The NDSU Center for Social Research received increased funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation to continue the North Dakota KIDS COUNT program through 2014.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation awarded the center $100,000. The grant provides funding for the North Dakota KIDS COUNT program that is part a nationwide network of state-based programs to track the status of children. The initiative is funded from the Annie E. Casey Foundation whose primary mission is to foster public policies, human-service reforms and community supports that more effectively meet the needs of today’s vulnerable children and families.
“North Dakota KIDS COUNT strives to support and encourage data-driven decision making regarding the health and well-being of children and families across the state. We are grateful to the Casey Foundation for their continued and enhanced support”, said Karen Olson, program director for North Dakota KIDS COUNT.
The mission of North Dakota KIDS COUNT, which has been housed at NDSU since 2003, is to measure the educational, social, economic, and physical well-being of children in North Dakota in order to inform local and state discussions about how to secure better futures for all of North Dakota’s children. The program produces an annual publication that provides county, regional and state-level profiles on child well-being as it relates to demographics, family composition, economics, health, education and early care and safety and risky behaviors.
The program also offers other publications, presentations and newsletters throughout the year highlighting recent trends affecting North Dakota children and families.
“Thank you again for all the good work you do on behalf of children and families across the country,” said Lisa Hamilton, vice president for external affairs for the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
More information on North Dakota KIDS COUNT is available at www.ndkidscount.org.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.