Annie E. Casey Foundation
@annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social
Building a brighter future for children, families and communities. https://www.aecf.org/
Participants in our Juvenile Justice Applied Leadership Network develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective leaders committed to creating equitable and measurable results for youth who are involved or are at risk of being involved with the juvenile justice system.
What Is the Juvenile Justice Applied Leadership Network?
Casey's program equips leaders to drive measurable and equitable results for youth at risk of legal system involvement. Learn more.
aecf.org
“Young people... are not seeking charity or special treatment. They are asking for relationships alongside resources. A checkbox on the FAFSA form is not enough. What helps is a caring adult who explains the checkbox, [helps to] complete the application and encourages them through the process.”
Transitioning Foster Youth Need Relationships, Not Just Resources
For young people leaving foster care, mentors, volunteers and others in the community can be the difference between isolation and belonging.
imprintnews.org
“A lot of children are not getting the early learning opportunities and literacy supports that they need. If Maine wants strong readers at age 10, then we need to support... general child development from birth.” – Kristen Kinchla, research associate with our partner, the Maine Children’s Alliance
Education outcomes for Maine kids down sharply since 2019 - Maine Beacon
The 2026 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation showed Maine had some of the sharpest academic declines in the country since 2019, even as fewer families in the state are living in po...
mainebeacon.com
For youth in the juvenile justice system, family engagement is one of the strongest predictors of success. Yet too often parents and caregivers are left out of case planning, isolating young people from the family connections that could provide both accountability and a sense of belonging.
What Works Better Than Incarceration to Get Kids Back on Track
The research is clear: When youth get guidance and opportunity instead of punishment, they grow — and communities become safer.
aecf.org
“Your child is developing skills in kindergarten that will help them throughout their entire schooling. What they learn in kindergarten is going to help with first grade, and what they learn in first grade is going to help with second grade. It’s a big snowball effect.”
Why are so many kindergartners chronically absent?
In Colorado, one school district is tackling chronic absenteeism among its youngest learners
hechingerreport.org
In 2024, the child poverty rate in New Mexico dropped to 22% — the lowest rate the state has seen in over 16 years. To learn more about the well-being of New Mexico children, check out the essential work being done by our KIDS COUNT grantee in the state, @nmvoices.bsky.social.
New Mexico moves up ranking nationally in KIDS COUNT report
New Mexico has improved slightly in child well-being, moving from the 50th to 49th ranking nationally according to the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, a 50 state report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation t...
tricityrecordnm.com
”Families are having such a hard time. They shouldn’t have to be working so hard, but the way they keep showing up for their babies — we need our policymakers and elected officials to be showing up for them.”
As Costs Rise, Families With Young Children Are Feeling the Strain
Prices are up in America. For nearly half of families with young children, it’s becoming untenable.
the74million.org
40% of students who begin college in the U.S. do not complete their degree within six years. When students stop pursuing their education before earning a credential or degree, they’re often left with significant amounts of debt and are more likely to default on their student loans.
OPINION: The real college crisis isn’t enrollment. It’s completion, and it’s time to start asking why
America has spent a decade wringing its hands over who isn’t showing up to college, but not enough time wondering why so many who do never make it out
hechingerreport.org
“Childcare is essential infrastructure. It supports children’s development, makes work possible for parents and caregivers, strengthens family economic security, and helps communities thrive.”
New UConn Survey Finds 53% of Connecticut Parents Say Childcare is Too Expensive - UConn Today
Statewide survey conducted by UConn and the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood provides an updated benchmark for tracking childcare access and affordability
today.uconn.edu
The 2026 Kids Count in Colorado report released by our partners at the Colorado Children’s Campaign found that nearly one-third of households with children in the state have parents who are working but are still struggling to afford essentials like transportation, child care, food and healthcare.
Big challenges and bright spots in annual Kids Count report
Data snapshot about how the state’s kids are doing shows some progress but also persisting racial disparities.
cpr.org
“Outdoor learning that includes positive youth development practices — whether in camps, gardens or wilderness settings — offers more than recreation. It provides pathways for young people to build the skills they need to thrive in school, work and life.”
Building Skills Outdoors: How Nature-Based Programs Strengthen Youth Development
New research shows outdoor programs help youth thrive — strengthening social, academic and life skills for long-term success.
aecf.org
“Research continues to affirm what many [families] have always known: When fathers and father figures are meaningfully and positively engaged, children and youth are more likely to experience better educational outcomes, fewer behavioral concerns, greater long-term stability and overall well-being.”
New York’s Child Welfare Agency Launches New Fatherhood Plan
New York state’s child welfare agency has started a new initiative to help fathers become better engaged in their children’s lives.
imprintnews.org
Learn what workforce organizations around the country discovered when trying some approaches, like focus groups, advisory boards, interviews, and surveys. Our brief for the @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social's Generation Work initiative provides lots of valuable ideas. www.childtrends.org/publications...
Lessons From Generation Work on Centering Young Adult Worker Voice in Employer Engagement | Child Trends
Increasingly, workforce development practitioners seek to elevate the voices of young adult workers as a means to partner with employers on improving workplace…
childtrends.org
“If we look beyond just the federal poverty level, we actually estimate that one in four kids in Colorado are economically disadvantaged.” – Maya Gould, a researcher with our state partner Colorado Children’s Campaign
KIDS COUNT report points to affordability & education challenges as Colorado’s ranking dips
Colorado is now 14th nationwide for child well-being, down from 12th place. That’s according to composite scores from the latest KIDS COUNT® Data Book. It was released Wednesday, June 10.
kunc.org
In 2024, 4.7 million children in the U.S. lacked health insurance — limiting their access to preventative healthcare and other essential medical services.
