U.S. kids' wellbeing declines nationwide as costs rise and safety nets shrink

New data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2026 Kids Count Data Book show U.S. children’s wellbeing slipped from 2019 to 2024, with 29 states faring worse and 15 improving. Education and health scores fell sharply while family/community and economic wellbeing rose, though the share of cost-burdened households increased to 31% (about 22.4 million kids) and child/teen deaths rose 8%. Teen birth rates fell 24% during the period and are down ~80% since 1990. Some states’ targeted investments—such as school-based mental health and early education—improved outcomes, underscoring how policy funding shapes child wellbeing, even as rising costs and reduced safety-net coverage threaten future progress.