Indiana Ranks 29th Nationwide for Child Well-Being
A recent KIDS COUNT Data Book released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks Indiana 29th in the nation for child well-being. The data found that fewer Hoosier children are living in poverty, with 2019 statistics down 18 percent from 22 percent in 2010.
According to the report, one third of African-American children and a third of American Indian children live in poverty in Indiana and are three times as likely as white kids to live in poverty.
The data also showed that 16 percent of Hoosier high school students did not graduate on time in 2016-17, a 2 percent increase since 2010.
Indiana was among five other states with the lowest rate of teen substance abuse in the nation at 3 percent.
“The KIDS COUNT Data Book provides valuable insight into where progress is being made and where we need to focus our efforts,” said Tami Silverman, president and chief executive officer of the Indiana Youth Institute. “While there are positive signs across many indicators, it is clear that we need to do more to ensure Hoosier children, especially our children of color, have bright futures.”
To learn more from the full data book, click here.