Annie E. Casey Foundation Calls for "Data Revolution" in Tracking Child Well-Being; Releases 20th Annual KIDS COUNT Data Book

Media Webinar on Tuesday, July 28 at 12:00 p.m. EDT

Baltimore, MD - On July 28, The Annie E. Casey Foundation will launch the 20th KIDS COUNT Data Book -- a state-by-state profile of the well-being of America’s children and state ranking on 10 key measures of well-being. Casey, in releasing the 2009 KIDS COUNT Data Book, makes it clear that the basis for improving the outcomes of this country’s most disadvantaged children and families lies in identifying where they are, the conditions that they live in and the effectiveness of current programs to improve outcomes.

The KIDS COUNT Data Book and the new Data Center (http://datacenter.kidscount.org) respond to this need by providing the nation with a consistent source of information about children’s well-being. In addition to 20 years of consistent measures across the states, data is now available at the state, county, and city level, providing policymakers with the most comprehensive source of information.

Register today for the “Counting What Counts” Media Webinar on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at noon EDT. Laura Beavers, coordinator of the national KIDS COUNT project, and Patrick McCarthy, senior vice president, of the Casey Foundation will discuss the well-being indicators, why data-driven decision-making is critical for improving the futures of those children and families most in need, and the features of the new Data Center.

The new KIDS COUNT Data Center offers a variety of ways to access and share data on hundreds of indicators of child well-being at the state, city, and community level. The Media Webinar will teach you to create your own maps, charts, graphs, and how to use your BlackBerry, iPhone, or any smartphone to find KIDS COUNT data. Enhanced features include the ability to add customized maps with real-time data to your own website or blog.