August 18, 2021

We have an exciting announcement: Florida Policy Institute (FPI) is the newest state partner in KIDS COUNT ®, a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation dedicated to tracking the well-being of children across the United States! 

The University of South Florida (USF) has been Florida’s partner in the national network for 30 years, during which time KIDS COUNT has flourished and become a leading voice on child and family well-being. As USF passes the baton to FPI, the need for quality and timely data on child well-being could not be greater. 

From our press release sent out earlier today:

“We are thrilled to be the Sunshine State’s member of the KIDS COUNT network and build upon the strong foundation that the University of South Florida has built,” said Sadaf Knight, CEO of FPI. “Child well-being is intrinsically tied to all of the issues we advocate for here at Florida Policy Institute, including affordable, accessible medical care, a tax system where the wealthy pay their share, and fully funded public schools. Amid the pandemic and recession, it’s absolutely critical that we build a stronger foundation in the state so that our children have the tools they need to thrive.”

“The Department of Child and Family Studies in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at the University of South Florida has been a wonderful home to KIDS COUNT since its inception, and it will be hard to leave it,” said Dr. Norín  Dollard, senior policy analyst and director of KIDS COUNT. “I look forward to the new and exciting opportunities with Florida Policy Institute to keep working on behalf of Florida’s children, families, and communities.” For those of you who are new to receiving emails from FPI, remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram , and LinkedIn. 

KIDS COUNT has raised the profile of child well-being nationally. Florida Policy Institute looks forward to continuing and growing this important work for KIDS COUNT in Florida.

KIDS COUNT® is a registered trademark of The Annie E. Casey Foundation in the United States and/or other countries and is used with permission of the Foundation.