the well-being of children in north dakota

1North Dakota KIDS COUNT

The Well-

Being of Children in North Dakota

Highlights from the North Dakota KIDS COUNT

2012 Fact Book

North Dakota KIDS COUNT 2

North Dakota KIDS COUNT

• Funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation• Partner with North Dakota State University• Mission:

o To provide accurate, current data on child well-being in order to inform local and state discussions about how to secure better futures for all of North Dakota’s children.

• Websiteo www.ndkidscount.org

• Electronic newsletter o Contact [email protected]

• Facebooko www.facebook.com/ndkidscount

http://www.ndkidscount.org/

mailto:[email protected]

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Seven Components of Child Well-Being

1. Demographics2. Family and Community3. Economic Well-Being4. Education5. Early Care6. Health7. Safety and Risky Behaviors


1. Demographic Indicators

• Number of children• Total births• Age of children• Teen births• Race and ethnicity


Number of Children• North Dakota’s child population captured

27% of the states total population during the first half of the 1990s. This percent gradually decreased to 22% in 2006, where it has remained through 2010.


Children* as a Percent of North Dakota’s Population, 1990-2010

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

Perc

ent

of t

otal

sta

te p

opul

atio

n

*Ages 0-17


Total Births• The stabilization of the child population is

largely the result of an increase in total births beginning in 2002.


Number of Births in North Dakota,

1990-2010

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,0009,000

10,000

Num

ber

of b

irth

s


Age of Children• The number of young children (ages 0-5)

increased over the past decade while older children (ages 6-17) decreased. However, the number of older children increased 4% since 2009.


Number of North Dakota Children by Age, 2000 and 2010

Ages 0-5 Ages 6-170

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

47,613

113,236

53,031

96,840

20002010

Num

ber

of c

hild

ren


Teen Births• The percent of births to North Dakota

teens has shown a modest decline over the past two decades.


Births to Teens* as a Percent of all Births in North Dakota, 1995-2010

1995 2000 2005 20100%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

10%9%

8%7%

Perc

ent

of a

ll bi

rths

*Ages 15-19


Race and Ethnicity• American Indians are North Dakota’s

largest race/ethnic minority group of children.


Percent of all North Dakota Children by Race/Ethnicity* in

2010

White American Indian

Black Asian Hispanic Origin of any race

0102030405060708090

10086%

10%4%3% 1%

*Children of Hispanic Origin may be of any race, thus, these percentages to not add to 100%.

Perc

ent o

f chi

ldre

n 0-

18


2. Family and Community Indicators

• Living arrangements• Working mothers• Unmarried mothers


Living Arrangements• While most North Dakota children live

with two parents, the proportion of children who live in single-parent families continues to increase.


Percent of all North Dakota Children*Living in Single-Parent Families, 1980-

2010

1980 1990 2000 20100%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

10%

14%

19%21%

Perc

ent

of a

ll ch

ildre

n

*Ages 0-17


Working Mothers• Most North Dakota mothers work.• In 2010, North Dakota’s proportion of

mothers in the labor force was the second highest among all states in the nation, behind South Dakota.


Percent of Mothers with Children* who are in the Labor Force

North Dakota and United States, 1980-2010

1980 1990 2000 20100%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

53%

74%81% 82%

55%

68% 69%73%

North Dakota

United States

Perc

ent

of a

ll w

omen

wit

h ch

ildre

n ag

es 0

-17

*Ages 0-17


Unmarried Mothers• Births to unmarried women have risen

consistently during the past two decades.• One in five births to unmarried women was

to a teen mother in 2010.


North Dakota Births to Unmarried Women, 1995-2010

1995 2000 2005 20100%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

24%

28%

33% 33%

Perc

ent

of a

ll bi

rths


3. Economic Well-Being Indicators

• Poverty• Public assistance


Poverty• Although the state of North Dakota experienced

prosperity in the past decade, the child poverty rate remained unchanged.o Poverty level in 2010 = $22,314 for a family of four

• Living near poverty = when family income is between the poverty level and 149% of the poverty level

• Living in extreme poverty = when family income is less than 50% of the poverty level

• Nearly one in four North Dakota children live at or near the poverty level.


Percent of North Dakota Children* by Level of Poverty

Experience, 1990-2010

1990 2000 20100%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

13%

11%10%

17%

14% 14%

7%6%

7%

Living Near Poverty

Living in Poverty

Living in Extreme Poverty

Perc

ent

of a

ll ch

ildre

n ag

es 0

-17

*Ages 0-17


Public Assistance• Common types of public assistance

o SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamps)o TANF - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (formerly ADFC)o Free and Reduced Price Lunch

• 14% of North Dakota children live in poverty.

