According to the 2018 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Wisconsin is ranked 12th overall in child well-being. Despite its relatively high ranking, Wisconsin could be doing a lot more to give every child in the state the opportunity to thrive. Child poverty remains stubbornly high in Wisconsin with nearly 200,000 children impoverished. There has been no change in the number of children living in high-poverty areas, despite the fact that the economy has rebounded for many families and communities.
In addition, Wisconsin’s overall relatively high well-being masks significant racial and ethnic disparities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 49 percent of African American children live in poverty compared to 10 percent of white children in the state. In addition, 39 percent of American Indian children, 33 percent Latino children, and 22 percent of Asian American children in Wisconsin live in poverty*.
The Data Book also highlights the alarming consequences of a US Census undercount of kids age 5 and under, which will put hundreds of millions of dollars of federal funding at risk—including funding that is critical to the stability and success of thousands of children and families in the Wisconsin. If current policies persist, Wisconsin is at risk of not counting nearly 10 percent (43,000) of our children under age 5.
* U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2012-16 5 year estimates
