Trenton Area & Mercer County Funders Affinity Group: 2017 Kids Count Report

Join us for the next meeting of the Trenton/Greater Mercer Area Funders Affinity Group where we will have a briefing from the Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) on the 2017 Kids Count findings. 

New Jersey Kids Count is part of the national KIDS COUNT© network a state-by-state effort, spearheaded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, to provide comprehensive data about child well-being to policymakers, advocates, grant-makers and the public to help inform critical decisions for children and families.  Here in New Jersey ACNJ has been spearheading this essential survey, providing county by county information that tracks:
    Demographics
    Economic Well-Being
    Education
    Family and Community
    Health
    Safety and Risky Behaviors

The findings of the annual count are particularly helpful to funder in understanding gaps and needs.  For instance, Mercer County ranked sixth in child and family economics but tor the nearly 81,000 children that call Mercer County home, 16% live in poverty, putting the county in 12th place on this indicator. Unemployment is at 4.3 %, compared to New Jersey’s 5%. Perhaps most surprising is the fact that Mercer County ranked 19thout of 21 in education.  From blood lead test levels to health insurance and juvenile arrests, the Kids County reports provide valuable insight.  Even if your funding is not focused on Mercer County but you support organizations working on these issues we encourage you to attend as there will be statewide data shared as well.

Joining us for the briefing will be ACNJ President and CEO Cecilia Zalkind and Kids County Coordinator Alana Vega.