New Futures Launches NH Kids Count Data Resource Center
CONCORD, N.H. – New Futures, home of NH Kids Count, is pleased to announce the launch of the NH Kids Count Data Resource Center, which provides up-to-date information on the health, safety, education, and well-being of New Hampshire’s children and families.
The resource center, available at new-futures.org/nh-kids-count, offers policymakers, educators, advocates, and community members critical data to understand the challenges facing the state’s 256,000+ children and identify opportunities for improvement.
The NH Kids Count Data Resource Center features in-depth analysis across six key areas: Demographics, Health, Safety, Early Childhood and Education, Family and Community, and Economic Well-Being. Each section combines state and county-level data with policy recommendations designed to improve outcomes for New Hampshire’s children.
“For New Hampshire children to thrive, we need to understand both the progress we’ve made and the challenges that remain,” said Rebecca Woitkowski, Child and Family Policy Director at New Futures. “This data tells us that while we’ve seen important wins, like declining youth vaping rates and extended postpartum Medicaid coverage, too many children are continuing to struggle. Here in New Hampshire, one in four families earns less than $50,000 per year, and 9,000 children lack health insurance. We must do better for these children and families.”
The data reveals both concerning trends and areas of progress across the state. Reading proficiency among fourth-graders has declined to just 36 percent, child care costs can consume up to 60 percent of a single mother’s income, and nearly 40 percent of teens report feeling sad or hopeless for two weeks or more. At the same time, New Hampshire has successfully reduced youth detention, expanded access to affordable child care through the state’s scholarship program, and secured permanent funding for Family Resource Centers.
“Data is powerful, but only when it drives action,” Woitkowski added. “Our hope is that this resource center becomes an essential tool for anyone working to improve the lives of New Hampshire’s children, from legislators crafting policy to local organizations serving families. Every child in this state deserves to grow up safe, healthy, and with access to opportunity. This data shows us where we need to focus our efforts to make that a reality.”
The NH Kids Count Data Resource Center includes interactive charts, county-level breakdowns, policy spotlights highlighting successful advocacy efforts, and actionable policy recommendations in each area. The platform will be updated annually to reflect the most current available data.
This project is funded in part by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which provides national data on the well-being of children via the KIDS COUNT Data Center.
