KIDS COUNT in Delaware

Devoted to improving the well-being on 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 Policy Analyst: Kim Lowman, MA​

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.

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 is changing. Moving forward, all of the data formerly reported in the annual fact book will now be accessible in the online KIDS COUNT Data Center.

Using the online KIDS COUNT Data Center tool offers a number of advantages over a traditional print version publication including improved access to data. The interactive, online data center works on any screen- desktop, laptop and any handheld including smartphones, eliminating the need to have bulky paper copy or navigate a large pdf.

Another benefit of our move to the use of the data center is that it has given us the ability to implement a perpetual calendar for updates. In other words, you'll get newer data sooner. You'll also have an improved ability to access data from other KIDS COUNT projects from across the country as well as national data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The data center is set up with a "no wrong door" approach to finding data, meaning that we try to make it as intuitive as possible for users to find specific data. Data can be found by searching by location, topic or characteristic. Using built-in tools, users are able to create data visualizations including customized maps, line graphs, bar charts and tables.

Notes throughout the data center give detail on original data sources, definitions and footnotes. Clarification includes when each indicator was last updated by KIDS COUNT in Delaware staff. Impact statements tell why each indicator matters. When data is formatted into a series, pop-up windows provide clarity on why seemingly similar data can't be compared.

Using the online data center, visualizations can be printed, emailed or saved as an image for use in presentation, reports, grant applications, testimony or legislation. The tool offers a social share feature that links to more than 175 different social media platforms as well as an option to embed visualizations into an organization's website, blog or e-news.

Live demonstrations of the Data Center are being scheduled throughout the year. If you're interested in learning more, subscribe to the KIDS COUNT in Delaware list-serv to get notices of future training sessions.

​​​One of fifty-three similar projects throughout the US 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.