Agenda for Children Releases 2009 KIDS COUNT Data Book on Louisiana's Children

The 2009 KIDS COUNT Data Book on Louisiana's Children provides parish-level data and information on over fifty different measures of child well-being. It includes statistics relating to demographics, education, health, child welfare, and juvenile justice. The report finds that race and place are two of the strongest predictors of child well-being in Louisiana. “As a society that values equity, it is imperative that Louisiana actively pursue policies and practices that lift up all our children," said Judy Watts, President/CEO of Agenda for Children. For more information, please read the press release or full report. Contact Teresa Falgoust at (504) 586-8509 for additional information or to request a Data Book on Louisiana's Children.

Louisiana Ranked 49th in Child Well-Being in National 2009 KIDS COUNT Data Book

The 2009 KIDS COUNT Data Book, published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, provides vital information about child well-being in every state. Louisiana was ranked 49th in overall child well-being based on 10 key indicators. Since 2000, Louisiana improved on four measures--the child death rate, the teen birth rate, high school dropouts, and teens who are neither working nor in school. Conditions worsened on five other indicators and another--child poverty--remained unchanged. The Essay in this year's Data Book calls for major improvements in the nation's ability to design and evaluate programs aimed at the needs of children and families living in poverty. More information is available in the national fact sheet, the national press release, the Louisiana fact sheet, and the Louisiana press release. For additional information or to request a Data Book, please contact Teresa Falgoust at (504) 586-8509.

Interactive Map of New Orleans Child Care Centers Now Available

The Greater New Orleans Community Data Center, in partnership with Agenda for Children, has produced an interactive map of child care centers in New Orleans. The map lets users visualize child care centers by key characteristics, such as capacity, class, Head Start status, infants served, and evening hours. Visit www.gnocdc.org to view the maps and other important information about the New Orleans area.

Now Available: January - March Positive Steps Training Calendars for the New Orleans, Northshore and River Parishes Regions

Positive Steps, Agenda for Children's training program for child care providers, will offer workshops on Emergent Literacy, Family Child Care Orientation, Creative Storytelling, and much more! Visit the Positive Steps page to learn more or click on the links below to access your region's catalog:

• Greater New Orleans (trainings in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes)
• Northshore (trainings in Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes)
• River Parishes (trainings in Ascension, Assumption, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes)