2023 MS KIDS COUNT Factbook
The Children's Foundation of Mississippi (CFM) is pleased to present the 2023 Mississippi KIDS COUNT Factbook. The CFM believes that for Mississippi to reach its potential, Mississippi's children and youth must reach their potential.
Nationally, and at the individual state level, KIDS COUNT has continued to be recognized as a premiere data source on children, youth, and families for more than three decades. KIDS COUNT can be used to gauge important changes in metrics for children, families, and communities.
Nationally, KIDS COUNT data is presented across the following four domains, with four indicators under each domain for a total of 16 indicators.
Education
• Young children (ages 3 and 4) not in school
• Fourth graders not proficient in reading
• Eighth graders not proficient in math
• High school students not graduating on time
Health
• Babies with low birth weight
• Children without health insurance
• Child and teen deaths per 100,000
• Children and teens (ages 10-17) who are overweight or obese
Economic Well-Being
• Children in poverty
• Children whose parents lack secure employment
• Children living in households with a high housing cost burden
• Teens not in school and not working
Family and Community
• Children in single-parent families
• Children in families where the household head lacks a high school diploma
• Children living in high-poverty areas
• Teen births per 1,000
Even though Mississippi ranks 48th overall in the state-by-state comparisons, Mississippi has improved on 14 of the 16 indicators (August 2022). The policy recommendations in the KIDS COUNT Factbook and the CFM's Blueprints (I and II), can help "turn the curve" for better outcomes on behalf of Mississippi's children, families, and communities.
We encourage readers to visit the KIDS COUNT Data Center for more detailed information. If you or your organization would like a tutorial on using the Data Center, please contact the CFM at info@childrensfoundationms.org.
