The State of America’s Children

President Bush’s annual State of the Union address last night paid precious little attention to America’s children. But a new report from the Foundation for Child Development and the New America Foundation looks at how America’s children are doing–in particular how children from different racial and ethnic groups are faring–and offers both good and bad news.

First, the good news: Inequality in well-being indicators for black and Hispanic children, as compared with white children, was lower in 2004 than in either 1985 or 1992. The gap with well-being indicators for white youngsters fell by one-quarter for black children and by one-third for Hispanic youth. The greatest gap narrowing occured betwee 1992 and 2004.

But there’s also bad news: Even if racial and ethnic well-being gaps conitnue to narrow at current rates, it will take nearly a generation to close them. If they continue to narrow at slower, historical rates, it will take more than two generations. And that’s assuming that public policies that have supported improved outcomes for black and Hispanic youngsters are sustained and built upon–not a certainty.

Moreover, closing the gap with white children isn’t enough–Many well-being indicators for white children are well below their historic peaks, and some of the narrowing of the gap between white and black or Hispanic children in recent years has occurred as a result of declines in the well-being of white children (in particular, an increase in obesity).

A few specific findings from the report are particularly noteworthy:

• Black and Hispanic children are less likely to use drugs, drink, or smoke than white children are. Hispanic children are less likely to be victims of crime than white children are.
• Differences in the rates at which black and white youth ages 12-17 commit crimes have nearly disappeared.
• In perhaps the most disturbing negative trend for black children, their rates of residential mobility increased 14-fold from 1985 through 2007.
• The pre-k attendance gap between black and white children has been essentially eliminated, but there is still a gap for Hispanic youngsters, though it has declined.
• Gaps between the health of white and Hispanic children were virtually eliminated, while gaps for black children shunk by only a small amount. However, these changes largely reflect declines in health indicators for white children, in particular, increased obesity, and more parents reporting that their child’s health limits activities in which he or she can participate.
• Black and Hispanic children’s indicators of spiritual well-being place them at an advantage relative to white children.

American children’s well-being is improving on some indicators–in particular, they’re safer and less likely to get pregnant or participate in risky behaviors, getting worse on others–in particular, obesity rates are increasing rapidly, and stagnant on still others–especially educational performance. While Americans can celebrate some progress, we clearly have a long way to go in leveling the playing field and giving all America’s children a good shot at success in life.