A State Level Assessment of the Well-Being of Black Children in the United States

Abstract

In the United States, reports on child well-being that only focus on the national level mask enormous variations across states. Child well-being reports that focus on state-level data typically assess only the well-being of all children which masks important differences among subgroups of children. This report addresses the two shortcomings of previous research identified above by examining variation in the well-being of Black children across the states. The well-being of Black children in each state is assessed using a ten item index of well-being. First, the well-being of Black children in each state is examined relative to Black children in other states. Second, the gap between the well-being of Black children and White children in the same state is measured and states are assessed based on this black/white gap. The relationship between state rankings based on the two perspectives is discussed. Finally, several potential explanatory variables are examined in relation to the well-being of Black children compared to Black children in other states, and the Gap between Black children and White children in the same state.