NH ranks first in the country in kids' well-being but needs more child care
When it comes to overall well-being, New Hampshire’s children lead the country, according to a new analysis from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
However, health policy and advocacy group New Futures noted that the latest Kids Count Data Book also contains a less positive statistic: Nearly 14 percent of New Hampshire children under 5 lived in families where someone quit or lost a job because they couldn’t find affordable child care.
Nearly all states were in the double digits but only nine were higher. That presents an economic crisis for the state, children, and families, the organization said in a statement.
“Across New Hampshire, more than 40 child care centers have closed in the last few years, eliminating nearly 1,500 slots for children and adding to the growing demand for availability,” said Rebecca Woitkowski, Kids Count policy director for New Futures. “This is an economic issue that needs to be addressed to ensure all our parents can work and contribute to the economy.”
