Challenge of Low GraduationRate High Schools,” by Robert Balfanz, Cheryl Almeida, Adria Steinbert, Janet Santos, and Joanna Hornig Fox,
Everyone Graduates Center: 2009.
G-12
Children’s Defense Fund
Nevada and Louisiana have the highest dropout rates among 16- to 19-year-olds; Minnesota and
New Hampshire have the lowest. Almost two-thirds of teen dropouts do not have a job.
Dropouts, 2008
Persons Ages 16–19 Who Are Not Enrolled in School and Do Not Have a High School Credential
Number of
dropouts
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
20,702
4,201
31,658
14,610
140,940
20,376
10,104
3,501
2,596
64,834
49,270
5,256
5,767
43,617
29,902
6,108
7,829
15,975
27,381
4,461
19,909
17,170
36,558
8,352
14,322
21,987
5,166
4,721
13,226
2,598
18,352
11,294
61,605
41,259
2,684
32,245
17,926
12,673
37,289
3,648
18,299
2,758
22,942
105,380
12,189
1,368
19,352
24,986
8,235
12,225
2,004
Percent of all
16- to 19-year-olds
7.7%
9.6
8.9
8.6
6.2
7.7
5.0
6.9
6.9
6.9
8.5
7.8
6.1
5.6
8.0
3.5
4.8
6.8
10.2
6.4
5.9
4.5
5.9
2.8
7.5
6.5
9.1
4.5
9.8
3.4
3.9
9.5
5.3
7.8
6.9
4.9
8.1
6.4
5.0
5.7
6.7
5.5
6.7
7.3
7.0
3.6
4.4
6.9
8.4
3.8
6.2
1,121,810
6.3
Percent in the
labor force
(labor force
participation rate)
Percent
with a job
(employmentpopulation ratio)
Percent of the
labor force that
is unemployed
(unemployment rate)
50.5%
54.6
45.3
52.1
54.2
56.5
50.2
65.3
45.3
53.4
49.2
55.9
60.4
54.0
58.6
61.0
62.6
48.1
46.1
65.0
53.9
63.2
46.9
50.3
57.1
55.5
67.6
78.4
57.6
78.8
52.7
52.5
46.0
51.8
38.5
54.8
59.8
44.4
52.4
67.8
61.2
67.2
58.9
51.3
69.5
51.1
62.5
53.1
43.9
47.3
51.5
30.2%
43.4
34.4
30.7
37.9
36.3
31.3
26.9
30.2
36.1
27.4
40.4
47.8
35.6
38.8
36.4
48.4
24.9
32.5
35.7
33.2
38.0
21.0
34.4
33.1
36.7
54.6
65.5
38.5
52.7
38.4
42.9
29.9
35.2
27.1
31.5
42.9
29.1
34.5
30.4
37.1
44.3
34.7
41.2
57.8
26.6
37.9
38.1
32.8
35.3
46.8
40.2%
20.5
24.1
41.1
30.0
35.7
37.7
58.8
33.4
32.4
44.4
27.7
20.9
34.0
33.8
40.3
22.6
48.2
29.6
45.1
38.5
40.0
55.3
31.6
42.0
33.9
19.2
16.5
33.1
33.0
27.2
18.4
35.0
32.1
29.6
42.6
28.3
34.6
34.3
55.2
39.4
34.0
41.0
19.6
16.9
—
39.3
28.3
25.4
25.3
—
53.3
35.7
33.0
— Sample too small to calculate a reliable number or rate.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2008 American Community Survey, Table B14005. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
G-13
Many states and local school districts with high poverty rates receive less Title I funding per pupil than
wealthier districts because of an outdated formula for directing funds. Title I, a program meant
to level the playing field, instead fosters inequality.
Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Number of
pupils served,
2003–2004
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Total
allocations,
2008
(in 1,000s)
321,823
24,908
403,842
173,293
3,254,327
144,579
105,477
37,990
70,805
1,033,041
639,088
110,474
44,845
673,508
126,868
66,219
101,481
340,639
390,981
25,953
157,048
274,244
610,029
141,628
317,805
200,139
47,606
55,606
67,558
19,631
304,024
142,218
820,602
414,782
19,894
503,615
288,023
139,168
450,832
33,992
273,558
28,295
337,325
2,869,777
78,837
31,163
181,011
255,733
90,568
180,113
2,758
$ 226,337
47,060
292,505
155,015
1,883,812
147,827
120,892
40,431
48,785
703,197
470,040
46,618
52,499
613,591
261,215
77,472
109,774
223,604
309,163
54,329
198,786
243,726
551,994
133,032
195,828
236,207
46,039
67,513
84,215
40,008
299,771
118,239
1,269,809
379,106
35,285
532,497
155,535
155,357
590,980
55,184
214,862
43,805
249,559
1,406,279
64,928
35,190
235,732
214,539
103,392
206,485
33,545
17,427,723
14,081,595
Percent of
pupils who
are eligible,
2008–2009
13.5%
21.9
22.3
19.6
18.5
13.8
14.6
29.1
12.5
17.0
18.5
11.8
12.5
14.6
17.5
15.9
14.9
20.9
26.3
15.7
11.0
14.8
18.2
11.6
18.8
27.2
17.4
19.4
12.0
13.5
9.8
14.9
23.3
14.3
20.8
17.3
19.8
16.8
17.3
17.9
20.7
15.2
19.7
22.8
10.1
12.9
12.2
14.2
13.9
23.0
11.6
Grant
per eligible
pupil,
2008–2009
$ 2,108
1,344
1,477
1,363
1,310
1,531
1,833
2,082
2,336
1,364
1,586
1,731
1,267
1,225
1,850
1,515
1,574
1,508
1,373
1,847
1,866
1,763
1,727
1,532
1,337
1,318
1,663
1,261
2,822
1,652
2,252
1,769
1,387
1,472
2,034
1,640
1,274
1,342
1,796
1,807
1,356
2,004
1,380
1,352
1,298
1,591
2,885
1,298
1,825
1,423
3,149
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, State ESEA Title I Participation Information for 2003–04
(2007), Table 4; U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics 2008 (March 2009), Table 379;
and Rural School and Community Trust, analysis of data from the Congressional Research Service. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
G-14
Children’s Defense Fund
More than 6.9 million children and youths with disabilities ages birth through 21 receive
special education and related services under IDEA.
Children Receiving Services Under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), by Age, 2007
Part C
Ages 0–2
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Ages 3–5
Ages 6–11
Part B
Ages 12–17
Ages 18–21
Ages 3–21
2,716
620
5,510
2,838
38,530
4,069
4,182
860
271
11,691
5,383
3,856
1,938
17,765
9,014
3,185
3,210
4,237
3,155
996
6,991
15,112
9,388
3,924
1,790
3,450
633
1,361
1,986
1,658
9,389
3,589
29,765
8,237
811
13,118
3,065
2,553
16,029
1,690
3,848
1,132
4,461
24,869
2,989
762
6,023
4,573
2,951
5,597
960
7,111
1,954
14,097
11,795
68,002
10,802
7,660
2,264
567
32,819
18,454
2,477
3,976
36,957
19,530
5,872
9,608
20,591
10,151
3,889
11,752
15,920
24,097
14,286
8,422
15,629
1,971
5,179
5,715
2,523
19,580
6,337
63,040
19,914
1,560
23,137
7,617
8,572
28,145
2,967
10,472
2,683
12,264
37,528
8,023
—
16,845
13,529
5,849
14,867
2,842
33,539
7,827
57,025
24,311
273,987
34,301
26,543
7,942
3,549
159,882
83,152
7,497
11,982
129,220
76,593
26,700
27,036
48,572
38,902
13,795
41,664
66,711
96,472
47,447
27,796
57,862
7,293
20,047
20,372
11,337
105,315
18,187
168,162
84,498
5,721
102,462
40,309
33,605
109,932
11,286
44,438
8,331
51,579
183,620
28,941
—
66,317
54,459
20,720
49,526
5,760
38,936
6,876
54,172
26,938
298,052
33,585
31,386
8,298
5,834
178,372
80,595
9,823
10,915
140,099
73,578
33,156
26,142
36,221
34,677
15,250
46,502
76,275
103,427
50,513
26,247
57,381
8,107
18,295
20,446
15,718
113,232
19,353
198,598
78,231
5,678
126,397
42,834
32,241
139,348
13,366
43,276
6,153
51,002
227,607
23,681
—
76,027
49,706
18,902
56,247
5,025
5,186
878
5,842
2,921
30,863
4,389
3,398
931
913
20,019
7,223
644
1,116
15,392
9,375
3,476
2,926
3,803
4,423
1,491
4,667
7,841
12,580
7,086
3,252
7,420
787
2,166
1,799
2,696
11,972
2,507
23,915
9,025
657
17,746
4,563
3,846
16,440
1,414
5,545
804
6,080
23,994
2,421
—
9,307
6,004
2,384
5,856
627
84,772
17,535
131,136
65,965
670,904
83,077
68,987
19,435
10,863
391,092
189,424
20,441
27,989
321,668
179,076
69,204
65,712
109,187
88,153
34,425
104,585
166,747
236,576
119,332
65,717
138,292
18,158
45,687
48,332
32,274
250,099
46,384
453,715
191,668
13,616
269,742
95,323
78,264
293,865
29,033
103,731
17,971
120,925
472,749
63,066
—
168,496
123,698
47,855
126,496
14,254
316,730
699,841
2,682,524
2,892,720
330,610
6,605,695
— Data not available.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, Data Analysis System (DANS), Tables AR 1-1
<https://www.ideadata.org/TABLES31ST/AR_1-1.xls> and AR 8-1 <https://www.ideadata.org/TABLES31ST/AR_8-1.xls>. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
G-15
Black students are far more likely than other students to be enrolled in special education classes for
children with mental retardation and emotional disturbances. American Indian/Alaska Native and
Black students are more likely to be enrolled in classes for students with learning disabilities.
Enrollment in Classes for Students with Mental Retardation, by Race, 2006
2.0
1.9%
1.5
Percent
1.1%
1.0%
1.0
0.9%
0.8%
0.6%
0.5
0
Total,
All Races
Black
American Indian,
Alaska Native
White
Hispanic
Asian,
Pacific Islander
Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 2006 Civil Rights Data Collection, projections.
Calculations by Children's Defense Fund.
Enrollment in Classes for Students with Emotional Disturbances, by Race, 2006
1.5
1.4%
1.1%
1.0
0.9%
Percent
0.8%
0.5%
0.5
0.2%
0
Total,
All Races
Black
American Indian,
Alaska Native
White
Hispanic
Asian,
Pacific Islander
Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 2006 Civil Rights Data Collection, projections.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
Enrollment in Classes for Students with Learning Disabilities, by Race, 2006
7.0%
7
6.3%
6
5.4%
5.3%
5.5%
Percent
5
4
3
1.9%
2
1
0
Total,
All Races
Black
American Indian,
Alaska Native
White
Hispanic
Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 2006 Civil Rights Data Collection, projections.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
G-16
Children’s Defense Fund
Asian,
Pacific Islander
In all but seven of 44 states, Black students are overrepresented in programs for students
with mental retardation, often by a ratio of 2:1 or greater. American Indian/
Alaska Native students also are overrepresented in these classes.
