While many people are familiar with the Kentucky KIDS COUNT project, there is much more county, school district, and race level data that is collected and analyzed. The Annie E. Casey Foundation, who leads the national KIDS COUNT project, hosts a Data Center for all 50 states where additional information can be found. In addition to the data they display for the entire state and each congressional district, KYA tracks more information at the county and school district-level as well. 

The data primarily spans the same four domains as our dashboard, including Economic Security, Education, Health, and Family & Community, but also includes population estimates and an additional category, Safety & Risky Behaviors. The Data Center also includes a function to create a custom report of a specific location and data points that can be downloaded.  

Although the information will vary depending on location and category, it is possible to get a broad picture of how children and families are faring across the Commonwealth. For instance, information about the percentage of newborns being breastfed at hospital discharge is available at the county and state level. You can also view the information in a table, map, a line chart (trend), or bar chart. Using the trends and bar charts, you can compare a limited number of counties to each other and to the state level and download the information as an image or raw data, depending on the chart being viewed.  

So where do we get our data from? One of our primary sources is the Census Bureau, the most comprehensive source of information about how Americans are living. From insurance coverage to types of housing to internet access, the Census surveys provide state and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations with information they need to make decisions on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, the Census has been underfunded for years, and the current funding is also targeted for reduction, this means we may have difficulty accessing good quality data that provides guidance on what children and families in the Commonwealth need.  

Another important source is the information that the state collects as part of its routine functions. Much of our school district information comes from the Kentucky Department of Education, child welfare information from the Department for Community Based Services, and health information from the Office of Vital Statistics. We are grateful for these partnerships that allow us to inform legislators and community members of the latest trends in their communities.  

These sources of information are not the only ones we use. To find out more, visit the Annie E. Casey KIDS COUNT Data Center.  

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