In This Issue..

In this issue of the newsletter, the Annie E. Casey Foundation announces the release of the 2006 KIDS COUNT Data Book and online database.

2006 KIDS COUNT Data Book Released
The 17th annual KIDS COUNT Data Book released June 27 reports that national trends in child well-being are no longer improving in the steady way they did in the late 1990s. The annual Data Book shows that three out of 10 child well-being indicators have worsened since 2000. More than 13 million children were living in poverty in 2004 – an increase of 1 million over four years. There was an increase in the percentage of low-birthweight babies between 2000 and 2003 and an increase in the number of children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment.

This year's essay, "Family, Friend and Neighbor Care; Strengthening a Critical Resource to Help Young Children Succeed,” explores how to improve early childhood development experiences and opportunities for young children living in low-income neighborhoods by focusing on ways to support family-based child care providers. The state-by-state data contained in the 2006 Data Book are now part of an interactive database.