New KIDS COUNT Index Reveals Where States Are Making Progress for Children
Explore the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book and new state scores that track child well-being across education, health, economic well-being and family life.
aecf.org
A child’s experiences during their earliest years of life provide a critical foundation for their lifelong health and well-being. That’s why it’s essential to continue working to improve maternal health and increase access to essential prenatal care. Learn more: http://aecf.org/databook
“I think [some] teachers are potentially using AI as a material generating machine for homework, lecture notes, lesson plans, syllabus. Instead of improving their own output, they’re using AI as a replacement with very minimal interaction, and therefore the quality of output is not good enough.”
Teachers save time with AI. Their students may pay the price
Students say AI-assisted classes feel less interesting, less enjoyable and less important
hechingerreport.org
Thanks to investments in teacher training, early education infrastructure, and literacy-based education, Mississippi was one of only two states in the country where child academic performance improved between 2019 and 2024.
Mississippi High in Education, Last in Child Health Outcomes
The report puts Mississippi at 49th for economic well-being, 50th for health and 49th for family and community.
the74million.org
Where children grow up influences every aspect of their life, including whether they have access to affordable and high-quality health insurance and medical care. Learn more about the health and well-being of kids in your state in the 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book: http://aecf.org/databook
In 2023, fewer than 1 in 4 teenagers were getting at least seven hours of sleep a night. For adolescents whose brains are still developing, a lack of sleep can lead to issues such as struggling in school and facing a higher likelihood of mental health challenges.
U.S. teens are getting their least amount of sleep in decades—lowering their chances to 'lead fulfilling lives as adults,' health experts say
Teens are getting less sleep each year, which can impact their mood, physical well-being and school performance, experts say. Here are solutions they recommend.
cnbc.com
“We can’t just say that we’ll address reading outcomes through the educational system. We actually need to look holistically at child well-being if we want to really improve any one of these single indicators.” – David Wieland, policy and advocacy director with our partner Our Children Oregon
National report: Oregon great for giving kids health insurance, bad for teaching them how to read
A new national report finds mixed outcomes for child well-being in Oregon and Washington.
opb.org
Despite evidence that prosecuting children as adults causes irreparable harm to developing young minds and fails to make communities safer, a new Mississippi law has expanded the list of crimes for which children as young as 13 must be automatically tried in adult courts and sent to adult prisons.
New Law Will Send More Mississippi Children to Adult Prisons
Mississippi has expanded the list of crimes for which children as young as 13 must be prosecuted as adults and sent to adult prisons.
imprintnews.org
“Unlike most toolkits created by adults, this one is designed by students, for students, centering their experiences and leadership. The guide [helps students] develop lifelong skills in problem-solving, interpersonal communication [and] healthy relationships.”
Reducing Student Referrals to the Juvenile Justice System
A new toolkit helps students resolve disputes and avoid unnecessary involvement with the juvenile justice system. Learn more about this approach.
aecf.org
To meet the goal of having half of all K–12 students in the state enrolled in bilingual education programs by 2030, California set aside grant funding to facilitate partnerships between schools and colleges to help students earn their teaching credentials and authorization to teach English learners.
Short thousands of bilingual teachers, California schools turn to high school students
California has a goal of enrolling half of all K-12 students in bilingual programs by 2030. To get there, thousands more bilingual teachers are needed.
edsource.org
Since 1990, the teen birth rate in the U.S. has dropped by nearly 80% — but in recent years, that progress has stalled. To learn more about the challenges and successes of children across the country, download the newly released 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book: http://aecf.org/databook
“Poverty is the indicator that affects every other indicator we report on, and so we really need to be cognizant and aware of what's going on in that poverty number. And we want to... make sure that there's sustained progress there.” – Janice Barlow, director at our partner KIDS COUNT Delaware
The 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book shows Delaware needs improvement in overall child well-being
Delaware comes in at 31st in overall child well-being in the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book with educational outcomes bringing the state’s ranking down.
delawarepublic.org
Students with disabilities perform better in school when they spend significant amounts of time in general education classrooms, where they’re typically exposed to more rigorous coursework.
Students With Disabilities Are Spending More Time in Mainstream Classes
Under federal law, students with disabilities are supposed to learn in the least restrictive environment.
edweek.org
Experiencing poverty at a young age can have long-term impacts on a child’s academic success and their physical and mental health. But when children grow up in stable environments with nurturing relationships, they are more likely to thrive. Learn more: http://aecf.org/databook
The average annual price of child care for U.S. families in 2025 was over $13,180. For single parents, that’s one-third of their median household income for the entire year.
America’s Child Care Crisis Leaves Many Families Without Access to Licensed Care
The child care system faces severe affordability and supply crises, leaving more than 50 percent of young children without adequate access in 42 percent of U.S. congressional districts.
americanprogress.org
Our new guide aims to help gun violence researchers learn how to engage responsibly and build meaningful partnerships with the community members who are at the highest risk of being impacted by gun violence and the practitioners who work closely with those communities.
Community Engagement in the Science and Study of Gun Violence
Learn how a new guide helps researchers partner with communities most affected by gun violence to produce more equitable, community-engaged research.
aecf.org