Foundation for Child Development: 2012 State Child and Youth Well-Being Index (CWI)

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The key findings from this study are: 

• Higher State Taxes Are Better for Children. States that have higher tax rates generate higher revenues and have higher CWI [Child Well-being Index] values than states with lower tax rates.

• Public Investments in Children Matter. The amount of public investments in programs is strongly related to CWI values among states. Specifically, higher per-pupil spending on education, higher Medicaid child-eligibility thresholds, and higher levels of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families(TANF) benefits show a substantial correlation with child well-being across states.

• A Child’s Well-Being Is Strongly Related to the State Where He or She Lives. Child well-being varies tremendously from state to state, ranging from a 0.85 index value for New Jersey, the highest ranked state, to a negative 0.96 index value for New Mexico, the lowest-ranked state.