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Hawaii’s keiki are better off than their national counterparts on health and family measures but come up short in economic well-being given the high cost of living, according to a new report.
Overall, the Aloha State ranks in the middle of the pack, at 25th out of 50 states in the 2014 KIDS COUNT Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The report was released after midnight EDT (6 p.m. Monday in Hawaii.)
Massachusetts, Vermont and Iowa ranked highest for overall child well-being, while Mississippi was the worst, behind New Mexico and Nevada.
The KIDS COUNT Data Book gauges the welfare of kids using 16 indicators, ranging from “children whose parents lack secure employment” to “teens who abuse alcohol or drugs.”
“The good news is that we’re no longer slipping in rank where it comes to the overall well-being of Hawaii’s children, as had been the case in recent years,” said Ivette Rodriguez Stern, the Hawaii KIDS COUNT project director.
Hawaii’s lowest ranking was for economic well-being, at 33rd in the nation, and for education, at 31st among the states. Its highest rank was 13th place, for family and community measures, and 22nd for health.
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For the full report, visit http://www.aecf.org/resources/the-2014-kids-count-data-book/