Enrollment in Classes for Students with Mental Retardation,* 2006
Percent Enrolled
Total,
all
races
American Indian,
Alaska
Native
Asian,
Pacific
Islander
Hispanic
Black
White
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
1.051%
0.433
0.867
1.777
0.748
0.440
0.445
1.764
0.597
1.241
1.437
0.841
0.667
1.150
1.846
1.213
0.914
2.506
1.281
0.437
0.626
1.547
1.593
1.044
0.864
1.182
0.771
1.622
0.456
0.436
0.499
0.546
0.526
1.578
1.084
1.674
1.112
0.745
1.272
0.711
1.442
0.877
0.757
0.692
0.626
1.008
0.878
0.524
2.864
1.235
0.610
0.649%
0.741
1.252
1.064
0.864
0.613
—
—
—
0.944
—
—
0.742
—
2.058
1.313
0.753
—
0.951
—
—
1.195
1.445
1.715
—
—
1.187
2.789
0.612
—
—
0.630
0.646
2.868
1.919
1.712
1.050
1.098
—
—
—
1.568
—
0.735
0.654
—
0.717
0.973
—
1.651
—
—
—
0.511%
0.518
0.842
0.229
0.240
—
—
0.602
0.502
0.919
—
0.489
0.497
0.646
0.390
0.505
0.313
—
—
0.793
0.686
0.733
—
0.498
—
0.871
0.390
—
0.235
—
0.274
0.499
—
0.371
0.392
0.490
0.414
0.649
0.501
—
0.245
0.424
0.399
—
0.491
0.330
—
0.995
—
0.378%
—
0.961
1.046
0.734
0.563
0.497
1.390
—
0.895
0.863
0.732
0.764
0.866
1.350
1.292
0.749
0.933
0.429
—
0.620
3.832
1.294
1.067
0.335
0.745
0.996
1.701
0.435
0.634
0.648
0.566
0.574
0.891
—
1.932
0.792
0.607
1.516
1.289
0.493
1.489
0.355
0.598
0.667
—
0.657
0.590
1.596
1.193
0.674
1.530%
—
1.447
3.399
1.135
0.888
0.703
2.953
0.664
2.358
2.201
—
—
2.329
3.891
2.081
2.070
3.517
1.881
—
0.943
5.483
3.159
1.858
1.211
2.145
—
2.615
0.742
—
0.921
0.816
0.876
2.978
1.720
3.233
2.117
1.433
2.127
1.169
2.324
1.333
0.823
1.299
1.013
1.926
1.565
0.789
3.155
2.529
—
0.822%
0.324
0.688
1.387
0.629
0.352
0.394
1.205
—
0.897
0.973
0.516
0.650
0.835
1.595
1.167
0.832
2.441
0.819
0.434
0.418
0.793
1.254
0.963
0.508
1.002
0.693
1.504
0.406
0.430
0.348
0.464
0.415
0.925
0.974
1.358
1.023
0.750
1.101
0.526
0.866
0.751
0.770
0.597
0.621
1.000
0.613
0.494
2.877
1.067
0.602
United States
1.027
1.107
0.599
0.768
1.919
0.885
* According to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD): “Intellectual disability is the currently preferred term for
the disability historically referred to as mental retardation.” Frequently Asked Questions on Intellectual Disability and the AAIDD Definition, at
<http://www.aamr.org/Policies/faq_intellectual_disability.shtml>; accessed November 2008.
— Number too small to calculate a stable rate.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 2006 Civil Rights Data Collection, projections. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
G-17
Black children are more than three times as likely as Hispanic children and more than
seven times as likely as Asian/Pacific Islander children to be in classes for
students with emotional disturbances.
Enrollment in Classes for Students with Emotional Disturbances, 2006
Percent Enrolled
Total,
all
races
American Indian,
Alaska
Native
Asian,
Pacific
Islander
Hispanic
Black
White
0.221%
0.372
0.994
0.194
0.514
0.964
0.695
0.667
—
1.083
1.306
1.392
0.560
1.058
1.288
0.799
0.749
0.769
0.314
1.368
0.630
0.976
1.091
1.729
0.341
0.779
0.661
0.668
0.674
1.211
0.614
0.810
0.889
0.557
0.977
0.777
0.903
0.868
1.036
1.113
0.534
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
0.215%
0.404
0.731
0.174
0.325
0.910
0.794
0.709
0.559
1.111
1.354
1.118
0.506
1.101
1.317
0.855
0.733
0.883
0.437
1.361
0.749
1.137
1.121
1.993
0.302
0.872
0.679
0.734
0.484
1.163
0.694
0.685
1.288
0.770
1.044
0.931
0.809
0.790
1.183
1.207
0.698
1.055
0.316
0.747
0.507
1.956
0.795
0.448
0.760
1.732
1.011
—
0.510%
0.640
—
0.858
1.785
1.555
—
—
0.982
—
—
—
0.772
1.272
—
0.956
—
—
—
—
1.608
1.280
5.677
—
—
0.809
2.411
0.627
—
—
0.742
1.970
1.204
1.526
—
0.671
1.254
—
3.264
—
—
—
1.053
0.863
—
1.052
0.821
—
5.691
2.308
—
0.151%
0.216
—
0.091
0.259
0.160
—
—
0.091
0.183
1.051
—
0.247
0.219
—
—
—
—
—
0.082
0.347
0.213
0.410
—
—
—
—
0.140
0.133
0.117
—
0.191
—
—
0.113
—
0.204
0.201
—
—
—
—
0.150
0.209
—
0.167
0.119
—
0.325
—
0.085%
0.202
0.382
0.068
0.174
0.637
0.992
0.397
—
0.600
0.358
1.299
0.193
0.542
0.396
0.603
0.319
0.277
—
—
0.556
1.569
0.673
1.451
—
0.332
—
0.319
0.164
0.580
0.557
0.587
1.384
0.168
—
0.855
0.241
0.365
1.036
1.195
0.168
1.291
0.082
0.484
0.391
—
0.454
0.215
—
0.995
0.895
0.226%
0.773
1.568
0.162
0.809
1.804
1.238
0.917
0.624
1.805
1.721
1.268
—
1.888
2.122
2.324
1.318
1.933
0.607
1.595
1.039
2.432
1.482
5.084
0.271
1.468
—
1.825
0.969
0.936
1.341
1.147
2.692
1.367
2.241
1.742
1.111
1.683
2.059
2.148
0.987
0.590
0.293
1.183
1.520
1.926
1.126
1.050
1.689
2.844
2.550
0.342
0.967
0.515
1.994
0.737
0.471
0.719
1.632
0.962
United States
0.845
1.114
0.203
0.460
1.426
0.857
— Number too small to calculate a stable rate.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 2006 Civil Rights Data Collection, projections.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
G-18
Children’s Defense Fund
About 1 in 20 public school students is in a class for students with learning disabilities.
Enrollment in Classes for Students with Learning Disabilities, 2006
Percent Enrolled
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Total,
all
races
5.357%
3.692
5.434
4.779
4.613
3.898
3.719
8.007
1.393
6.484
3.334
5.046
4.199
6.674
6.122
7.848
5.659
2.309
4.097
5.420
3.887
6.684
5.502
3.969
5.477
5.118
5.831
5.449
6.116
6.629
6.899
6.001
6.148
4.343
5.313
5.516
7.326
5.102
7.905
7.397
6.487
5.370
4.245
5.068
5.429
4.725
5.039
4.474
5.848
4.847
5.357
United States
5.353
American Indian,
Alaska
Native
4.113%
5.844
9.013
4.836
5.868
5.662
4.566
—
—
6.524
2.946
5.443
8.558
6.857
6.063
8.792
6.994
—
4.757
6.506
3.745
7.127
7.563
6.405
6.250
4.287
8.102
8.249
10.851
6.346
5.592
7.237
7.700
4.805
8.934
6.550
7.163
7.522
6.245
11.474
5.701
9.508
3.610
5.225
10.114
—
5.760
7.476
10.582
7.671
9.116
Asian,
Pacific
Islander
1.228%
1.105
1.662
1.323
1.473
1.449
0.988
2.024
—
1.885
1.088
5.032
1.474
1.919
1.594
3.288
2.631
0.488
0.637
2.138
0.992
2.446
1.409
2.969
1.017
1.514
2.640
2.462
2.291
1.836
1.686
3.098
1.854
1.786
—
1.564
2.214
1.619
2.121
3.435
1.645
3.071
0.952
1.213
2.948
—
2.193
2.337
—
3.317
—
Hispanic
3.724%
2.381
5.719
3.775
5.064
4.579
4.419
8.576
1.780
6.458
3.384
6.424
4.760
6.431
4.487
7.166
5.168
1.872
2.173
3.992
5.307
7.574
6.073
5.594
2.594
3.431
6.006
4.978
5.704
7.030
7.392
6.105
6.598
4.216
6.475
5.716
5.950
4.965
9.345
9.273
4.176
5.564
2.477
5.230
7.281
—
6.231
5.727
6.166
4.688
6.732
Black
7.135%
2.254
6.588
5.441
7.901
5.267
4.479
10.556
1.369
6.605
3.329
5.381
4.835
7.850
6.515
10.378
7.296
2.101
5.383
4.531
4.237
7.509
6.371
5.793
6.558
6.120
6.114
5.413
9.419
5.047
8.962
7.816
7.432
4.733
4.846
5.786
9.684
6.342
9.410
8.637
7.173
4.998
3.302
6.910
7.658
3.970
5.964
6.739
6.497
6.366
5.873
6.995
1.906
5.503
6.322
White
4.484%
3.182
4.820
4.765
4.239
3.570
3.571
6.752
1.040
6.663
3.468
4.765
4.067
6.638
6.283
7.843
5.632
2.367
3.121
5.505
3.692
6.756
5.374
3.675
4.466
5.053
5.516
5.545
6.110
6.757
6.770
5.350
6.068
4.234
4.970
5.529
7.322
5.242
7.692
6.958
6.271
4.811
4.744
4.469
5.092
4.793
4.690
4.170
5.843
4.670
5.133
5.261
— Number too small to calculate a stable rate
Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 2006 Civil Rights Data Collection, projections. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
G-19
Black, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native children are less likely than Asian/Pacific
Islander or White students to be in gifted and talented programs.
Enrollment in Programs for the Gifted and Talented, 2006
Percent Enrolled
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Total,
all races
American Indian,
Alaska
Native
Asian,
Pacific
Islander
Hispanic
Black
5.469%
4.109
6.319
9.548
8.279
6.835
3.793
5.616
—
4.747
9.269
6.240
4.194
5.839
7.888
8.204
3.022
14.605
3.361
3.221
16.083
0.682
3.422
8.763
6.112
3.553
5.161
11.404
1.935
2.572
6.978
3.979
2.903
10.757
2.818
7.288
13.694
6.938
4.518
1.412
10.987
2.666
1.687
7.563
5.018
0.846
12.615
3.872
2.200
6.423
2.157
6.147%
1.090
3.688
8.181
5.845
4.337
4.315
3.665
—
5.008
9.594
4.797
0.989
5.132
3.930
2.919
1.796
7.172
2.657
3.112
12.580
0.543
1.203
4.612
3.693
2.391
2.115
3.120
1.090
2.058
4.762
2.070
1.522
6.205
3.333
5.437
11.845
3.900
1.894
0.297
8.159
1.421
1.366
7.093
2.657
0.000
13.289
1.393
2.910
3.172
0.978
10.221%
4.961
14.232
10.311
16.067
10.408
7.328
13.155
—
9.303
19.277
5.785
6.095
13.314
14.128
12.204
5.394
21.305
11.747
5.616
37.771
1.674
8.065
16.486
13.450
9.097
8.226
18.197
3.078
5.934
13.855
12.035
5.541
17.275
5.432
14.024
21.454
11.121
9.727
2.262
19.287
4.232
4.204
15.961
11.990
1.350
26.392
5.770
10.934
6.113
6.719
2.923%
2.536
3.545
5.763
4.784
3.785
1.790
3.539
—
4.410
3.112
3.935
1.328
3.122
3.895
3.149
0.830
5.739
3.285
2.252
14.667
0.474
1.381
5.398
4.528
1.330
3.871
3.947
0.796
0.852
3.453
2.426
1.475
3.150
1.373
3.274
6.762
1.967
1.712
0.969
4.614
0.666
0.606
5.468
4.137
1.333
7.456
1.690
0.943
3.528
0.920
2.776%
2.544
3.431
7.279
4.259
4.963
2.309
3.630
—
1.964
4.080
2.942
2.024
4.152
4.098
3.853
0.960
6.959
1.562
1.106
6.960
0.718
1.863
6.678
2.900
1.452
2.249
4.811
0.860
1.077
3.493
2.814
2.433
4.261
1.720
4.713
7.419
3.453
2.394
1.237
5.074
0.916
0.676
4.354
4.589
0.467
5.174
1.446
1.598
3.686
2.009
6.675
5.225
13.051
4.184
3.564
White
7.091%
5.769
9.056
10.703
11.903
8.205
4.308
6.759
—
6.087
14.056
9.742
4.716
6.983
8.675
8.771
3.569
15.792
4.758
3.251
21.107
0.640
3.801
8.773
9.599
4.013
5.663
13.268
2.953
2.588
8.413
7.144
3.287
15.447
2.789
7.843
16.221
7.982
4.981
1.504
15.945
2.924
2.047
10.817
4.948
0.843
15.616
4.392
2.174
7.133
2.265
8.009
— Data not reported.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 2006 Civil Rights Data Collection, projections. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
G-20
Children’s Defense Fund
Only three-fifths of U.S. high school math teachers majored in math.
High School Teachers with Undergraduate Major
in Subject Matter Taught, 2003–2004
Teaching Field
Percent with Undergraduate
Major in Field
Arts, music
English, language arts
Foreign languages
Health, physical education
Math
Natural sciences
Social sciences
87.7%
71.0
65.3
85.6
61.3
77.5
71.4
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics 2008 (March 2009), Table 70.
Teacher Quality in High Poverty Schools
High poverty and majority minority schools—the schools most in need of good teachers—are
routinely assigned the most ineffective and poorly prepared teachers.
• Schools with the fewest poor children are most likely to have teachers with
advanced degrees.
• Schools with more poor children tend to have less experienced teachers.
