Latest news with #IndianaYouthInstitute
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Indiana's overall child well-being improves, with high rankings in economic and education
Research suggests that children and youth engaged in formal mentoring programs, especially those involved for a year or more, reported significantly fewer behavioral problems and fewer symptoms of depression and social anxiety when compared to non-mentored youths. (Getty Images) A state-by-state report shows Indiana child well-being has improved with its highest rankings in over a decade for both economic and education categories. But it remains in the bottom half for health and family and community — indicating progress and opportunities to do better for Hoosier children. The 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book ranked Indiana 25th overall for child well-being, slightly improving from 27th in 2024. In 2022 and 2021, the state ranked 28th and 29th. The report is developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in partnership with organizations across the country, including the Indiana Youth Institute. It aims to evaluate where there is progress and what needs greater support among four domains: economics, education, health and family and community. It ranks the national and state data among 16 indicators which are combined under the four domains. This year, Indiana ranked 11th in both economic and education, an increase from 15th and 17th last year, respectively. 'This year's KIDS COUNT rankings reflect encouraging momentum … demonstrating that investments in children and families make a meaningful impact,' said Tami Silverman, president and CEO of Indiana Youth Institute. 'We know what kids need to grow up healthy and connected so they can thrive as adults: stable homes, strong schools, nutritious food, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to learn, play, and grow. Programs that meet these needs are smart investments, fostering long-term gains like workforce development and economic growth.' Nationally, states showed the most improvement in family and community. However, education worsened across the board, with declines in student proficiency in math and reading. New Hampshire and Vermont were ranked among the best in overall child well-being, while New Mexico and Louisiana were ranked lowest. Indiana's economic indicators showed slight increases and was better than the national data in all four categories. In 2023, the number of children in poverty — 239,000 or 15% — remained similar to prior data in 2019. Meanwhile, fewer teens were out of school or work, and more parents had secure employment in 2023. However, the percentage of children living in households burdened by high housing costs increased from 21% in 2019 to 23% in 2023. Indiana data showed better performances in education than national averages, ranking 11th among other states. But individual indicators were worse compared to prior year data. Eighth-grade math proficiency dropped, with 69% not being proficient compared to 63% in 2019. Similarly, 66% fourth graders were not proficient in reading, as compared to 63% in 2019. The percentage of high school students not graduating on time improved slightly, similarly to national trends. Indiana also performed worse in the percentage of young children ages 3 and 4 not in school, 60% compared to 59% in prior data. Indiana's health rankings align with national trends in children and teens between 10 and 17 who are overweight or obese and low birth-weight babies. The state is below average for children without health insurance showing 6% are without. Nationally 5% of children don't have health insurance. Indiana averaged 34 deaths for children and teens per 100,000, marking an increase compared to 29 deaths in prior data. Indiana remained near the bottom nationally in family and community ranking 31st — unchanged from last year. Although each indicator improved and is performing slightly better than national data. In 2023, the state was home to more than 1.59 million children under 18. Of that, 33% are children in single-parent families and 7% of children live in high-poverty areas, which decreased from years before. Nationally, 34% of children are in single-parent families and 11% of children live in high poverty areas. 'When Indiana's kids and families thrive, our entire state moves forward,' Silverman said. 'These rankings are a reminder that while we're seeing real gains in key areas, we must continue to focus on what works—ensuring that every child and every family has the support they need to grow, contribute, and thrive.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 Kids Count Data Book says Indiana improving in child well-being
Indiana ranks 25th in child well-being, according to the 2025 Kids Count Data Book, which was publicly released today (June 9). That publication is a 50-state report of recent data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how kids are faring in post-pandemic America. In the Hoosier State, the Indiana Youth Institute leads data collection and analysis for the report. Every year, the report presents national and state data from 16 indicators across four domains—Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family & Community factors. It ranks the states according to how children are faring overall. This year, compared to other states, Indiana ranks 25th overall, compared to Indiana's 2024 overall well-being rank of 27. 'This year's Kids Count rankings reflect encouraging momentum. Indiana rose to 11th in both Economic Well-Being and Education—our highest rankings in these indicators in over a decade—demonstrating that investments in children and families make a meaningful impact,' Tami Silverman, President and CEO of Indiana Youth Institute," said in a news release. 'We know what kids need to grow up healthy and connected so they can thrive as adults: stable homes, strong schools, nutritious food, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to learn, play, and grow." Silverman said. Programs that meet these needs are smart investments, fostering long-term gains like workforce development and economic growth.' In the categories, the report found: • Economic Well-Being: Ranking of 11 ranking is up from 15th last year • Education: Ranking of 11 is up from 17 last year. • Health: Ranking of 30 is up from 32nd last year. • Family and Community: Ranking of 31 is unchanged from last year. 'When Indiana's kids and families thrive, our entire state moves forward,' said Silverman. 'These rankings are a reminder that while we're seeing real gains in key areas, we must continue to focus on what works—ensuring that every child and every family has the support they need to grow, contribute, and thrive.' The 2025 Kids Count Data Book is available at For a more thorough description of the Kids County index, visit
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 Kids Count Data Book says Indiana improving in child well-being