• 4% of North Dakota children live in families that receive TANF cash assistance.

• SNAP benefits are received by one in four children statewide.

• One in three North Dakota children receive a free or reduced price lunch.


North Dakota Students Receiving Free and Reduced Price Lunch, 1994-

2011

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Perc

ent

of t

otal

sch

ool

enro

llmen

t


Percent of North Dakota Children Receiving TANF* and SNAP, 2001-

2011

2001 2006 20110%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

6% 6%4%

18%20%

24%

TANFSNAP

Perc

ent

of a

ll ch

ildre

n

*TANF = ages 0-19; SNAP = ages 0-18


4. Education Indicators• Enrollment in public schools• Test scores• High school dropouts• Special education


Enrollment in Public Schools

• After several years of continued decreases in public school enrollments, North Dakota’s average daily membership began to increase in 2009-10.


Average Daily Membership in North Dakota Public Schools,

1998-2011

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 20110

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

117,996113,541107,823103,923100,17695,45995,50796,987

Ave

rage

Dai

ly M

embe

rshi

p


Test Scores• In 2011, average ACT scores for North Dakota

high school graduates dropped to 20.7, down from 21.5 in 2010. Important note: a legislative mandate now requires North Dakota students to take the ACT. The 2011 graduates are the first class affected by the mandate.

• According to ACT benchmarks for what it takes to be successful in first-year college classes, only 21% of North Dakota’s 2011 graduates were ready for English, math, reading, and science classes.


Percent of ACT-Tested High School

Graduates Meeting ACT College

Benchmarks by Course, 2011

College English

College Math

College Reading

College Science

All Four Subject Areas

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%63%

43%48%

26%21%

66%

45%

52%

30%25%

North Dakota

Perc

ent o

f AC

T-Te

sted

hig

h sc

hool

gra

duat

es


High School Dropouts• In 2010-11, 670 North Dakota public

school students were enrolled in grades 9 through 12 and then dropped out during the year. This is down from 701 in 2009-10.

• Dropouts accounted for 2.1% of total high school enrollment in the 2010-11 academic year.


North Dakota Counties with Highest Average Dropout Rates,

2010-11

Sioux

Benso

n

Mou

ntra

il

Rolette

McL

ean

Mor

ton

McK

enzie

Willi

ams

War

dOliv

er

STATE

TOTAL

0.0%2.0%4.0%6.0%8.0%

10.0%12.0%14.0%

12.2%

8.4%

6.0%5.2%4.8%4.3%3.5%3.4%3.2%3.0%2.1%

Dro

pout

s a

s a

perc

ent

of t

otal

hig

h sc

hool

enr

ollm

ent


Special Education• In 2011, children enrolled in special

education comprised 13.5% of total North Dakota public school enrollment.


Percent of North Dakota Children Enrolled

in Special Education by Type of Impairment,

2011

Specific learning disability

Speech or language impaired

Emotionally Disturbed

Intellectual Disability

Autism0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%31%

25%

6% 6% 6%

Perc

ent o

f chi

ldre

n en

rolle

d in

spe

cial

edu

-ca

tion


5. Early Care Indicators• Licensed child care• Child care costs


Licensed Child Care• Child care types:

o Legally recognized • Licensed • Standard Compliance Certification (SCC) and In-Home providers• Registered tribal providers • Approved relatives

o Informal networks of friends, relatives, neighbors

• In February 2012, licensed child care providers had the capacity to care for 31% of children ages 0 to 13.


North Dakota Counties with the Lowest Licensed Child Care

Capacities, 2012

Oliver

Benso

nSio

ux

McKen

zie

Kidder

Dunn

Steele

Grant

Bowman

Sheri

dan

North

Da..

.0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

5.7%6.4%7.3%8.3%8.6%9.5%10.2%10.2%13.4%14.3%

31.0%

Cap

acit

y of

lice

nsed

chi

ld c

are

prov

ider

s a

s a

per

cent

of a

ll ch

ildre

n ag

es 0

-13


Child Care Costs• Average costs for licensed child care in

North Dakota counties:o Infant care ranges from $86 to $158 per week in family/group settings

(in counties where available)


Counties with the Highest Average Yearly

Cost of Infant Care in Family/Group

Settings, 2012

$0$1,000$2,000$3,000$4,000$5,000$6,000$7,000$8,000$9,000 $8

,190

$7,6

87

$7,4

46

$7,2

88

$7,1

19

$6,8

77

$6,8

20

$6,4

55

Source: Child Care Resource & Referral


6. Health Indicators• Low birth-weight babies• Hearing impairment• Uninsured children


Low Birth-Weight Babies

• North Dakota consistently ranks among states with the lowest percentage of low birth-weight babies in the nation.


