June 22, 2020
The Annie E. Casey Foundation has released the 2020 edition of the KIDS COUNT® Data Book, an annually published resource that tracks child well-being nationally and state by state and ranks the states accordingly.
As always, the report is based on the latest available data for 16 key indicators. For the 2020 report, those data are 2018, so they do not reflect current conditions amidst the COVID-19 crisis. The Casey Foundation plans to explore the effects of the pandemic on child well-being in a future report but is releasing the annual Data Book as usual to ensure legislators and other policymakers, researchers and advocates for children have the information they are customarily able to access at this time of year.
Working to keep kids healthy and safe has never been more essential,” said Lisa Hamilton, president and CEO of the Casey Foundation. “Having consistent, reliable data to guide our decisions will be critical as we continue seeking to ensure the well-being of children, families and communities throughout this challenging time and beyond.”
The 2020 Data Book shows improvement nationally on 11 indicators in the KIDS COUNT Index; three indicators stayed the same and two worsened. Among the states, Massachusetts ranked first, New Hampshire second and Minnesota third for child well-being. Louisiana, Mississippi and New Mexico were 48th, 49th and 50th respectively.
Florida showed improvement on nearly every indicator heading into the pandemic and ranked 35th nationwide. While the current reality differs from the data presented, the state profiles remain an important benchmarks to guide us as we stride towards recovery and help maintain our focus on the well-being of Florida children and families.
Data Book Resources
Florida Specifics
- Florida Rankings (Compare to National Rankings)
If you would like to arrange an interview with Florida KIDS COUNT Director Dr. Norín Dollard to discuss the results of 2020 Data Book, please contact her via email