Children Being Well

Forum's 14th annual report highlights the well-being of U.S. children and youth

It is said that you can’t truly understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in his or her shoes. Since 1997, the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics has been trying to "walk in the shoes" of the nation’s children and youth to understand the features of their health and well-being. By reporting on these features, the Forum provides a snapshot not only of our children’s lives, but also of the country’s future.

The Forum’s latest report, America’s Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2010, showed gains in some measures of health and well-being and declines in other measures. For instance, the Forum reported that the number of preterm births dropped between 2007 and 2008. When considered over time, these data help define children’s needs, assess resources to meet those needs, in terms of schools, access to care, and other topics, and help identify future needs. For a summary of the Forum’s findings, you can read the news release about the 2010 America’s Children report.

The Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics includes 22 agencies, including NICHD, which conduct research and support or are involved in activities related to children and families. The Forum aims to foster coordination and collaboration and to enhance and improve consistency in the collection and reporting of federal data on children, youth, and families.

The Forum alternates between publishing a full report, which includes detailed data on all 40 health indicators, and an In Brief report, which provides details on only a few specific measures but summarizes the progress on all measures from the pervious year. Indicators cover seven domains, including Family and Social Environment, Economic Circumstances, Health Care, Physical Environment and Safety, Behavior, Education, and Health. All America’s Children reports are available through the Forum’s Web site at https://www.childstats.gov.

For more information on America’s Children, visit the following resources:

 

Originally Posted: July 9, 2010

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