2009 North Carolina Children's Index  

Action for Children North Carolina's 2009 North Carolina Children's Index offers a wealth of child and youth well-being data that demonstrate the state's public policy successes as well as missed opportunities. The report shows that important investments in children's services pay off, that sound research enhances the ability to build effective programs and that, despite progress in addressing children's needs, geographic and racial disparities persist.

The Children's Index, which is published biennially, presents a comprehensive snapshot of how children are faring in North Carolina. The report monitors key indicators that address seven issue areas: health, safety, economic security, early care, education, child maltreatment and delinquency prevention.

2008 Child Health Report Card - October 2008

Highlights of the 2008 Child Health Report Card include;
-Approximately 20 percent of North Carolina's 2.2 million children (age 0-17) continue to live in poverty and 13.1 percent remain uninsured. Poverty and lack of insurance provide a serious challenge to the health of youth across the state.
-Access to dental care continues to be a major problem with 1-in-5 kindergartners suffering from untreated tooth decay.
-The percentage of children who are overweight continues to worsen at an alarming pace despite recent efforts to combat this problem. Today, almost 1-in-4 children (age 2-18) in North Carolina are overweight compared to 1-in-5 in 2002.
-While the use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit substances has decreased among high school students, the use of these substances remains alarmingly high. For example, 19 percent of high school students reported using marijuana and 38 percent reported using alcohol in the past month.
-Though infant and child death rates remain close to historic lows, they are showing signs of increasing and warrant careful attention. Child abuse homicide remains a particularly tragic indicator of the need to provide more support for families. In 2007, there were 25 child abuse homicide deaths.
-Racial disparities remain disturbingly wide across several indicators. For example, infant mortality and low birthweight continue to disproportionately impact communities of color. Narrowing these gaps deserves special attention

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2007 Child Health Report Card - October 2007

Highlights of the 2007 Child Health Report Card include:
- Of North Carolina’s 2.1 million children (age 0-18), 20% continue to live in poverty and 13.2% remain uninsured due to the continued loss of employer-based insurance for dependents, amplifying the need for further expansion of access to affordable health care coverage;
- Access to dental care continues to be a major problem, with 1-in-5 kindergarteners suffering from untreated tooth decay;
- The percentage of children who are overweight continues to worsen at alarming rates, despite recent efforts to combat this problem;

2006 Child Health Report Card - October 2006

Highlights of the 2006 Child Health Report Card include:
- The child poverty rate has increased to 21% among a child population (age 0-17) that now exceeds two million;
- The percentage of all children without health insurance is increasing due to the continued loss of employer-based insurance for dependents;
- Racial disparities are disturbingly wide; and
- The prevalence of risky behaviors -- e.g. alcohol, tobacco and substance abuse as well as sexual activity -- among teens (grades 9-12) is alarming and highlights the need for parents and other adults to be better role models.

Sex, Drugs and Rock N' Roll: What Teens Do, What Parents Assume and What Parents Can Do - December 2006 

This report shows the startling disconnect between what parents assume their teens are doing, and what teens report they are doing when it comes to substance abuse and sexual activity.  It also provides concrete research-based steps that parents can take to positively influence teen decision making.

2006 Children's Index - May 2006

The 2006 North Carolina Children's Index includes more than 75 indicators of child and youth well-being in the following areas: child health and safety, economic (in)security, early care and education, child maltreatment, juvenile justice and demographics. The 2006 Index also includes a special section highlighting how the children and youth of North Carolina are developing in positive ways.

Copies of the Children's Index are free.  If you would like to order multiple copies of the Index, we do ask that you pay postage costs. Please email your name, organization, mailing address and phone number to admin@ncchild.org

Outcomes By Income: Low-Income Children Fare Worse on Many Indicators - December 2005

North Carolina children who live in families above 200% of the federal poverty line—about $38,700 for a family of four—are more likely to enjoy excellent physical and dental health, more likely to be read to as young children, more likely to participate in after-school activities and sports, and less likely to repeat a grade than their lower-income peers.

2005 Child Health Report Card - October 2005

Highlights of the 2005 Child Health Report Card include:
- Vaccines have been made available to all children at little or no cost, and the state's child immunization rates at age two have been among the best in the nation in recent years;
- Laws requiring smoke detectors, safe storage of firearms, child passenger safety restraints and graduated drivers’ licenses have kept child injury deaths in check.

Issue Brief: Fuming Over School Bus Diesel - March 2004

Why Cutting Medicaid is Harmful to NC's Health: An NCCAI Background Briefing - June 2003

Medicaid is good medicine, both for the health of our people and the health of our economy. Learn more about Medicaid basics in this report prepared by the staff and fellows of Action for Children under the leadership of Tom Vitaglione, Senior Fellow of Child Health and Safety.