• A study of teachers in North Carolina found that teachers in the poorest schools
were less experienced, less well prepared and less likely to have a regular teaching
license or board certification than teachers in low-poverty schools.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Characteristics of Public, Private, and Bureau of Indian
Education Elementary and Secondary School Teachers in the United States: Results From the 2007–08 Schools and Staffing Survey, First
Look (June 2009), Tables 4 and 5; and Charles Clotfelter, Helen F. Ladd, Jacob Vigdor and Justin Wheeler, High-Poverty Schools and the
Distribution of Teachers and Principals, National Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research, Working Paper 1 (March
2007).
State of America’s Children® 2010
G-21
State Overview of Education Data
States
States where more
than 68% of
4th grade public
school students
are reading below
grade level
(G-7)
States where
more than 62% of
4th grade public
school students
are doing math
below grade level
(G-7)
X
X
X
X
X
X
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
G-22
Children’s Defense Fund
States where
more than 70%
of 8th grade
public school
students are
reading below
grade level
(G-8)
States where more
than 67% of 8th
grade public school
students are doing
math below
grade level
States where more
than 30% of 9th
graders do not
graduate within
4 years with a
regular diploma
(G-8)
(G-9)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
States with
per pupil
expenditures
below the
national
average
States spending
at least three
times as much
per prisoner as
per public
school pupil
States with
more than 7
suspensions per
100 public
school students
States where
Black students
are more than 3
times as likely as
White students
to be suspended
States where
the dropout
rate is more
than 6.3%
States where
Black students
are overrepresented
in programs for
students with
mental retardation
by a ratio of 2:1
or greater
(G-9)
(G-10)
(G-11)
(G-11)
(G-13)
(G-17)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
(G-18)
X
X
X
X
X
States where
Black students are
overrepresented
in classes for
students with
emotional disturbance by a ratio
of 2:1 or greater
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
States
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
State of America’s Children® 2010
G-23
Other Vulnerable Children
and Youths
C
hildren who are born poor, at low birthweight and without health coverage, and those who start
school not ready to learn, fall behind and drop out, and may be abused or neglected and grow up
in foster care are more likely to end up in the juvenile justice system. Other youths escape “the system”
but cannot find work and struggle day to day. They all face multiple risks that jeopardize their futures.
Lacking a caring adult in their lives and crucial emotional support, these vulnerable youths are the ones
most likely to get pulled into the cradle to prison pipeline. Searching for acceptance without positive
role models or mentors, they often turn to gangs or the street corner, trapped in a trajectory that leads
to marginalized lives, imprisonment and often premature death.
• A child is abused or neglected every 41 seconds; 71 percent of them are victims of
neglect. Infants are the most likely to suffer from maltreatment. Almost 40 percent
of child victims receive no post-investigation services and many more receive far less
than they need.
• 1,200 children enter foster care each day remaining there on average more than two
years. Thirty-one percent of the children in foster care are Black, double the percent
of all children who are Black.
• After a 25 percent decrease in the number of homeless children and teens in public
school in the 2006–2007 school year, the number increased 17 percent in 2007.
• The unemployment rate for teens 16–19 in 2008 was more than three times the
national unemployment rate, and almost two times the national rate for 20–24-yearolds. The rate increased in 2009 by about one-third for teens to 24.3 percent and
more than 40 percent for those ages 20–24 to 14.7 percent.
• Black children are seven times as likely as White children to have a parent in prison.
• At ages 10–17, a Black youth is five times as likely as a White youth to be arrested
for a violent crime.
• Nationally, Black youths are more than four times as likely as White youths to be
detained in a juvenile correctional facility. About two-thirds are detained for a
non-violent offense.
• While White, Black and Hispanic teens are about equally likely to use drugs, Blacks
are twice as likely as Whites to be arrested for drug offenses and more than five times
as likely to be in secure residential placement for these offenses.
State of America’s Children® 2010
H-1
Who Are the Children Who Are Abused and Neglected?
• Infants are the most likely to be victims of abuse and neglect. Nearly one-third of all victims are
younger than age four.
• 71.3 percent are victims of neglect; 2.1 percent of medical neglect; 16.1 percent of physical abuse;
9.2 percent of sexual abuse; 6.8 percent of psychological abuse, and 9.3 percent are victims of
other or unknown types of maltreatment.
• Nearly half of all abused and neglected children are White; one-sixth are African American;
and one-fifth are Hispanic.
• Boys and girls are almost equally likely to be victims of abuse or neglect, with girls just slightly
more likely.
• Close to 40 percent of child victims receive no services after the investigation.
• Three-quarters of child victims have no history of prior victimization.
• More than half of the child victims are reported to child protection agencies by teachers,
police officers and other professionals.
• Approximately one in five child victims in 2008 was maltreated by someone other than his/her parents.
More than half of the known non-parental perpetrators were either another male relative or a male
partner of the parent.
Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Child Maltreatment: 2008
(April 2009). Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
H-2
Children’s Defense Fund
A child is abused or neglected every 41 seconds; seven out of ten are victims of neglect.
Children under the age of four are the most likely victims of maltreatment.
Child Maltreatment, 2008
Type of maltreatment** (percent distribution)
Victims of
maltreatment
Number
Rate*
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Neglect
Medical
neglect
Physical
abuse
Sexual
abuse
Psychological
maltreatment
Other,
unknown,
or missing
25.0%
3.7
8.4
24.6
7.3
9.2
4.5
8.8
4.3
4.6
4.4
6.0
4.6
15.9
17.5
4.8
31.8
4.1
7.3
8.3
n/r
2.3
4.1
16.1
14.0
27.6
6.2
8.5
4.9
12.5
9.3
3.9
3.3
8.0
7.7
17.5
6.3
9.8
61.7
5.2
5.4
5.2
31.2
9.3
17.1
48.4
16.4
7.3
5.3
28.4
10.6
0.4%
18.3
0.8
1.0
16.0
3.5
24.2
26.0
1.8
1.1
16.7
1.1
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.7
10.1
0.4
0.7
30.2
n/r
0.1
10.5
0.9
10.1
4.9
22.8
1.6
11.2
1.1
0.2
14.7
0.6
0.4
32.3
5.4
15.6
1.8
1.1
0.1
1.0
1.9
1.0
0.9
39.2
1.2
1.1
0.0
20.7
0.6
8.9
—
—
—
0.1%
0.1
4.9
—
9.1
27.8
51.9
0.2
91.5
6.5
—
—
5.4
22.2
—
0.4
—
n/r
0.0
18.7
—
0.4
1.3
0.2
—
—
—
—
0.0
25.8
1.4
—
—
—
56.9
—
1.1
0.3
—
—
—
20.6
—
0.1
—
10.3
4.7
2.7
9.2
6.8
9.3
9,217
4,522
3,516
9,289
84,848
11,247
9,641
2,278
2,645
51,271
26,330
1,902
1,836
29,788
21,846
11,200
1,685
18,252
10,173
4,033
n/r
41,596
29,643
5,824
7,976
5,528
1,625
4,668
4,877
1,129
9,089
5,656
84,089
24,618
1,285
36,106
11,169
11,042
4,055
3,082
12,549
1,394
11,586
70,976
13,179
677
5,912
6,738
6,077
5,787
729
8.2
25.1
2.1
13.2
9.1
9.3
11.9
11.0
23.6
12.8
10.3
6.7
4.4
9.4
13.8
15.7
2.4
18.1
9.2
14.7
n/r
29.1
12.4
4.6
10.4
3.9
7.4
10.4
7.3
3.8
4.4
11.3
19.1
11.0
9.0
13.2
12.3
12.7
1.5
13.5
11.8
7.0
7.8
10.6
15.5
5.3
3.2
4.4
15.7
4.4
5.7
39.8%
73.4
67.2
57.7
74.2
71.2
78.4
42.1
69.8
49.4
71.4
14.8
73.7
68.3
79.0
79.1
22.2
87.9
77.5
68.9
n/r
92.4
82.3
71.7
59.4
52.6
70.3
85.0
80.0
76.4
72.3
76.8
91.8
79.0
91.7
46.1
83.4
36.9
3.9
87.4
71.2
87.3
49.2
77.7
20.1
4.1
59.5
77.7
54.8
49.0
74.1
—
2.5%
—
8.0
—
1.7
3.8
1.1
6.2
1.9
4.8
1.6
0.9
2.2
2.2
1.0
2.0
—
—
—
n/r
—
2.8
1.1
3.8
—
1.4
—
2.1
3.7
2.3
2.8
5.1
1.9
—
0.9
2.9
1.7
3.1
1.5
3.6
—
2.6
3.1
0.3
2.7
2.8
—
1.4
2.0
1.6
42.8%
12.3
27.4
16.8
11.1
14.6
6.4
18.0
12.1
9.7
11.7
11.9
19.1
19.8
12.2
13.7
19.5
10.3
26.4
16.6
n/r
12.6
19.6
17.7
18.2
29.1
12.9
11.4
19.2
13.8
19.4
14.3
10.1
9.4
15.2
31.6
16.9
9.2
31.5
9.9
31.9
10.3
23.8
20.7
12.9
46.1
27.6
20.7
24.2
19.3
6.3
744,180
10.3
71.3
2.1
16.1
* May add to more than 100 percent in a state because some children experience more than one type of maltreatment.
** Number of victims per 1,000 children.
Note: Because of differences in definitions of child abuse and neglect, comparisons of data between states should not be made.
— category not reported by state.
n/r — no data reported by state.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Children’s
Bureau, Child Maltreatment 2008 (April 2010), Tables 3–4 and 3–10. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
H-3
About 37 percent of the children abused or neglected in 2008 received no services
following the investigation of their maltreatment.
National Estimates of Children Served
Following an Investigation of Child Abuse or Neglect
Year
All child
victims
Served
Number
Percent
Served
in home
Number Percent
Removed to
foster care
Number Percent
Not served
Number Percent
2002
910,000
535,000
58.8%
363,000
39.9%
172,000
18.9%
375,000
41.2%
2003
905,000
525,000
58.0
358,000
39.6
167,000
18.5
380,000
42.0
2004
892,000
528,000
59.2
359,000
40.2
170,000
19.0
364,000
40.8
2005
900,000
542,000
60.2
346,000
38.4
196,000
21.8
358,000
39.8
2006
905,000
533,000
58.9
338,000
37.4
195,000
21.5
372,000
41.1
2007
794,000
497,000
62.6
333,000
41.9
164,000
20.7
297,000
37.4
2008
772,000
489,000
63.3
327,000
42.4
161,000
20.9
283,000
36.7
Source: U.S. Congress, Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, “The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA): Background,
Programs, and Funding” (November 4, 2009), Table D-1; and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and
Families, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Children’s Bureau, Child Maltreatment 2008 (April 2010), pp. xiii-xiv. Calculations by
Children’s Defense Fund.
H-4
Children’s Defense Fund
Black children account for only 15 percent of the child population but 31 percent of
children in foster care. About two-thirds of the children who leave foster care exit to
a family member; fewer than 20 percent are adopted.
