We meet with people all over California, introducing them to kidsdata.org. In nearly all of those meetings, we hear this common question: WHO uses kidsdata?

Because we can all use kidsdata.org anonymously, that is a difficult question to answer. So, we’ve decided to ask you, the users. We’re not out to gather any personal information — we’d just like to know two quick things: your primary affiliation, and how you plan to use the information you find on kidsdata.

Your response will be extremely valuable, and will help us shape the future content and enhancements on kidsdata.org.

Take the poll>>

Posted by Felicity Simmons

A report released this week by the Pew Hispanic Center reveals that Hispanic children comprise the largest number of children living in poverty in America, according to data from 2010. Hispanic children now surpass all other racial and ethnic groups in terms of population living in poverty, at 6.1 million, compared to 5 million Caucasian children and 4.4 million African American children.

The Pew Hispanic Center report suggests that the increase is the result of the economic recession, which drove up the percentages of unemployment and food insecurity to above average rates for Hispanics, while driving down the value of household wealth for the Hispanic population.

Among California children, the most recent data on kidsdata.org show a rise in the percentage of Hispanic children living in poverty each year from 2007 to 2009.

From 2007 to 2009, Native American, Hispanic, and African American children faced similar rates of poverty, at 26.7%, 27.5%, 28.6%, respectively.

Find more data about California children living in poverty.

Posted by kidsdata.org

Photo courtesy of Rick Wood of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A recent article in the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel chronicled the financial and emotional costs a family faces when a child is born prematurely. Infants born prematurely have a higher risk of developing immediate, severe health problems and lifelong disabilities compared to babies carried to full-term, and research also shows that preterm (vs. full-term) babies have higher death rates in young adulthood.

Given the importance of this issue, as well as its connection to children with special health care needs, which is a focus area for our foundation, we will soon add a new Preterm Birth indicator to kidsdata.org. We also will update the following related indicators:

• Low Birthweight
• Prenatal Care
• Infant Mortality

Stay tuned for these data in the coming months.

Posted by kidsdata.org

Following are some recent news highlights about children and families, along with related data from kidsdata.org:

Education (see related data)

• Obama to Waive Central Provisions of ‘No Child Left Behind’
  (NY Times, 9/22/11, by Dillon)

Physical Fitness (see related data)

• New Approach to Physical Education Encourages Healthy Habits, Improves Youth Fitness Results
  (WSJ, 9/13/11, by Shellenbarger)

Poverty (see related data)

• Census Report Finds Increase of 950,000 Children Living in Poverty from 2009 to 2010
  (LA Times, 9/13/11, by Semuels and Helfand)

School Meals (see related data)

• Public Schools Face Rising Costs of More Healthful School Lunches
  (NY Times, 9/19/11, by Santos)

Smoking/Risky Behaviors (see related data)

• Tobacco Sales Down for California Minors, Survey Finds
  (Bay Citizen, 9/22/1, by Mcintosh)
• Eating Meals as a Family Linked to Less Risky Behaviors in Teens, Study Says
  (ABC News, 9/22/11, by Francis)

Special Health Care Needs (see related data)

• Premature Babies Face Higher Risk of Death in Early Adulthood, Stanford Researchers Say
  (Time, 9/21/11, by Rochman)
• Study: ADHD Doubles the Risk of Injury Among School-Age Children
  (Consumer Reports, 9/14/11)

Posted by Jordan Handcox

Teen smoking has been in the news lately. And, from what we can see, the news is encouraging.

According to this Bay Citizen article, fewer California retailers are selling cigarettes to minors than ever before. To collect these data, the California Department of Public Health conducts an annual sting operation — sending 700 underage youth to try to buy cigarettes. Results showed that 8% of stores sold cigarettes to minors in 2010, and only 6% did in 2011.

For those teens who do smoke, a new study found that adding physical activity to a cessation routine increases the likelihood that teens will stop smoking. According to the International Business Times, teens who combined counseling with fitness education were more likely to quit than those who didn’t. Evidently the rates for quitting were even more pronounced among teen boys.

On kidsdata.org, we offer data about youth cigarette use for counties and school districts across California. Statewide, the percentage of 11th grade boys and girls reporting they’ve never smoked remained relatively steady from 2003-2008. Find data for your region>>

Posted by Felicity Simmons