New America
Better Life Lab

The 2007 Child Well-Being Index

Stalled Progress, Persistent Gaps: How Can We Improve the Lives of America’s Children?
Event

The annual release of the Child Well-Being Index (CWI) provides a research-based look at the status of children in the United States over 30 years. The CWI is commissioned by the Foundation for Child Development and provides policymakers and the public with a tool to monitor the well-being of children nationwide.

The data cut through the headlines and conventional wisdom to offer a multi-faceted portrait of the quality of life of our children. The index addresses questions such as "Are American children doing better or worse than they were in 1975? By how much? In what areas?" by tracking quantifiable indicators including childhood obesity, the poverty rate, suicide rates, and violent crime rates.

The index's release is intended to spark public discussion about the lives of American children and youth and the factors that contribute to their quality of life, including physical health, educational attainment, social relationships and spiritual and emotional well-being.

At this event, hosted by the New America Foundation’s Workforce and Family Program, the results of the 2007 Index were presented by Duke University researcher Dr. Kenneth Land. Following the presentation, David Gray moderated a distinguished panel of experts discussing the survey results, and the important question of “Where do we go from here?”

Video of the event is available at right; an MP3 audio recording is available below.

Attachments

Location

New America Foundation
1630 Connecticut Ave, NW 7th Floor
Washington, DC, 20009
See map: Google Maps


Participants
Featured Speakers

  • Dr. Kenneth Land
    Coordinator, Child and Youth Well-Being Index Project
    Duke University
  • Dr. Carol Brunson Day
    President
    National Black Child Development Institute
  • Dr. Ruby Takanishi
    President
    Foundation for Child Development

Moderator
  • Rev. David Gray
    Director, Workforce and Family Program
    New America Foundation

Respondents
  • Mary Bissell
    Fellow
    New America Foundation
  • David Bradley
    Founder and Executive Director
    National Community Action Foundation
  • Dr. Patrick Fagan
    William H.G. Fitzgerald Senior Research Fellow
    Heritage Foundation
  • Charles Kamasaki
    Executive Vice President
    National Council of La Raza