IN THE NEWS

New Executive Director for Idaho Voices for Children

Idaho KIDS COUNT welcomes and congratulates LeAnn Simmons as the new Executive Director for Idaho Voices for Children. LeAnn brings a depth of experience and ability to this new position and will be an invaluable asset to the IVC organization as it builds its standing as a powerful voice for Idaho children. Read more about Idaho Voices for Children at www.idahovoices.org.

New KIDS COUNT Data &

Policy Reports

State Survey on Early Education and PreK Program Standards

This report surveys states who have adopted statewide program standards for early learning programs. The purpose of this report is to provide a tool for advocates working to establish uniform early learning program standards in Idaho. The report includes:

Examples of successful state-adopted program standards and a summary of how they evolved.
Program standards for national early learning networks.
Program standards for Idaho early learning programs.

Click here to view the report.

Fact Sheet: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

This fact sheet provides the most current data on the topic of grandparents raising grandchildren in Idaho. It also provides national and surrounding state data comparisons.

Click here to view the fact sheet.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) monthly summary report for January 2010

This is the first ARRA monthly report which updates Idaho's use of Stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Key findings include:

Despite experiencing dramatic increases in unemployment, Idaho has yet to be awarded any Stimulus funds through either the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund or the FANF Supplemental Grant Extension. Idaho is one of just 13 states who have failed to access these resources.
$9.4 million in the Governor's Discretionary portion of the ARRA funds for state fiscal relief remain unspent and potentially unobligated.
Idaho appears to be slow in spending (or in the reporting on its' spending of) ARRA funds awarded to LEA and School Improvement grants.
Idaho has been awarded more ARRA funding than originally anticipated for Unemployment Insurance, School Lunch Equipment Assistance grants, and McKinney-Vento for the education of children experiencing homelessness.

Click here to view the ARRA summary report for January 2010.

Small Faces in a BIG Recession Focus Group quotes are available

In 2009, Idaho KIDS COUNT produced a series of reports assessing the impact of the recession on children and families in Idaho. The qualitative portion of this project included 19 focus groups with children, parents and providers. Quotes are aggregated and available on the topics of:

Click each topic above to view quotes. Click here for more information on the Small Faces in a BIG Recession reports.

Idaho KIDS COUNT invites use of these quotes for public distribution provided that Idaho KIDS COUNT is recognized as the source.

Other State and National Reports on Children and Families

Hunger in America 2010 Idaho State Report

This report presents information on the clients and agencies in the state of Idaho. The study focuses on emergency food providers and their clients who are supplied with food by food banks in the FA network. Key findings impacting Idaho children include:

41% of the members of client households in Idaho are children under 18 years old.
Among client households with children, 86% are food insecure and 38% are food insecure with very low food security.
10% of the members of households are children age 0-5

Click here to view the full report. Please note that this is a large PDF (307 pages) and may take time to load.

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