Low Birth-Weight Babies as a Percent of all Births, 2009

0.0%1.0%2.0%3.0%4.0%5.0%6.0%7.0%8.0%9.0%

5.8%

5.9% 6.

3%

6.3%

6.3%

6.4%

6.5%

6.5% 6.7%

6.7%

6.8%

6.9%

7.0%

7.1%

7.1%

7.1%

7.1% 7.3% 8.

2%

Perc

ent

of a

ll bi

rths


Hearing Impairment• In 2011, nearly every newborn in North

Dakota was screened for hearing loss.• Nine percent of North Dakota newborns

did not pass this initial screening and were referred for further testing.


North Dakota Counties with the Highest Percent of Newborns who Did Not Pass Initial Hearing

Screening, 2011

Rolette

Willi

ams

Renvil

le

Wals

h

McK

enzie

Mou

ntra

ilSio

ux

Grnad

For

ksW

ard

Bottine

au

McH

enry

Barne

s

STATE

TOTA

L0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%25%

20%18%

16% 15% 14% 14% 13%11% 10% 10% 10% 9%

Perc

ent

of n

ewbo

rns

who

did

not

pas

s in

itia

l hea

ring

tes

t


Uninsured Children• In 2009, 5.8% of all North Dakota children

were not covered by health insurance.• Low-income and poor children (in families with

incomes below 200% of poverty) are the majority of uninsured children in North Dakota.


North Dakota Counties with the Highest Percent

of Uninsured Low-Income and Poor Children,

2009

Grant

Loga

n

Sher

idan

Kidder

Billing

s

Emmons

Dunn

Slope

McIn

tosh

Mou

ntra

il

McK

enzie

Benso

n

STATE

TOTA

L0%2%4%6%8%

10%12%14%16%18% 17%

13% 13%12% 11% 11% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10%

6%

Perc

ent

of lo

w in

com

e an

d po

or c

hild

ren

who

are

uni

nsur

ed


7. Safety and Risky Behaviors Indicators

• Juvenile court referrals• Child abuse and neglect• Idle teens


Juvenile Court Referrals

• North Dakota juveniles referred to court as a proportion of all youth ages 10 to 17 has remained relatively unchanged over the past several years.


North Dakota Children* Referred to Juvenile Court, 2001-2011

200120022003200420052006200720082009201020110.0%1.0%2.0%3.0%4.0%5.0%6.0%7.0%8.0%9.0%

10.0%

7.4% 7.7%

9.3% 9.2%8.6% 8.7% 8.7% 8.6%

9.2%

8.1%7.7%

Perc

ent

of c

hild

ren

ages

10-

17

*Ages 10-17


Child Abuse and Neglect

• In 2011, 5% of all North Dakota children were suspected victims of child abuse or neglect.

• Following Child Protection Services assessments, 1,323 children were determined to be in high-risk situations that required immediate services.


Counties with Largest Proportion of Children*

who are Suspected Victims of Child Abuse or

Neglect, 2011

Star

k

Ramse

yW

ard

Grand

For

ks

Burlei

gh

Divide

Mor

ton

McIn

tosh

Willi

ams

Cass

Renvil

leEdd

y

Pierce

STATE TO

TAL0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0% 9.0%

7.0%6.0%5.9%5.9%5.6%5.6%5.3%5.1%5.1%5.1%4.8%4.8%4.6%

Perc

ent

of a

ll ch

ildre

n ag

es 0

-17

*Ages 0-17. Children impacted by abuse or neglect living on American Indian reservations are not included in these data.


Idle Teens• Idle teens are youth not in school, not high

school graduates, and not in the labor force.

• Idle teens comprised 2% of all North Dakota youth ages 16 to 19 in 2010.


Percent of Youth* Who Are Idle Teens, 2010

Rolette

Sioux

Benso

nDun

nW

ard

Ranso

mSt

eele

Willi

msW

ells

McK

enzie

Mor

ton

STATE

TOTA

L0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%31.7%

12.3%10.3%

4.4% 3.9% 3.7% 3.5% 3.4% 3.1% 2.9% 2.4% 2.3%

Perc

ent

of y

outh

age

s 16

-19

*Ages 16-19


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57North Dakota KIDS COUNT

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the well-being of children in north dakota

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