Zero to Three has just released a Baby Facts Report for Wisconsin, comparing Wisconsin with national data. In general, Wisconsin looks better than most states, but there is plenty of room for improvement.
Here are some particularly positive findings for Wisconsin:
- 83% of babies are born to mothers receiving early prenatal care, compared to 71% nationally
- Only 4% of children under age 6 are without health insurance in Wisconsin, compared to 6% nationally
- 54% of parents of family members read to their 0-5 child each day
Wisconsin is still facing many challenges
- 23% infants and toddler are in poverty, and 43% are below 200% of poverty. Research shows that children in or near poverty can be vulnerable, affecting later achievement.
- The cost of infant child care is 47% of their income for single mothers, much higher than the national average of 37%.
For more information, go to Wisconsin’s Infants and Toddlers– a report developed by Wisconsin’s Infant-Toddler Policy Team and Child Tends.