Who’s in Foster Care
Number of Children in Foster Care: 463,000
Percent in foster care
2008
Percent in
U.S. child population
2008
Race and ethnicity
White, non-Hispanic
Black
Latino
American Indian,
Alaska Native
Asian
Other and unknown
40%
31
20
56%
15
22
2
1
7
1
4
3
Age
Under age 1
1-5 years
6-10 years
11-15 years
16-18 years
19 + years
6
29
20
25
20
2
Type of placement
Non-relative foster home
Relative foster home
Institution
Group home
Pre-adoptive home
Trial home visit
Runaway
Supervised independent living
47
24
10
6
4
5
2
1
Exit from foster care during year
Reunification
Living with relative
Adoption
Emancipation
Guardianship
Transfer to another agency
Runaway
52
8
19
10
7
2
2
Note: Race/ethnicity, age, and placement are estimates of children in foster care on September 30, 2008; exit data reflect
outcomes for children exiting foster care during FY 2008.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau,
“The AFCARS Report: Preliminary FY 2008 Estimates as of October,” at <http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/
afcars/tar/report16.pdf>. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
H-5
The number of children in foster care has declined each year since 2005. More than half of
the children in foster care live in just nine states.*
Children in Foster Care, 2004–2008
Number in foster care on September 30 of each year
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California*
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida*
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois*
Indiana*
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan*
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York*
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio*
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania*
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas*
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
5,934
1,825
9,194
3,124
82,641
8,196
6,459
849
2,641
28,864
14,216
2,939
1,565
19,931
9,778
5,384
6,060
6,998
4,397
2,589
11,111
12,562
21,173
6,540
2,989
11,778
2,030
6,292
4,037
1,236
12,282
2,157
33,445
10,077
1,314
18,004
11,821
10,048
21,944
2,414
4,635
1,582
9,590
24,529
2,108
1,432
6,869
9,368
3,990
7,812
1,184
6,913
1,660
9,685
3,238
80,247
8,213
6,249
962
2,519
29,312
13,965
2,743
1,818
19,419
11,243
6,794
5,833
7,220
4,833
2,339
10,867
12,197
20,498
6,989
3,269
11,433
2,222
6,231
4,656
1,178
11,205
2,316
30,458
10,698
1,370
17,446
11,334
11,020
21,691
2,509
4,757
1,704
9,017
28,883
2,285
1,436
7,022
10,068
4,629
8,076
1,244
7,157
1,919
9,767
3,434
76,405
8,139
6,359
1,074
2,378
29,229
13,175
2,357
1,850
18,815
11,401
9,040
6,237
7,606
5,213
2,076
9,051
11,499
20,142
6,827
3,126
10,181
1,909
6,187
5,068
1,146
10,740
2,357
29,973
11,115
1,331
16,631
11,736
10,661
21,135
2,998
4,920
1,648
8,618
30,848
2,427
1,379
7,672
10,457
4,018
7,459
1,304
7,263
2,107
9,569
3,616
73,998
7,777
5,764
1,157
2,197
26,788
12,197
1,940
1,870
17,873
11,372
8,240
6,631
7,017
5,333
1,970
8,505
10,497
20,830
6,711
3,328
9,813
1,737
5,875
5,070
1,084
9,056
2,423
30,072
10,827
1,263
17,016
11,785
9,562
20,858
2,768
5,147
1,566
7,751
30,137
2,739
1,309
7,465
11,107
4,432
7,541
1,231
7,031
2,168
10,425
3,522
67,323
7,921
5,378
938
2,217
22,187
9,984
1,591
1,723
17,859
12,386
6,893
6,306
7,288
5,065
1,875
7,749
10,427
20,228
6,020
3,292
9,606
1,600
5,591
5,018
1,026
8,831
2,221
29,493
9,841
1,240
16,859
10,595
8,988
19,407
2,407
4,999
1,482
7,219
28,148
2,602
1,200
6,743
11,133
4,412
7,403
1,154
499,937
503,913
498,194
484,184
457,014
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau, “Foster Care FY 2002 – FY 2008:
Entries, Exits, and Numbers of Children in Care on the Last Day of Each Federal Fiscal Year,” at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/
statistics/entryexit2008.htm. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
H-6
Children’s Defense Fund
One-third of the children in foster care are five or younger; one-third are 14 or older.
Children who enter care at younger ages stay longer.
Children in Foster Care, by Age, 2007
Number of
children
in foster care
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Dist. of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
7,263
2,191
9,569
3,616
76,129
7,777
5,784
1,157
2,197
26,363
12,236
1,940
1,870
17,875
11,372
8,240
6,631
7,555
5,333
1,970
9,973
10,497
20,830
6,756
3,328
9,846
1,737
5,875
5,067
1,084
9,011
2,423
30,072
10,827
1,263
17,016
11,783
9,562
20,858
2,722
5,127
1,566
7,751
30,137
2,739
1,309
7,480
11,107
4,410
7,446
1,231
487,901
Percent distribution by age
Under 1
1–2
3–5
6–9
10–13
14–17
18–20
5.9%
4.6
7.3
6.5
5.6
5.6
4.9
5.4
2.4
8.0
6.7
5.9
7.0
4.4
6.3
4.7
5.6
6.0
6.7
5.7
3.3
5.3
5.5
5.8
6.6
5.6
5.6
4.0
9.1
3.3
8.8
5.7
3.8
6.4
6.0
7.3
7.7
6.0
5.3
5.6
6.5
5.9
4.9
7.6
6.3
3.9
3.5
8.1
5.5
5.5
2.8
11.1%
14.6
16.4
14.8
11.8
10.7
11.6
11.1
7.1
17.7
15.3
13.6
17.0
12.6
14.5
12.9
13.0
11.5
15.7
13.9
9.4
10.1
12.6
10.8
12.4
12.2
15.5
11.4
19.0
11.9
17.2
17.1
10.1
15.1
9.2
12.7
17.5
15.6
11.5
10.5
14.0
15.8
10.9
17.0
10.4
7.9
9.2
18.6
12.5
12.5
9.8
13.3%
17.7
15.9
18.0
13.1
10.9
11.7
12.7
9.1
18.2
16.2
16.3
18.7
15.7
17.2
14.1
14.8
12.0
18.3
14.4
11.0
11.6
14.3
12.6
16.5
13.8
18.5
13.5
19.6
11.5
15.4
19.3
12.7
15.9
12.5
13.4
22.4
18.1
13.0
10.1
15.2
17.6
11.5
18.8
11.7
9.7
11.9
18.7
13.3
15.1
13.9
15.6%
22.9
17.1
16.8
15.2
12.5
14.0
13.7
11.3
18.3
18.2
17.3
19.8
15.7
18.0
14.1
16.2
13.3
16.7
14.8
13.3
13.2
15.4
11.6
18.9
16.0
18.9
15.3
19.3
15.3
16.0
22.0
15.0
17.8
16.1
13.7
20.6
19.2
13.5
12.9
16.2
20.2
13.1
19.6
12.6
11.2
14.5
18.7
14.4
15.4
13.6
16.4%
17.5
14.2
16.8
17.8
13.6
17.2
16.8
16.2
15.4
15.9
19.5
15.7
14.0
16.3
14.2
16.5
14.5
16.1
16.2
16.4
17.3
15.1
15.2
16.0
15.5
16.5
14.1
15.5
16.9
16.4
16.3
15.3
15.8
15.3
14.6
14.6
16.5
15.2
14.6
16.3
17.4
13.3
16.3
15.7
14.5
16.4
15.6
14.3
16.0
14.5
28.6%
19.4
24.3
26.9
32.4
35.6
40.0
37.1
31.5
22.2
27.6
27.0
21.9
20.9
24.2
38.5
33.0
37.2
26.5
34.6
30.9
42.4
31.3
43.1
24.9
28.6
23.8
35.7
17.2
34.4
25.8
19.6
31.1
26.5
39.0
32.2
17.0
20.4
35.2
36.0
31.7
22.3
43.4
20.7
37.4
48.3
42.6
19.3
35.7
33.2
41.5
9.1%
3.3
4.8
0.3
4.1
10.9
0.6
3.2
22.3
0.2
0.1
0.5
0.0
14.9
3.2
1.5
0.9
5.4
0.0
0.3
15.4
0.1
5.8
0.8
4.6
8.2
1.2
6.1
0.3
6.4
0.5
0.1
11.8
2.4
2.0
5.1
0.2
4.1
6.2
10.1
0.0
0.8
2.9
0.0
6.0
4.5
1.9
0.9
4.2
2.2
3.2
5.9
13.2
14.8
16.0
16.0
29.6
4.4
Source: U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, 2008 Green Book, Tables 11-67 and 11-68, at
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/s11cw.pdf.
State of America’s Children® 2010
H-7
Children in foster care are disproportionately Black. Black children account for half or
more of the children in foster care in Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi,
New Jersey and the District of Columbia.
Children in Foster Care, by Race/Ethnicity, 2007
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Dist. of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Percent distribution by race/ ethnicity
Native
American
Hawaiian,
Indian,
Other
Two
Alaska
Pacific or more
Hispanic
Native
Asian
Islander
races Unknown
Number of
children
in foster care
White
7,263
2,191
9,569
3,616
76,129
7,777
5,784
1,157
2,197
26,363
12,236
1,940
1,870
17,875
11,372
8,240
6,631
7,555
5,333
1,970
9,973
10,497
20,830
6,756
3,328
9,846
1,737
5,875
5,067
1,084
9,011
2,423
30,072
10,827
1,263
17,016
11,783
9,562
20,858
2,722
5,127
1,566
7,751
30,137
2,739
1,309
7,480
11,107
4,410
7,446
1,231
49.7%
26.1
42.0
57.0
21.8
45.4
31.9
31.8
0.6
46.7
42.7
11.3
71.8
30.7
57.1
67.8
66.7
71.1
47.3
84.9
22.3
48.3
42.0
45.4
44.1
64.6
52.4
60.2
44.6
80.0
25.7
26.2
17.7
45.6
56.7
52.8
38.2
58.5
39.7
47.6
44.6
30.1
61.4
30.5
62.9
94.0
44.6
53.2
85.9
43.7
76.7
44.9%
5.5
8.3
29.3
24.0
12.8
29.3
57.2
89.3
38.7
47.5
0.8
1.2
60.9
29.4
14.5
19.6
18.1
48.7
2.3
73.1
16.0
47.5
21.6
51.2
30.3
0.7
16.5
23.8
4.1
50.5
3.7
46.2
39.9
2.4
39.4
16.3
2.2
46.0
19.3
45.2
3.3
29.3
23.5
4.1
3.2
41.0
9.9
5.6
37.0
3.0
3.1%
4.3
40.0
5.2
47.0
36.6
32.0
9.1
4.6
11.4
5.7
4.2
16.2
6.1
7.3
6.5
8.0
3.4
1.4
3.3
2.2
26.0
4.7
8.2
1.9
2.9
5.6
9.8
22.8
6.2
7.2
57.7
20.8
7.9
6.4
3.0
14.7
9.9
8.7
23.2
3.9
6.4
4.2
40.6
24.0
1.0
7.1
15.7
1.7
8.3
12.2
39.9
31.1
19.7
487,901
Black
0.2%
53.8
2.9
0.2
0.8
0.9
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.2
5.6
0.2
0.1
1.9
0.7
0.1
0.2
1.1
0.3
0.1
1.0
12.6
0.0
0.6
33.8
8.9
0.6
0.1
0.1
8.0
0.2
1.4
25.3
0.1
8.9
3.8
0.2
1.1
0.1
52.7
0.1
0.1
4.3
0.0
0.1
8.2
0.0
3.8
1.5
1.9
0.1%
0.5
0.1
0.2
1.6
0.3
0.3
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.2
9.6
0.4
0.2
0.1
0.6
0.4
0.1
0.1
0.5
0.4
1.5
0.2
1.6
0.0
0.2
0.1
0.4
0.9
0.6
0.2
0.1
0.4
0.1
1.3
0.2
0.1
0.3
0.4
1.8
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.5
0.1
0.4
1.0
0.0
1.0
0.2
0.6
0.0%
1.3
0.2
0.0
0.3
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
21.2
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.6
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.6
0.0
0.0
0.4
0.1
0.1
0.1
1.8%
7.9
4.3
7.9
4.2
3.6
5.5
1.9
4.9
2.6
3.5
47.8
4.6
0.1
5.8
1.7
3.4
5.1
1.2
5.2
0.0
4.1
4.2
8.2
2.3
0.7
4.8
1.1
6.7
3.2
1.7
3.5
2.3
4.1
7.8
2.5
21.8
14.2
0.5
5.1
5.6
7.3
2.8
3.6
3.0
0.0
6.0
9.8
6.5
4.8
1.1
0.2%
0.4
2.2
0.2
0.3
0.1
0.9
0.0
0.1
0.3
0.3
3.5
0.1
1.8
0.2
6.0
1.0
2.0
1.1
2.8
1.7
3.8
0.2
2.1
0.4
0.6
2.5
3.2
0.1
5.8
14.4
0.3
12.5
0.6
0.1
1.3
0.0
10.9
4.5
1.9
0.5
0.0
2.0
1.4
0.6
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.1
0.8
5.2
0.2
4.3
2.3
Source: U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, 2008 Green Book, Tables 11-67 and 11-69, at
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/s11cw.pdf.
H-8
Children’s Defense Fund
In 24 states, the percent of Black children in foster care is more than
twice their proportion in the population.
