Locations
United States
Definition and Source
PROVIDER
Definition
The KIDS COUNT Family and Community Domain is one of four thematic domains — Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family and Community — that together comprise the KIDS COUNT overall index. The domain reflects key indicators of children's family stability and community context, including family structure, parental education, neighborhood poverty, and teen birth rates. The indicators are consistently and regularly measured, which allows for legitimate comparisons across states and over time.
The Family and Community domain rank for each state was obtained in the following manner. First, the state numerical values for each indicator within the domain were converted into standard scores and then summed to create a domain standard score for each of the 50 states. The states were then ranked on the basis of their domain standard score in sequential order from highest/best (1) to lowest/worst (50). Standard scores were derived by subtracting the mean score from the observed score and dividing the amount by the standard deviation for that distribution of scores. All measures were given the same weight in calculating the domain standard score.
The Family and Community domain rank for each state was obtained in the following manner. First, the state numerical values for each indicator within the domain were converted into standard scores and then summed to create a domain standard score for each of the 50 states. The states were then ranked on the basis of their domain standard score in sequential order from highest/best (1) to lowest/worst (50). Standard scores were derived by subtracting the mean score from the observed score and dividing the amount by the standard deviation for that distribution of scores. All measures were given the same weight in calculating the domain standard score.
Data Source
Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data gathered for the annual KIDS COUNT Data Book.
The 4 indicators of child family and community well-being are derived from the following government statistical agencies:
The 4 indicators of child family and community well-being are derived from the following government statistical agencies:
Children in single-parent families U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Children in families where the household head lacks a high school diploma U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Children living in high-poverty areas U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Teen births per 1,000 Birth statistics: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Vital Statistics. Population statistics: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates.
Notes
The year represents the year the KIDS COUNT Data Book was published. The indicators on which the indices are based reflect the most recent data available at the time of publication — the target reference year for most indicators — though some indicators may reflect prior or more recent years based on source availability.
For example, for the 2012 KIDS COUNT Data Book, most estimates are from 2010; some indicators reflect earlier years such as 2008-2009, and a couple from 2011—the most current year available at the time.
Break in trend
The 2022 Overall Index Rankings and the 2022 Domain Rankings should not be compared to prior year rankings. The data source for 8 of the indicators changed to the 5-year American Community Survey data because of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on data quality in 2020.
For example, for the 2012 KIDS COUNT Data Book, most estimates are from 2010; some indicators reflect earlier years such as 2008-2009, and a couple from 2011—the most current year available at the time.
Break in trend
The 2022 Overall Index Rankings and the 2022 Domain Rankings should not be compared to prior year rankings. The data source for 8 of the indicators changed to the 5-year American Community Survey data because of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on data quality in 2020.
Last Updated
May 2026