KIDS COUNT in Delaware

Devoted to improving the well-being of our state's children, youth and their families, KIDS COUNT in Delaware has been using highly credible research, data collection and education to inform change on behalf of children for the last 25 years.

KIDS COUNT, a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is a national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the United States. By providing policy makers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being, KIDS COUNT seeks to enrich local and state discussion concerning ways to secure better lives for all children. The project here in Delaware is a collaborative effort of over forty organizations that is housed within the Center for Community Research & Service at the University of Delaware.

KIDS COUNT Director: Janice Barlow, MPA

KIDS COUNT Undergraduate Public Policy Fellow: Christy Arango-Kautz

KIDS COUNT Undergraduate Intern: Olivia Malinowski

Since its inception in 1994, KIDS COUNT in Delaware's signature publication has been an annual fact book known as a comprehensive source for data on our state's children. This year, WHERE users look to get the necessary data has changed. All of the data formerly reported in the annual fact book are now accessible in the online KIDS COUNT Data Center.

Learn more about this resource.

Compiling statewide data for public use, the new KIDS COUNT in Delaware Fact Book's central theme is obtaining an accurate and complete count in Census 2020. Research has shown that 1 million of America's youngest residents were not counted in the last census- the worst net undercount for any age group.

"With the census less than a year away, now is the time for us to plan and prepare," said Janice Barlow, director of KIDS COUNT in Delaware. "Census data are used for so much--  representation, funding allocations and planning. Decisions for things like neighborhood improvements, public health, education and transportation are all made based on this kind of data."

In Delaware, more than $500 million flows to the state each year  from the 10 largest federal programs that serve children. When kids aren't counted, communities are in danger of receiving less than their fair share of federal dollars for programs like Head Start, school lunches, public health insurance and child care- programs and services that help young children in low-income families get a healthy start in life.

The 2019 Fact Book shows that public investment and policy choices make a difference in the outcomes kids experience. An accurate census is essential for that. According to Barlow, "while the census is ultimately a federal responsibility, states have a lot to gain or lose based on response rates. Therefore, Delaware and its communities have an incentive to ensure a successful local count." KIDS COUNT in Delaware offers the following recommendations to achieve a more accurate census:

• Fund state and local outreach: State and local governments and community organizations need to invest in educational outreach around the census to ensure that the most vulnerable communities are counted.
• Expand the pool of trusted messengers: Broaden the circle of people (from early care and education providers to members of the clergy) and organizations (from public schools to libraries to the business community) who can provide outreach in their communities to reach hard-to-count households and encourage participation among people most likely to be missed.
• Address the digital divide: Provide online access for all families to participate in the census
• Address privacy and confidentiality concerns: Given the growing distrust and fear of online data breaches, it is critical that government officials ensure the protection of respondents' data.

It is evident that these recommendations will cost Delaware and communities dollars – but the gain of federal funding for important, vital programs more than makes up for census advocacy costs.

​​​One of fifty-three similar projects throughout the U.S. and its territories funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, KIDS COUNT in Delaware is housed in the Center for Community Research and Service at the University of Delaware and led by a board of committed and concerned child and family advocates from the public and private sectors. KIDS COUNT in Delaware is especially grateful for the support of the University of Delaware.