Overrepresentation of Black Children in Foster Care, 2007
Black children as a percent of
Number of children
Total
Black
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
1,123,537
182,218
1,669,866
700,537
9,383,924
1,192,679
820,216
205,646
113,720
4,043,560
2,531,609
285,694
407,712
3,199,159
1,586,518
711,403
696,082
1,003,973
1,079,560
279,467
1,358,797
1,432,856
2,446,856
1,260,282
768,704
1,424,830
219,498
446,145
660,002
298,186
2,063,789
500,276
4,413,414
2,217,680
142,809
2,751,874
899,507
862,908
2,786,719
233,115
1,059,917
196,890
1,471,486
6,623,366
816,822
131,353
1,826,179
1,536,368
387,381
1,321,279
125,365
352,883
8,988
82,696
140,404
668,590
61,918
106,234
51,990
77,115
886,196
856,439
12,031
6,113
578,267
180,221
28,230
52,772
96,275
416,919
5,291
451,852
133,766
432,482
82,703
341,707
206,848
2,739
26,758
61,512
6,001
355,726
18,484
911,221
557,028
2,313
414,512
88,989
23,376
400,765
20,578
361,268
3,506
313,935
852,068
13,327
1,929
420,902
69,765
18,343
116,891
2,544
73,901,733
11,383,410
All children
Children in
foster care
Ratio of Black
children in
foster care to
Black children
in population
31.4%
4.9
5.0
20.0
7.1
5.2
13.0
25.3
67.8
21.9
33.8
4.2
1.5
18.1
11.4
4.0
7.6
9.6
38.6
1.9
33.3
9.3
17.7
6.6
44.5
14.5
1.2
6.0
9.3
2.0
17.2
3.7
20.6
25.1
1.6
15.1
9.9
2.7
14.4
8.8
34.1
1.8
21.3
12.9
1.6
1.5
23.0
4.5
4.7
8.8
2.0
44.9%
5.5
8.3
29.3
24.0
12.8
29.3
57.2
89.3
38.7
47.5
0.8
1.2
60.9
29.4
14.5
19.6
18.1
48.7
2.3
73.1
16.0
47.5
21.6
51.2
30.3
0.7
16.5
23.8
4.1
50.5
3.7
46.2
39.9
2.4
39.4
16.3
2.2
46.0
19.3
45.2
3.3
29.3
23.5
4.1
3.2
41.0
9.9
5.6
37.0
3.0
1.4
1.1
1.7
1.5
3.4
2.5
2.3
2.3
1.3
1.8
1.4
0.2
0.8
3.4
2.6
3.6
2.6
1.9
1.3
1.2
2.2
1.7
2.7
3.3
1.2
2.1
0.6
2.8
2.6
2.1
2.9
1.0
2.2
1.6
1.5
2.6
1.6
0.8
3.2
2.2
1.3
1.8
1.4
1.8
2.6
2.1
1.8
2.2
1.2
4.2
1.5
15.4
31.1
2.0
Sources: U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, 2008 Green Book, Tables 11–67 and 11–69, at http://waysandmeans.
house.gov/media/pdf/111/s11cw.pdf; and U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, “State by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin,”
at <http://www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/files/SC-EST2007-alldata6.csv>. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
H-9
The number of children adopted from foster care doubled between 1995 and 2000.
Adoptions from Foster Care, Selected Years, FY 1995–FY 2006
FY1995
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
FY 2000
FY 2005
FY 2006
128
103
215
84
3,094
338
198
38
86
904
383
42
46
1,759
520
227
333
197
292
85
324
1,073
1,717
232
109
538
104
208
155
51
616
141
4,579
289
42
1,202
226
427
1,018
216
231
42
458
804
283
62
320
645
139
360
10
202
202
853
325
8,818
711
499
103
319
1,629
1,091
280
140
5,664
1,160
729
468
398
476
379
552
861
2,804
614
288
1,265
238
293
231
97
832
347
4,234
1,337
108
2,044
1,096
831
1,712
260
378
94
431
2,045
303
117
448
1,141
352
736
61
324
204
1,012
316
7,490
954
740
78
310
3,019
1,127
452
149
1,837
1,010
947
649
876
469
316
620
832
2,883
732
242
1,309
244
352
412
124
1,377
289
3,407
1,203
152
2,044
1,013
1,030
2,065
217
382
113
1,114
3,181
346
166
510
1,305
368
906
61
387
212
1,400
395
7,364
956
649
94
179
3,046
1,250
397
177
1,740
1,183
984
524
759
466
331
364
874
2,591
664
248
1,253
272
534
444
135
1,325
338
2,810
1,234
150
1,803
1,141
1,095
1,926
258
425
150
994
3,409
503
164
551
1,196
419
885
57
25,693
50,596
51,278
50,705
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau, “Adoptions of Children with Public Welfare Agency Involvement by State
FY 1995 – FY 2006,” at <http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/adoptchild06.pdf>. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
H-10
Children’s Defense Fund
More than one in eight preschool children live with a parent who abuses alcohol or
other drugs or is dependent on them.
Children Living with Parents
Who Have Substance Abuse or Dependence
9
8.3
Number in millions
7.3
6
3
2.1
0
Illicit drugs
Alcohol
Alcohol or illicit drugs
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
Children Living with Substance-Dependent or Substance-Abusing Parents: 2002 to 2007, The NSDUH Report
(April 16, 2009), Figure 1.
16
14
13.9%
13.6%
12.0%
12
9.9%
Percent
10
8
6
4
2
0
Under 3
3 to 5
6 to 11
12 to 17
Age
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
Children Living with Substance-Dependent or Substance-Abusing Parents: 2002 to 2007, The NSDUH Report
(April 16, 2009), Figure 2.
State of America’s Children® 2010 H-11
11
More than 1.7 million children have a parent in prison. About 45 percent of these
children are Black.
Parents Who Are Incarcerated and Their Children
More than 800,000 parents of minor children are in prison. About eight percent are mothers.
Total,
all races
White, nonHispanic
Black, nonHispanic
Hispanic
Fathers
Mothers
744,200
65,600
223,700
31,700
319,400
18,300
160,100
11,100
Total
809,800
255,400
337,700
171,200
Black children are seven times as likely as White children to have a parent in prison.
Number with a
parent in prison
White, non-Hispanic children
Black, non-Hispanic children
Hispanic children
Total, all children
484,100
767,400
362,800
1,706,600
Percent with a
parent in prison
0.9%
6.7
2.4
2.3
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Parents in Prison and Their Minor Children (August 2008), Table 2 and Appendix
Table 2. Calculations by Children's Defense Fund
H-12
Children’s Defense Fund
After a 25 percent decrease in the number of homeless children and youths in public schools
between the 2005 and 2006 school years, the number increased 17 percent in 2007.
Homeless Children and Youths Enrolled in Public Schools
2005–2006
2006–2007
2007–2008
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
12,891
3,217
19,123
10,934
169,722
12,689
2,031
1,565
n/a
28,934
33,870
908
1,849
17,769
7,547
5,819
3,064
17,058
118,351
1,220
7,430
10,153
13,234
7,297
6,555
17,677
1,952
2,602
6,052
1,013
4,383
5,173
26,213
10,786
685
11,977
3,452
13,159
25,000
462
6,538
896
9,619
195,521
10,087
681
10,564
13,942
2,779
6,987
678
10,907
3,216
19,628
7,080
178,014
11,978
1,980
1,842
824
30,554
14,017
1,132
1,875
19,821
8,249
2,886
3,569
18,337
34,102
1,055
8,456
11,863
24,066
6,008
12,856
13,620
2,202
1,633
5,374
1,983
4,279
4,383
44,018
12,659
1,209
13,578
8,284
15,517
12,935
667
6,033
1,038
6,567
33,896
9,991
764
9,898
16,853
2,984
8,103
675
11,687
2,963
21,380
5,917
224,249
12,302
2,017
1,982
1,005
33,993
15,700
925
2,125
26,238
8,480
5,918
4,890
17,735
29,234
1,379
8,813
12,449
18,435
8,163
9,926
11,977
887
1,530
6,647
2,087
6,033
6,152
71,218
16,937
686
14,483
9,179
15,839
11,756
746
7,413
1,430
8,031
53,242
11,270
789
11,776
18,670
2,909
9,331
732
United States
902,108
673,458
789,655
Sources: National Center on Family Homelessness, America’s Youngest Outcasts (2009); and National Center for
Homeless Education, Education for Homeless Children and Youths Program, Analysis of Data (April 2009).
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
For further information and state-by-state data on child homelessness, see The National Center on Family Homelessness,
America’s Youngest Outcasts: State Report Card on Child Homelessness, at www.HomelessChildrenAmerica.org.
State of America’s Children® 2010 H-13
13
Young people face multiple risk factors that can lead them off course from a path
toward successful adulthood to prison or death.
Youths at Risk
Dropouts1
Number
Percent
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Averaged
Freshman
Youth
Completion Unemployment
Rate2
Rate3
(2008)
(2008)
(2006-07)
20,702
4,201
31,658
14,610
140,940
20,376
10,104
3,501
2,596
64,834
49,270
5,256
5,767
43,617
29,902
6,108
7,829
15,975
27,381
4,461
19,909
17,170
36,558
8,352
14,322
21,987
5,166
4,721
13,226
2,598
18,352
11,294
61,605
41,259
2,684
32,245
17,926
12,673
37,289
3,648
18,299
2,758
22,942
105,380
12,189
1,368
19,352
24,986
8,235
12,225
2,004
7.7%
9.6
8.9
8.6
6.2
7.7
5.0
6.9
6.9
6.9
8.5
7.8
6.1
5.6
8.0
3.5
4.8
6.8
10.2
6.4
5.9
4.5
5.9
2.8
7.5
6.5
9.1
4.5
9.8
3.4
3.9
9.5
5.3
7.8
6.9
4.9
8.1
6.4
5.0
5.7
6.7
5.5
6.7
7.3
7.0
3.6
4.4
6.9
8.4
3.8
6.2
67.1%
69.1
69.6
74.4
70.7
76.6
81.8
71.9
54.9
65.0
64.1
75.4
80.4
79.5
73.9
86.5
78.9
76.4
61.3
78.5
80.0
80.8
77.0
86.5
63.6
81.9
81.5
86.3
52.0
81.7
84.4
59.1
68.8
68.6
83.1
78.7
77.8
73.8
83.0
78.4
58.9
82.5
72.6
71.9
76.6
88.6
75.5
74.8
78.2
88.5
75.8
27.9%
14.7
31.1
29.6
32.8
24.7
18.8
25.0
49.1
24.0
29.0
23.2
20.2
25.8
21.3
16.4
18.8
24.0
19.6
25.7
22.5
16.2
26.5
21.1
30.3
23.0
18.7
9.9
31.5
18.5
21.6
20.0
26.7
25.7
12.3
21.5
18.9
31.2
20.6
30.8
30.3
10.0
28.5
20.8
16.3
15.8
22.9
30.5
22.8
18.7
16.8
73.9
24.3
1,121,810
6.3
Juvenile
Arrests4
(2009)
(2008)
Juveniles in
Residential Placement
(2006)
(2007)
12,832
3,951
53,826
13,209
227,754
43,398
19,458
7,199
524
118,296
38,807
12,029
14,863
33,161
38,675
20,893
11,183
3,671
19,068
6,990
47,175
17,974
36,027
45,954
10,347
45,321
7,251
15,375
24,656
6,906
51,527
9,587
40,142
40,840
6,719
38,975
21,697
28,909
102,605
5,576
18,306
5,793
35,507
171,536
24,576
1,403
40,940
30,669
2,317
100,121
6,861
1,752
363
1,737
813
15,240
2,034
498
303
339
7,302
2,631
123
522
2,631
2,616
1,062
1,053
1,242
1,200
210
1,104
1,164
2,760
1,623
444
1,293
243
735
885
189
1,704
471
4,197
1,029
240
4,149
924
1,254
4,323
348
1,320
597
1,419
8,247
864
54
2,310
1,455
579
1,347
315
1,650
321
1,485
810
14,034
1,752
426
369
288
5,733
2,736
129
528
2,565
2,727
954
1,146
1,116
1,350
204
930
969
2,748
1,317
450
1,227
210
708
996
156
1,677
378
3,612
1,035
213
4,332
864
1,299
4,554
312
1,200
456
1,263
7,035
867
45
2,124
1,527
570
1,422
249
1,741,379
92,854
86,814
1 Youths
ages 16–19 not enrolled who have not graduated from high school or received an alternate credential.
Percent of ninth graders graduating within four years with a regular diploma.
Youths ages 16–19.
4 Data reporting incomplete for District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, New York and Minnesota.
2
3
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2008 American Community Survey, Table B14005; U.S. Department of Education, National
Center for Education Statistics, Public School Graduates and Dropouts From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2006–07 (October 2009), Table 1; U.S.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and
detailed age, 2009 annual averages,” at <http://www.bls.gov/lau/ptable14full2009.pdf>; U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime in the
United States, 2008 (September 2009), Table 69; U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, OJJDP Statistical Briefing
Book, Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement Databook, at <http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org/ojstatbb/cjrp/asp/Selection.asp>; and U.S. Department of Justice,
Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Juveniles in Residential Placement, 1997–2008 (February 2010), p. 2.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
H-14
Children’s Defense Fund
In 2009, four out of ten Black teens and three out of ten Hispanic teens were unemployed.
Youth Employment and Unemployment, 2009
Teens Ages 16–19
All Races
50
White
Hispanic*
40.6%
40
Asian
34.0%
31.7%
30
39.5%
Black
37.5%
30.2%
28.4%
27.2%
26.4%
24.3%
23.7%
21.8%
20.8%
20
16.5%
15.3%
10
0
In the labor force
(percent of population)
Unemployed
(percent of labor force)
Employed
(percent of population)
*Persons of Hispanic origin can be of any race.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Household Data: Annual Averages, at
<http://stats.bls.gov/cps/home.htm>, Tables 3 and 4.