Indiana ranks 25th in child well-being, according to the 2025 Kids Count Data Book, which was publicly released today (June 9). That publication is a 50-state report of recent data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how kids are faring in post-pandemic America. In the Hoosier State, the Indiana Youth Institute leads data collection and analysis for the report. Every year, the report presents national and state data from 16 indicators across four domains—Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family & Community factors. It ranks the states according to how children are faring overall. This year, compared to other states, Indiana ranks 25th overall, compared to Indiana's 2024 overall well-being rank of 27. 'This year's Kids Count rankings reflect encouraging momentum. Indiana rose to 11th in both Economic Well-Being and Education—our highest rankings in these indicators in over a decade—demonstrating that investments in children and families make a meaningful impact,' Tami Silverman, President and CEO of Indiana Youth Institute," said in a news release. 'We know what kids need to grow up healthy and connected so they can thrive as adults: stable homes, strong schools, nutritious food, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to learn, play, and grow." Silverman said. Programs that meet these needs are smart investments, fostering long-term gains like workforce development and economic growth.' In the categories, the report found: • Economic Well-Being: Ranking of 11 ranking is up from 15th last year • Education: Ranking of 11 is up from 17 last year. • Health: Ranking of 30 is up from 32nd last year. • Family and Community: Ranking of 31 is unchanged from last year. 'When Indiana's kids and families thrive, our entire state moves forward,' said Silverman. 'These rankings are a reminder that while we're seeing real gains in key areas, we must continue to focus on what works—ensuring that every child and every family has the support they need to grow, contribute, and thrive.' The 2025 Kids Count Data Book is available at For a more thorough description of the Kids County index, visit
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
Indiana lawmakers promote Child Abuse Prevention Month
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and today lawmakers and child abuse advocates gathered at the Statehouse in Indianapolis to raise awareness. The event was hosted in conjunction with the Villages of Indiana. The Villages are the state's largest licensed and accredited nonprofit agency dedicated to family and child services. At today's event, organizers and lawmakers, including Governor Mike Braun, talked about the importance of keeping young Hoosiers safe. Two arrested on child abuse, neglect charges in Knox County 'Child Abuse Prevention Month is a reminder that it is on all of us to know the signs of child abuse and to speak up for the victims that can't speak up for themselves,' said Gov. Braun. 'We shouldn't have to talk about it but the fact that a crowd this large is here to punctuate that, that means we got work to do.' According to the Indiana Youth Institute's most recent stats in 2023, more than 7,500 young Hoosiers were removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect. Officials said that's a 26% increase from 2022. To report abuse or neglect, call the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 800-800-5556. Fort Wayne woman faces 5 felony counts, accused of leaving children bruised with belt Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Youth workers updated on Kids Count Data Book
ELKHART — Representatives of organizations that serve youth in Elkhart County are getting the latest data to help them better understand trends and make decisions. The Indiana Youth Institute has published the Indiana Kids Count Data Book for the past 31 years. It serves as an annual profile of youth in Indiana, tracking trends in areas like mental health and poverty and comparing Indiana to neighboring states. 'Our mission is to support kids, and we do that by supporting you,' Chelsea Naylor, senior outreach manager for the Northwest Region, told a gathering Friday. 'We know when youth workers have access to data, resources and trainings, you're better able to serve kids and kids are better off.' The data book is available at More than just a report on kids, the data book is also an indicator of how well adults are meeting their needs, according to Ashley Haynes, vice president of Data and Communications. 'The data book is more than just a collection of numbers and statistics. It's a report card for us as adults,' she said. 'It tells us the challenges our kids are experiencing, it tells us where we're making some great strides and improvements and it helps us generate conversations abut what we can do with that data.' Haynes said almost 60,000 kids in Elkhart County will be growing up in a dramatically different world than their parents did. 'There are over 1.5 million children living in Indiana. Here in Elkhart County, there are 57,167 youth under the age of 18,' she said. 'And across our state, this generation is more diverse than our adult population and we know they are inheriting a world that is very different from the one most of us grew up in.' She said in 2024, Indiana ranked 15th in the country for economic well-being and 17th in education, but was 31st in family and community and 32nd in health, according to data collected by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Haynes said education was the only area where Indiana improved from 2023. The poor health ranking extends to mental health as well. The percentage of youth who reported depression or suicidal thoughts was lower in 2024 than in recent years but mental health care can be hard to obtain. In 2022, Haynes said, 59.7 percent of caregivers reported difficulty obtaining mental health care for their child and 62 percent of LGBTQ youth who wanted mental health care were unable to receive it. Both numbers put Indiana behind its neighbors. Despite the state consistently ranking low in health, Haynes said, the steady drop in substance use among students in grades 7-12 is encouraging. She said since 2018, alcohol use fell from 17.5 percent to 9 percent, vaping from 16.9 percent to 6.6 percent, marijuana use from 9.7 percent to 5.2 percent and cigarette smoking from 5.7 percent to 1.5 percent. 'And while overall usage rates have declined, many of our students still perceive these substances as relatively harmless,' she said. 'This perception gap presents a challenge in preventing future substance misuse and addiction.' The state's overall ranking for youth well-being in 2024 was 27th, which Haynes noted is in the bottom half of the country. Indiana placed second among its immediate neighbors. 'There are positive trends in the data. Teen birth rates are down, poverty is at its lowest in a decade and youth employment is on the rise. But we also see some pressing concerns,' she said. 'Early childhood enrollment remains low, food insecurity is increasing and the pandemic is still impacting our kids and their educational success.'
