Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Iowa Leads The Midwest In Child Well-being
State ranks 7th in the nation according to new study
DES MOINES – Today, Governor Chet Culver praised the results of a new national survey that found Iowa is first in the Midwest in child well-being, and 7th across the country. Conducted by the Every Child Matters Education Fund, the study examined ten factors of child well-being.
“This report proves that in Iowa we are doing things right,” said Governor Culver. “Iowa’s children hold the keys to our future, and this is why the Culver/Judge Administration has worked hard to give our children a brighter future. I am committed to building upon the progress we have made so that every Iowa child can reach their fullest potential.”
The report – “Geography Matters: Child Well-Being In The States” – utilized key government indicators and reports in making their rankings. The ten key child well-being indicators they looked at include infant mortality rates, the numbers of child and teen deaths, access to prenatal care, and the number of uninsured children.
“What we do as a state and society reflects our most authentic family investments, and will pay dividends for many generations to come,” said Kevin Concannon, Director of the Iowa Department of Human Services.
Iowa ranked first in the Midwest, followed by Minnesota and Wisconsin.
A full copy of the report can be found at: http://www.everychildmatters.org/homelandinsecurity/index_geomatters.html.