Unemployment Rates, 2009
Total, all ages
Ages 16–19
Ages 20–24
Total
All races
White
Black
Asian
Hispanic
9.3%
8.5
14.8
7.3
12.1
24.3%
21.8
39.5
26.4
30.2
14.7%
13.0
24.9
11.8
16.2
All races
White
Black
Asian
Hispanic
10.3
9.4
17.5
7.9
12.5
27.8
25.2
46.0
26.8
30.2
17.0
15.3
27.7
12.3
16.2
Females
All races
White
Black
Asian
Hispanic
8.1
7.3
12.4
6.6
11.5
20.7
18.4
33.4
25.8
25.8
12.3
10.4
22.2
11.3
15.7
Males
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Household Data: Annual Averages, at <http://stats.bls.gov/cps/home.htm>,
Tables 3 and 4.
State of America’s Children® 2010 H-15
15
Almost 15 percent of young adults ages 20–24 were unemployed in 2009,
an increase of 44 percent from 2008.
Employment and Unemployment Among Teens and Young Adults, 2008 and 2009
Labor Force Participation Rate 1
Ages 16–19
Ages 20–24
2008
2009
2008
2009
Unemployment Rate 2
Ages 16–19
Ages 20–24
2008
2009
2008
2009
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
36.4%
46.6
39.0
35.7
34.1
44.8
45.7
41.8
26.2
34.5
32.7
40.7
48.1
43.8
39.2
62.7
53.7
41.8
32.1
52.1
39.0
43.5
42.5
54.2
32.9
50.4
45.2
54.9
44.3
52.2
34.1
41.3
32.0
38.3
58.1
47.2
42.2
37.7
47.2
49.2
34.0
56.1
39.4
36.9
54.0
51.6
41.9
44.2
38.0
54.9
57.3
38.0%
42.8
33.0
36.7
31.1
43.5
40.6
39.0
25.8
33.0
30.1
34.1
43.9
37.1
33.0
58.1
50.0
42.5
32.9
51.5
38.3
38.3
40.4
53.6
26.8
50.2
42.2
55.2
36.0
46.0
29.7
31.7
29.7
36.0
51.5
47.6
38.8
41.2
44.4
47.8
34.0
55.3
36.0
35.6
50.7
45.9
35.9
43.0
33.9
54.5
52.7
70.7%
74.1
74.3
77.4
71.7
79.8
77.1
76.7
75.2
74.6
71.4
73.7
82.4
74.6
74.4
86.3
82.3
71.2
73.1
78.5
71.6
72.1
74.7
84.5
68.4
83.4
79.6
83.4
82.8
78.9
72.4
64.8
64.9
73.7
83.6
78.0
77.4
77.5
75.7
75.0
73.0
81.2
73.5
72.5
80.3
77.0
78.0
78.3
75.2
82.6
77.5
72.6%
75.2
73.5
80.1
70.1
77.9
74.9
74.7
70.7
72.7
66.2
70.7
80.3
71.5
72.6
82.7
80.7
76.9
69.2
76.6
72.2
73.0
73.5
81.5
65.9
75.8
75.6
81.7
76.7
74.4
72.7
65.5
67.4
74.5
82.5
77.3
74.8
76.5
74.3
76.9
73.6
75.0
70.7
69.3
77.4
79.7
77.8
76.7
72.0
82.1
81.1
20.1%
17.3
20.0
18.8
24.3
21.1
17.2
16.3
33.6
15.6
22.7
17.4
17.0
21.3
17.1
12.0
11.9
19.0
16.3
14.1
15.7
14.9
22.9
13.7
20.3
16.5
13.3
8.3
18.1
13.5
16.0
17.5
18.5
24.0
6.5
21.1
11.6
17.0
20.4
21.1
15.9
10.7
25.9
16.7
11.1
13.8
16.4
25.7
18.0
13.4
8.9
27.9%
14.7
31.1
29.6
32.8
24.7
18.8
25.0
49.1
24.0
29.0
23.2
20.2
25.8
21.3
16.4
18.8
24.0
19.6
25.7
22.5
16.2
26.5
21.1
30.3
23.0
18.7
9.9
31.5
18.5
21.6
20.0
26.7
25.7
12.3
21.5
18.9
31.2
20.6
30.8
30.3
10.0
28.5
20.8
16.3
15.8
22.9
30.5
22.8
18.7
16.8
11.5%
9.8
11.9
9.7
12.3
7.9
10.9
7.8
9.6
11.6
11.5
9.3
11.0
11.6
11.7
5.9
8.5
11.0
11.7
11.0
8.4
7.9
13.1
9.4
12.0
10.5
9.8
6.1
8.8
5.9
8.8
6.7
10.9
9.6
6.3
11.4
5.0
9.9
9.6
12.8
11.8
5.6
10.8
9.1
5.8
9.5
7.8
7.8
7.6
7.2
4.8
20.2%
11.2
15.6
10.2
16.9
11.0
13.3
12.3
16.9
16.1
16.6
12.3
18.3
16.3
19.9
10.7
10.4
17.7
15.5
15.0
12.4
13.5
16.7
12.6
15.2
16.0
11.9
7.7
15.6
9.4
12.7
11.8
14.8
18.3
6.5
16.0
9.1
16.8
12.1
15.2
16.9
9.3
18.7
12.0
13.3
12.2
10.2
13.7
14.7
12.7
10.8
United States
40.2
37.5
74.4
72.9
18.7
24.3
10.2
14.7
1 Percent
2 Percent
of the age group that is employed.
of the labor force in the age group that is unemployed, that is looking for a job.
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by sex, race, Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity, and detailed age, 2008 annual averages, preliminary, at http://stats.bls.gov/lau/ ptable14full2008.pdf; and U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of
Labor Statistics, Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and detailed age, 2009 annual
averages, preliminary, at http://stats.bls.gov/lau/ptable14full2009.pdf.
H-16
Children’s Defense Fund
The percent of teens without jobs in July 2009 was higher than at any time
in the past five decades.
Youth Unemployment and Joblessness, 1959–2009
Youth Jobless
Rate for July 2
Total Unemployment Rates 1
All
Ages
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
1 Percent
2 Percent
5.5%
5.5
6.7
5.5
5.7
5.2
4.5
3.8
3.8
3.6
3.5
4.9
5.9
5.6
4.9
5.6
8.5
7.7
7.1
6.1
5.8
7.1
7.6
9.7
9.6
7.5
7.2
7.0
6.2
5.5
5.3
5.5
6.7
7.4
6.8
6.1
5.6
5.4
4.9
4.5
4.2
4.0
4.7
5.8
6.0
5.5
5.1
4.6
4.6
5.8
9.3
Ages
16–19
Ages
20–24
Ages
16–19
14.6%
14.7
16.8
14.7
17.2
16.2
14.8
12.8
12.9
12.7
12.2
15.3
16.9
16.2
14.5
16.0
19.9
19.0
17.8
16.4
16.1
17.8
19.6
23.2
22.4
18.9
18.6
18.3
16.9
15.3
15.0
15.5
18.6
20.0
19.0
17.6
17.3
16.7
16.0
14.6
13.9
13.1
14.7
16.5
17.5
17.0
16.6
15.4
15.7
18.7
24.3
8.5%
8.7
10.4
9.0
8.8
8.3
6.7
5.3
5.7
5.8
5.7
8.2
10.0
9.3
7.8
9.1
13.6
12.0
11.0
9.6
9.1
11.5
12.3
14.9
14.5
11.5
11.1
10.7
9.7
8.7
8.6
8.8
10.8
11.3
10.5
9.7
9.1
9.3
8.5
7.9
7.5
7.1
8.3
9.7
10.0
9.4
8.8
8.2
8.2
10.2
14.7
49.2%
47.4
49.5
48.0
51.9
50.8
47.9
44.0
44.1
44.7
43.4
45.5
46.4
44.8
42.7
43.0
45.4
43.4
42.4
39.9
40.1
42.2
44.3
47.9
46.5
43.3
43.4
43.3
42.7
40.4
40.4
43.6
47.7
48.0
46.7
46.0
45.2
46.0
47.0
45.3
45.5
46.5
48.5
52.3
56.3
56.1
55.7
55.1
57.7
60.8
65.0
of the labor force unemployed
of the youth population ages 16–19 without a job
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010 H-17
17
In seven states, Black juveniles are about ten times as likely as White juveniles
to be in secure residential placement.
Juveniles in Residential Placement, by Race, 2006
Total,
all races
Percent of total
White,
Black,
non-Hispanic non-Hispanic Hispanic
Rate per 100,000 juveniles
Total,
White,
Black,
all races non-Hispanic non-Hispanic Hispanic
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
1,752
363
1,737
813
15,240
2,034
498
303
339
7,302
2,631
123
522
2,631
2,616
1,062
1,053
1,242
1,200
210
1,104
1,164
2,760
1,623
444
1,293
243
735
885
189
1,704
471
4,197
1,029
240
4,149
924
1,254
4,323
348
1,320
597
1,419
8,247
864
54
2,310
1,455
579
1,347
315
39.6%
37.2
36.3
46.9
16.2
47.5
22.9
19.8
3.5
39.1
23.8
4.9
80.5
32.4
62.0
69.5
48.1
64.7
26.0
91.4
23.1
36.3
43.8
44.2
24.3
46.6
66.7
51.8
39.7
77.8
15.7
13.4
24.2
31.8
58.8
46.5
43.2
68.2
32.8
37.9
29.8
44.2
46.9
24.0
60.1
83.3
28.7
58.4
81.3
45.2
63.8
58.0%
10.7
11.9
47.2
27.7
16.1
44.0
72.3
91.2
52.1
71.3
2.4
1.1
47.1
30.5
18.6
29.1
31.2
72.5
4.3
71.2
28.6
47.1
33.1
75.7
48.5
3.7
25.3
28.5
11.1
65.7
6.4
51.8
58.9
1.3
49.0
34.4
9.8
53.9
35.3
68.9
7.5
49.5
33.4
10.1
5.6
63.2
17.5
16.1
44.8
9.5
1.5%
2.5
43.9
4.8
51.3
34.2
28.9
6.9
3.5
7.8
4.8
12.2
13.2
17.3
5.5
5.9
18.8
1.7
0.8
0.0
4.3
27.1
4.0
4.6
0.0
3.0
4.9
15.1
26.4
7.9
17.1
72.0
20.9
6.4
2.5
2.3
8.1
14.1
10.3
17.2
1.1
5.0
2.3
42.3
24.7
11.1
6.6
15.3
1.0
3.3
15.2
342
430
246
261
351
397
170
327
671
397
276
92
297
206
364
323
335
273
279
152
174
198
268
280
128
227
235
368
317
148
176
204
270
144
355
322
232
319
321
308
317
672
216
335
267
81
283
206
320
251
559
213
257
183
172
163
284
56
103
197
288
124
18
286
114
278
253
208
204
129
146
74
95
162
151
61
134
184
236
247
123
46
83
118
74
240
188
149
281
136
160
161
371
140
196
197
71
127
164
277
141
416
610
902
658
595
1,268
1,234
618
893
789
972
544
65
382
500
945
1,525
1,230
865
521
447
364
706
654
1,364
213
701
1,038
1,471
902
1,233
705
550
754
315
318
989
756
1,104
1,229
1,501
605
3,049
483
843
1,981
381
741
698
1,205
1,206
4,138
195
178
282
196
396
544
337
285
274
140
173
108
305
196
356
361
553
203
71
0
116
474
214
274
0
199
333
565
261
399
176
285
290
121
387
252
207
316
560
327
100
1,139
147
335
513
613
275
252
283
135
945
United States
92,854
35.0
40.2
20.5
295
170
767
326
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and National Center for Juvenile Justice, Census of Juveniles in
Residential Placement Databook, at http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/cjrp/. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010 H-19
19
Black children and teens 10–17 are more likely to be arrested than any other race.
Asians are the least likely to be arrested.
