Too many parts of the world are suffering from conflict and its repercussions. Millions of children and young people are at risk of not reaching their full potential. Before more decades of development efforts are undone and future progress is blocked, it is a moral obligation of society to collectively find ways to foster social cohesion among…

"Paterson Kids Count" is a statistical profile of the well-being of Paterson children in critical areas, such as poverty, health and nutrition. This second edition also documents the success of a data-driven, collective local effort in three key areas that were targeted for sustained advocacy and attention: (1) low school breakfast…

Reports such as this typically begin with a statistic designed to highlight a problem. The girls and boys to whom this edition of "The State of the World's Children" is dedicated are not problems. Rather, each is a sister, brother or friend who has a favourite dish, song or game; a daughter or son with dreams and the desire to fulfil…

Despite the ongoing devolution of policymaking from the federal to the state and local level, there remains a belief that there is a single agenda for children. In summer 2001, the National Association of Child Advocates (NACA) surveyed its membership to determine if a national agenda for children exists. This paper identifies the key issues…

Noting that firearms outnumber children by a margin of almost three to one in the United States, this report advocates gun safety policies to protect children. The report provides information on trends in youth firearm deaths from 1994 and 1999 and comparisons of U.S. data to those of other industrialized countries. A table delineates 1996-1998…

This annual report details the 1996-97 activities of the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, an independent agency created by the Tennessee General Assembly with the mission of advocating for improvements in the quality of life for Tennessee children and families. Following introductory letters from the commission's chair, Phillip Boyd,…

Noting that firearms outnumber children by a margin of almost three to one in the United States, this report advocates gun safety policies to protect children. The report provides information on trends in youth firearm deaths and finds the statistics alarming, despite recent decline. The first of three tables in the report delineates 1979-1999…

In 2002, the Bush administration adopted the Children's Defense Fund's (CDF's) mission to "Leave No Child Behind" as a motto. This report details the CDF's assessment of the state of children in the United States, examines how the Bush administration has translated the President's promise to "leave no child behind," and lays…

The mission of the Children's Defense Fund Action Council is to "Leave No Child Behind," to do what is necessary to meet the needs of children and their parents, and to ensure a healthy, safe, fair, and moral start in life for all children. This guide examines the negative impact of the George W. Bush administration's budget and policy…

This report presents information and opinions advocating for school-based health centers. Each section starts with a brief introduction and follows with quotations from leaders in the field. The leaders whose thoughts are captured here believe school-based health centers are part of the solution to increasing childhood and adolescent health…

This report on the well-being of America's children focuses on the need for renewed commitment to children by all sectors of society. The foreword to the report exhorts governors to lead a culture change and show that states can more efficiently help their own children. This section also describes the mission of the Leave No Child Behind movement,…

This report details the status of the world's children, focusing on the issue of child labor and its impact on the well being of the world's children. Section 1 of the report discusses the Convention on the Rights of the Child and international recognition that children require special attention and that they should have the same spectrum of…

The broad array of data presented each year in the "KIDS COUNT Data Book" is intended to illuminate the status of America's children and to assess trends in their well-being. By updating the assessment every year, KIDS COUNT provides ongoing benchmarks that can be used to see how states have advanced or regressed over time. Readers can…

This report presents the Children's Defense Fund's (CDF) recommendations for spending the fiscal year 1998-1999 Minnesota state budget surplus. The intent of the CDF plan is four-fold: (1) emphasizing long-term investments in children's well-being; (2) address children's immediate health and safety concerns; (3) contribute to the continued…

This report presents a statistical look at the well-being of children in the state of Illinois, quantifying the problems confronting them and outlining steps that policymakers and service providers can take to improve the situation. The first part of the report summarizes the state's situation in the areas of education, health, special needs, and…