Juvenile Arrest Rates, by Race, 1980–2008
Arrests per 100,000 persons ages 10–17
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
All Races
White
Black
American
Indian
Asian
7,414.3
7,384.8
7,345.0
6,750.8
6,765.8
7,245.2
7,505.0
7,527.5
7,599.9
7,730.9
8,031.3
8,376.6
8,230.0
8,422.8
9,252.8
9,286.2
9,443.4
9,404.2
8,528.1
7,888.2
7,288.6
6,882.9
6,751.7
6,565.9
6,512.8
6,342.5
6,630.6
6,567.8
6,317.7
6,905.8
6,751.3
6,583.5
6,159.4
6,235.4
6,781.4
6,985.7
6,928.6
6,946.5
6,962.0
7,225.8
7,448.3
7,173.9
7,213.4
8,022.2
7,958.4
8,331.2
8,156.0
7,621.3
7,145.1
6,753.4
6,312.4
6,259.2
6,018.1
5,890.8
5,535.0
5,783.1
5,698.2
5,549.9
11,599.9
12,765.7
13,299.5
11,953.3
11,760.0
12,154.8
12,845.1
13,189.8
13,574.9
14,698.0
14,062.5
15,177.1
15,638.6
16,231.8
17,131.7
17,495.8
16,647.0
15,504.8
13,966.0
12,371.0
11,525.3
11,379.8
10,752.3
10,709.5
10,874.3
11,443.9
12,190.1
12,282.3
12,160.7
7,456.2
6,216.9
6,055.2
5,356.3
5,520.3
6,435.0
6,252.0
6,434.3
6,751.1
6,965.1
7,254.6
6,969.2
6,878.4
7,413.3
8,000.1
8,218.2
8,791.4
8,547.8
6,928.3
7,129.9
6,193.7
5,781.9
5,978.0
5,934.1
5,711.5
5,885.8
5,480.2
5,940.2
5,562.0
3,417.0
3,138.1
3,191.4
2,743.4
2,676.1
3,022.3
2,965.2
3,269.3
3,549.4
2,234.1
3,417.5
3,784.4
3,804.9
3,965.4
4,261.3
4,136.9
4,382.7
3,926.3
3,213.7
3,155.1
2,921.5
2,491.3
2,562.6
2,467.2
2,179.1
1,903.9
2,143.2
1,412.8
2,120.2
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Juvenile Arrest Rates by Offense, Sex,
and Race (1980–2008), at <http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/crime/excel/jar_2008.xls>.
Arrests per 100,000 persons ages 10–17
Juvenile Arrest Rates, 1980–2008
18,000
16,000
14,000
Black
12,000
10,000
All races
8,000
White
6,000
American Indian
4,000
Asian
2,000
0
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Juvenile Arrest Rates by Offense,
Sex, and Race (1980–2008), at <http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/crime/excel/jar_2008.xls>.
H-20
Children’s Defense Fund
2008
Juvenile arrest rates for violent crime peaked in 1994 and increased slightly in 2005 and 2006.
Juvenile Arrest Rates for Violent Crime,* by Race, 1980–2008
Arrests per 100,000 persons ages 10–17
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
All Races
White
Black
American
Indian
Asian
334.1
322.6
314.5
296.0
297.5
303.0
316.7
310.6
326.5
381.6
428.4
460.8
481.6
503.6
525.4
516.3
458.6
440.7
367.9
337.4
307.8
295.8
276.4
272.4
269.4
282.4
302.0
292.5
288.1
189.4
178.9
174.6
162.0
163.2
172.3
178.8
172.6
184.7
218.2
253.5
282.9
291.8
298.6
315.1
308.2
292.4
271.2
255.3
241.5
219.7
211.4
196.1
186.4
182.4
176.4
184.6
180.3
177.6
1,190.4
1,193.1
1,146.7
1,102.7
1,110.4
1,096.3
1,150.0
1,142.4
1,160.6
1,360.9
1,433.8
1,503.8
1,579.4
1,664.0
1,697.4
1,668.2
1,398.9
1,138.0
983.9
856.3
818.6
787.7
735.6
751.9
746.0
850.8
935.0
902.7
926.2
211.8
169.1
200.5
161.1
153.9
183.3
175.7
181.8
205.3
204.1
217.4
225.6
243.9
274.9
315.6
312.3
282.9
249.2
247.2
235.4
198.5
185.2
201.2
173.4
174.2
181.5
174.2
182.8
153.0
134.0
106.7
118.0
98.2
90.2
86.5
86.8
91.9
113.7
109.1
133.9
157.0
157.9
172.0
193.1
189.3
201.1
152.2
132.3
127.3
116.3
99.5
96.1
87.8
77.9
71.0
78.8
56.8
70.7
* Includes murder, nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Juvenile Arrest Rates by Offense, Sex,
and Race (1980–2008), at <http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/crime/excel/jar_2008.xls>.
Arrests per 100,000 persons ages 10–17
Juvenile Arrest Rates for Violent Crime,* 1980–2008
600
500
400
300
200
0
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2008
* Murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Juvenile Arrest Rates by Offense, Sex,
and Race (1980–2008), at <http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/crime/excel/jar_2008.xls>.
State of America’s Children® 2010 H-21
White, Black and Hispanic teens are equally likely to use drugs. Black teens are almost twice
as likely as White teens to be arrested for drug offenses and more than five times
as likely to be incarcerated for drug offenses.
Percent using any illicit drug in past month
Drug Use and Drug-Related Arrests and Incarceration Among Teens
Current Drug Use by Teens, Ages 12–17, 2008
20
18.2%
15
10
9.8%
9.3%
8.2%
8.9%
5
2.7%
0
Total, all Races
Black
American Indian,
Alaska Native
White
Hispanic
Asian
Arrests per 100,000 juveniles ages 10–17
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied
Studies, 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Table 1.20B, at <http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k8NSDUH/tabs/
Sect1peTabs1to46.htm#Tab1.20B>.
Juvenile Arrest Rates for Drug Violations, 2008
1000
921.4
800
600
540.0
502.6
400
332.8
200
110.9
n/a
0
Total, all races
Black
n/a — data not available
American Indian,
Alaska Native
White
Hispanic
Asian
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Juvenile Arrest Rates by Offense, Sex, and Race,
at <http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/ojstatbb/crime/excel/JAR_2008.xls>.
80
Juvenile Incarceration Rates for Drug Offenses, 2006
Number of juveniles incarcerated
per 100,000 juveniles*
72
70
60
50
40
30
34
30
25
20
13
10
6
0
Total, all races
Black
American Indian,
Alaska Native
White
Hispanic
Asian
*Ages 10 through upper age of juvenile court jurisdiction, which varies by state.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement
Databook, at <http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org/ojstatbb/cjrp/>.
H-22
Children’s Defense Fund
Illicit Drug, Alcohol, and Cigarette Use by Teens Ages 12–17, 2000–2008
Percent Using in the Past Month
2000
2004
2008
Illicit drugs
Total
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
American Indian, Alaska Native
Asian
Hispanic
8.7%
10.1
8.4
—
5.8
9.5
10.6%
11.1
9.3
26.0
6.0
10.2
9.3%
9.8
8.2
18.2
2.7
8.9
Alcohol
Total
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
American Indian, Alaska Native
Asian
Hispanic
16.4
18.4
8.8
19.0
7.1
16.8
17.6
19.9
9.8
18.5
9.4
18.0
14.6
16.3
10.1
17.2
5.7
14.8
Cigarettes
Total
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
American Indian, Alaska Native
Asian
Hispanic
13.4
16.0
6.1
27.5
8.4
10.2
11.9
14.4
6.0
17.9
5.4
9.1
9.1
10.6
5.0
18.9
3.8
7.9
— Sample too small to calculate a reliable rate.
Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2000 National Household
Survey on Drug Abuse, Tables F15, F36, and F44, at http://oas.samhsa.gov/NHSDA/2kNHSDA/appendixf1.htm and http://oas.samhsa.gov/NHSDA/
2kNHSDA/appendixf2.htm; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2004
National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Tables 1.29B, 2.32B, and 2.48B, at http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k4nsduh/2k4tabs/Sect1peTabs1
to66.htm and http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k4nsduh/2k4tabs/Sect2peTabs1to57.htm; and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Tables 1.20B, 2.23B, and 2.38B,
at http://oas.samhsa.gov/ NSDUH/2k8NSDUH/tabs/LOTSect2pe.htm and http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k8NSDUH/tabs/Sect1peTabs1to46.htm.
Percent consuming 5 or more drinks
in a row in past 2 weeks
50
Trend in Binge Drinking Among High School Seniors, 1975–2009
40
30
20
0
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2009
Source: L.D. Johnston, P.M. O’Malley, J.G. Bachman & J.E. Schulenberg, “Teen marijuana use tilts up, while some drugs decline
in use” (University of Michigan, December 14, 2009), Table 18, at http://monitoringthefuture.org/data/09data.html.
State of America’s Children® 2010 H-23
State Overview of Other Vulnerable Children and Youth Data
States
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
H-24
Children’s Defense Fund
States where
Black children are
overrepresented
in foster care by
a ratio of 2:1
or greater
(H-9)
X
X
X
X
More than half
of the children
in foster care live
in nine states
States where
there has been
an increase of
more than 100
juveniles in
residential
placement
States with more
than 24.3% of
teens 16-19
unemployed
States with
more than 14.7%
of young adults
20-24 unemployed
(H-6)
(H-19)
(H-16)
(H-16)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Gun Violence
F
or thousands of teens, death from gun violence is the end of the pipeline. In 2007, 3,042 children
and teens died from gunfire in the U.S.—almost eight every day—as a result of homicide, suicide or
accidental shootings. Almost six times as many children and teens – 17,523 – suffered non-fatal gun
injuries, which have serious physical and emotional consequences. Random violence, especially in poor
communities, drives thousands of vulnerable young people into the pipeline to prison where they
remain trapped with little chance of escape.
• The 3,042 deaths of children and teens from gunfire in 2007 nearly equaled the total
number of U.S. combat deaths in Iraq through May 2010 (3,475).
• More Black than White children and teens were killed by firearms in 2007.
• Black males ages 15–19 are more than five times as likely as White youths and more
than twice as likely as Hispanic youths to be killed by a firearm. White children
and teens are six times as likely as any other racial or ethnic group to be victims of
firearm-related suicide.
• The annual number of firearm deaths of White children and teens decreased by about
54 percent between 1979 and 2007, while the deaths of Black children and teens
increased by 61 percent.
• Since 1979 gun violence has ended the lives of 110,645 children and teens in America.
• Almost one in five high school students admitted carrying a weapon in 2007;
one-third of those students brought the weapon to school. One in 20 admitted
carrying a gun. More than one-third had been in a physical fight.
• One in 18 high school students reported staying home from school because they
felt unsafe at school or going to or from school.
State of America’s Children® 2010
I-1
Children and Teens Killed by Firearms: A Portrait
The latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 3,042
children and teens died from gunfire in the United States in 2007—one every three hours,
eight every day, 58 every week.
2,161
683
198
were homicide victims
committed suicide
died in accidental or undetermined circumstances
2,665
377
were boys
were girls
397
154
85
1,499
1,460
611
43
40
were under age 15
were under age 10
were under age 5
were Black
were White
were Latino*
were Asian or Pacific Islander
were American Indian or Alaska Native
More than five times as many children and teens—17,451—suffered non-fatal gun injuries, which
also can have serious physical and emotional consequences.
There are more than 280 million privately owned firearms in the United States, which is the
equivalent of nine firearms for every ten men, women and children in this country.
* Persons of Hispanic/Latino origin can be of any race; these 678 deaths are included in the four race categories.
I-2
Children’s Defense Fund
Since 1979, more than 110,000 children and teens have been killed by firearms.
Fifty-seven percent were homicides and 31 percent were suicides.
Firearm Deaths of Children and Teens, by Manner, 1979–2007
Total*
Homicide*
Suicide
Accident
Unknown
1979
3,710
1,651
1,220
726
113
1980
3,749
1,743
1,214
689
103
1981
3,589
1,660
1,213
604
112
1982
3,332
1,498
1,207
550
77
1983
2,962
1,238
1,150
504
70
1984
3,030
1,289
1,114
552
75
1985
3,169
1,322
1,256
519
72
1986
3,349
1,513
1,293
472
71
1987
3,400
1,573
1,281
467
79
1988
3,974
1,953
1,387
543
91
1989
4,384
2,367
1,380
567
70
1990
4,935
2,852
1,476
541
66
1991
5,329
3,247
1,436
551
95
1992
5,353
3,336
1,426
501
90
1993
5,715
3,625
1,460
526
104
1994
5,793
3,579
1,565
512
137
1995
5,254
3,249
1,450
440
115
1996
4,613
2,836
1,309
376
92
1997
4,205
2,562
1,262
306
75
1998
3,761
2,184
1,241
262
74
1999
3,365
1,990
1,078
214
83
2000
3,012
1,776
1,007
193
36
2001
2,911
1,771
928
182
30
2002
2,867
1,830
828
167
42
2003
2,827
1,822
810
151
44
2004
2,825
1,804
846
143
32
2005
3,006
1,972
822
173
39
2006
3,184
2,225
763
154
42
2007
3,042
2,161
683
138
60
Total
110,645
62,628
34,105
11,723
2,189
*Total firearm deaths and homicide firearm deaths exclude firearm deaths by legal (police or corrections) intervention.
Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC WONDER, at
<http://wonder.cdc.gov/mortSQL.html>, accessed December 2004; and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, National Center for Injury Control and Prevention, WISQARS, at <http://www.cdc.gov/ ncipc/wisqars/>, accessed December 2004,
January 2006, December 2006, January 2008, April 2009, and June 2010.
Calculations by Children's Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
I-3
More Black than White children and teens were killed by firearms in 2007. Black children and teens are
more likely to be victims of homicide. White children and teens are more likely to be victims of suicide.
Firearm Deaths of Children and Teens, by Age,
Manner, and Race/Hispanic Origin, 2007
Under
5
Ages
5–9
Ages
10–14
Ages
15–19
Total under
age 20
All races
Accident
Suicide
Homicide
Undetermined intent
85
19
0
63
3
69
20
0
47
2
243
26
53
154
10
2,645
73
630
1,897
45
3,042
138
683
2,161
60
White
Accident
Suicide
Homicide
Undetermined intent
50
12
0
36
2
43
10
0
31
2
144
22
43
72
7
1,223
43
518
645
17
1,460
87
561
784
28
Black
Accident
Suicide
Homicide
Undetermined intent
32
6
0
25
1
25
9
0
16
0
91
4
9
76
2
1,351
29
80
1,217
25
1,499
48
89
1,334
28
American Indian, Alaska Native
Accident
Suicide
Homicide
Undetermined intent
3
1
0
2
0
1
1
0
0
0
4
0
1
3
0
32
1
19
10
2
40
3
20
15
2
Asian, Pacific Islander
Accident
Suicide
Homicide
Undetermined intent
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
3
1
39
0
13
25
1
43
0
13
28
2
Hispanic*
Accident
Suicide
Homicide
Undetermined intent
19
4
0
14
1
8
2
0
6
0
45
2
2
39
2
539
14
90
427
8
611
22
92
486
11
*Persons of Hispanic origin can be of any race.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control,
WISQARS, at <http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars>, accessed June 2010. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
I-4
Children’s Defense Fund
Black males 15 to 19 are more than five times as likely as White males and more than
twice as likely as Hispanic and American Indian males to be killed by firearms.
Firearm Death Rates of Males Ages 15–19 by Race and
Hispanic Origin, 2007
Black males ages 15 to 19 are more than five times as likely as their White peers and
more than twice as likely as their Hispanic peers to be killed by firearms.
80
69.84
Deaths per 100,000 males ages 15–19
70
60
50
40
30
25.81
21.64
18.69
20
12.40
10
6.97
0
White
Black
Hispanic*
American
Indian,
Alaska Native
Asian,
Pacific Islander
Total,
All Races
*Persons of Hispanic origin can be of any race.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for
Injury Prevention and Control, WISQARS, at <http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars>, accessed June 2010.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
I-5
Since 1979 the annual number of firearm deaths of White children and teens decreased by
about 54 percent, but deaths of Black children and teens increased by 61 percent.
Firearm Deaths of Children and Teens, by Race/Hispanic Origin,
1979–2007
Total
Black
White
American
Indian,
Alaska
Native*
Asian,
Pacific
Islander*
Hispanic**
1979
3,710
929
2,700
—
—
—
1980
3,749
944
2,739
—
—
—
1981
3,589
944
2,569
49
27
1982
3,332
811
2,450
55
23
—
1983
2,962
739
2,155
42
25
—
1984
3,030
716
2,238
44
32
—
1985
3,169
850
2,241
42
36
—
1986
3,349
938
2,337
43
31
—
1987
3,400
1,117
2,199
28
54
—
1988
3,974
1,458
2,405
76
53
—
1989
4,384
1,694
2,563
50
76
—
1990
4,935
2,047
2,753
47
87
748
1991
5,329
2,297
2,878
60
91
883
1992
5,353
2,359
2,834
55
105
924
1993
5,715
2,600
2,925
51
139
977
1994
5,793
2,559
3,024
75
135
993
1995
5,254
2,153
2,898
73
130
1,005
1996
4,613
1,976
2,475
64
98
817
1997
4,205
1,687
2,357
59
102
748
1998
3,761
1,416
2,197
60
88
661
1999
3,365
1,301
1,934
57
73
605
2000
3,012
1,149
1,762
44
57
568
2001
2,911
1,128
1,695
49
39
518
2002
2,867
1,112
1,639
52
64
581
2003
2,827
1,172
1,554
50
51
553
2004
2,825
1,149
1,568
57
51
574
2005
3,006
1,271
1,624
51
60
614
2006
3,184
1,441
1,618
48
77
678
2007
3,042
1,499
1,460
40
43
611
Total
110,645
41,456
65,791
1,421
1,847
13,058
* Data for American Indian/Alaska Native and Asian/Pacific Islander not available for 1979-1980.
** Persons of Hispanic origin can be of any race. Hispanic data not available prior to 1990. For 1990 to 1996, a small number of states with small
Hispanic populations did not include Hispanic identifiers in their reporting to the federal government.
Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC WONDER, at
<http://wonder.cdc.gov/mortSQL.html>, accessed December 2004; and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, National Center for Injury Control and Prevention, WISQARS, at <http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/ wisqars/>, accessed December 2004,
January 2006, December 2006, January 2008, April 2009, and June 2010.
Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
I-6
Children’s Defense Fund
The number of children and teens killed by firearms increased in 19 states and the District of Columbia
and decreased in 29 states between 2006 and 2007.
Firearm Deaths of Children and Teens, by Manner, 2005–2007
Homicide*
Total*
2005 2006 2007
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Suicide
2005 2006 2007
Undetermined
Intent
Accident
2005 2006 2007
2005 2006 2007
2005 2006 2007
64
13
102
46
474
44
10
7
26
148
80
2
16
130
62
15
18
36
110
1
75
27
92
42
30
73
18
19
34
1
45
25
93
91
11
118
35
17
138
7
41
11
77
264
10
3
79
44
19
56
7
59
17
112
34
511
46
24
6
23
172
87
1
22
154
74
28
25
30
98
6
79
24
128
28
41
90
6
17
41
2
58
33
115
94
10
106
46
24
159
5
51
9
69
237
15
4
66
38
10
46
4
69
14
82
35
431
33
14
7
26
176
114
0
14
150
50
15
36
42
114
5
82
31
119
27
50
85
8
20
38
1
53
36
107
91
3
104
45
15
126
0
60
5
61
250
15
2
76
32
10
57
6
39
5
62
17
392
19
7
4
26
96
54
1
5
111
41
4
11
17
67
0
64
26
65
16
12
44
2
3
20
1
40
11
66
58
1
78
19
2
99
6
24
2
48
164
3
1
54
20
9
33
3
39
5
68
20
435
22
20
4
22
122
60
0
5
133
51
11
9
11
75
3
66
21
93
17
24
63
0
9
26
1
54
15
96
60
0
72
30
11
121
3
37
0
43
162
1
1
40
13
4
27
0
52
5
53
23
376
13
10
6
25
136
87
0
0
128
31
4
19
21
82
1
73
26
92
11
20
55
2
10
27
0
50
14
93
67
0
65
24
3
93
0
46
0
40
160
5
1
57
16
3
35
1
17
8
35
23
54
20
2
3
0
46
21
1
9
13
18
10
4
16
30
1
10
0
23
23
9
16
15
15
14
0
4
12
20
26
9
28
12
12
32
1
12
7
22
84
7
2
22
21
9
20
4
18
9
35
13
54
19
4
2
0
37
18
1
15
16
18
15
14
14
14
3
10
3
32
11
6
19
4
8
14
1
2
18
17
27
7
29
12
13
30
2
11
7
21
58
13
2
21
19
5
18
4
11
8
17
8
43
16
3
1
0
31
16
0
12
17
16
10
17
17
21
4
9
4
23
16
16
20
6
8
9
1
2
16
13
17
3
32
16
11
21
0
8
5
19
73
9
1
19
15
4
14
5
7
0
2
5
25
4
1
0
0
5
5
0
2
6
1
1
3
2
12
0
0
1
2
1
7
10
1
1
0
0
1
2
6
6
1
12
2
3
4
0
5
2
7
13
0
0
1
1
0
3
0
2
3
3
0
20
1
0
0
1
11
5
0
2
5
4
2
2
4
8
0
2
0
3
0
9
7
2
0
1
0
2
0
2
4
1
5
3
0
8
0
3
2
4
14
1
0
3
3
1
1
0
4
0
4
4
8
1
0
0
0
3
8
0
2
4
3
1
0
3
10
0
0
1
2
0
13
5
0
2
2
0
1
3
1
7
0
3
5
1
8
0
4
0
2
15
1
0
0
1
2
4
0
1
0
3
1
3
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
2
2
2
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
2
0
3
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
6
1
2
4
0
0
0
2
4
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
0
1
2
3
0
0
0
2
1
8
0
4
3
1
0
1
6
3
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
2
0
1
5
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
4
0
0
4
0
2
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
1
4
0
3,006
3,184
3,042
1,972
2,225
2,161
822
763
683
173
154
138
39
42
60
*Total firearm deaths and homicide firearm deaths exclude firearm deaths by legal (police or corrections) intervention.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, WISQARS, at <http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/ wisqars/>. data accessed
February 2008, April 2009, and June 2010. Calculations by Children’s Defense Fund.
State of America’s Children® 2010
I-7
Children and teens killed by gunfire in 2006 nearly equaled the total number
of U.S. combat deaths in Iraq since the war started and were more than
four times the number of American combat fatalities in Afghanistan.
It’s Time to Stop the Deaths
U.S. Soldiers Killed in Action
Revolutionary War, 1775–1783
4,435
War of 1812, 1812–1815
2,260
Mexican War, 1846–1848
1,733
Civil War (Union Forces), 1861–1865
Spanish-American War, 1898
140,414
385
World War I, 1917–1918
53,402
World War II, 1941–1945
291,557
Korean War, 1950–1953
33,741
Vietnam War, 1961–1973
47,424
Persian Gulf War, 1990–1991
147
Military fatalities by hostile action in Afghanistan
(through May 1, 2010)
762
Military fatalities by hostile action in Iraq
(through May 1, 2010)
3,475
Persons Killed in the Terrorist Attacks on 9/11
2,927
U.S. Firearm Deaths
Firearm deaths in America since 1968 when
Dr. King and Robert Kennedy were assassinated
Child and teen firearm deaths since 1979
Children and teens killed by firearms in 2007
1,265,734
110,645
3,042
Source: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Statistical Information Analysis
Division, “Principal Wars in Which the United States Participated: U.S. Military Personnel Serving and
Casualties,” at http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/WCPRINCIPAL.pdf, “Operation Enduring
Freedom: Military Deaths, October 1, 2001 through May 1, 2010,” at http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/
personnel/CASUALTY/oefdeaths.pdf, and “Operation Iraqi Freedom: Military Deaths, March 19, 2003
through May 1, 2010,” at http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/ personnel/ CASUALTY/oif-deaths-total.pdf; and
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, Vital Statistics
of the United States, various years; and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center
for Injury Prevention and Control, WISQARS, at http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html.
I-8
Children’s Defense Fund
In 2007 almost one in five high school students admitted carrying a weapon; one-third of
them brought the weapon to school. One in 18 high school students reported staying home
from school because they felt unsafe at school or going to or from school.
Violence and Risk Behaviors of High School Students, 2007
Total
Race/Ethnicity
White
Black Hispanic
18.0%
18.2%
17.2%
18.5%
20.1%
Carried a gun
5.2
4.3
6.2
6.2
5.2
5.5
4.6
5.0
Carried a weapon
to school
5.9
5.3
6.0
7.3
6.0
5.8
5.5
6.0
Threatened or injured
with a weapon on
school property
7.8
6.9
9.7
8.7
9.2
8.4
6.8
6.3
35.5
31.7
44.7
40.4
40.9
36.2
34.8
28.0
4.2
3.0
5.3
6.3
5.6
3.7
3.5
3.3
In a physical fight on
school property
12.4
10.2
17.6
15.5
17.0
11.7
11.0
8.6
Did not go to school
because felt unsafe
at school or on way
to/from school
5.5
4.0
6.6
9.6
6.6
5.4
4.7
4.8
Carried a weapon
In a physical fight
Injured in a physical fight
Grade
9
10
11
18.8% 16.7%
12
15.5%
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Surveillance Summaries, “Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance – United States, 2007,” MMWR,
Vol. 57, No. SS-4 (June 6, 2008), Tables 7, 9, 13, 15 and 17.
For more information on the State of America’s Children,
contact the Children’s Defense Fund
25 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 628-8787
1 (800) 233-1200
www.childrensdefense.org
State of America’s Children® 2010
I-9
25 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 628-8787
1 (800) 233-1200
www.childrensdefense.org