Consistencies and Differences Across States in the Well-Being of Non-Hispanic White, Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black Children in the United States

Most analysis of racial differences in child well-being in the United States focus only on national level data and most state-level analysis of child well-being focus only on the total child population (all races combined). This analysis addresses the two limitations in previous research noted above by providing a state-level analysis of child well-being for the three largest race/Hispanic groups, namely Non-Hispanic White, Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black. The analysis is based ten commonly-used indicators of child well-being. First, the values for each of the ten indicators for each of three groups are examined in each state. This shows that the disadvantaged position of Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black children relative to Non-Hispanic White children is pervasive across all ten indicators and all states. Next, the well-being of children in each state relative to the well-being of children in their group in other states is assessed using a ten-item composite index of child well-being. Results show there is only modest positive correlations of relative well-being among the states for all three groups. Only two states are in the top ten states for all three groups. Likewise, there are only two states that were among the ten worst states for all three groups. This analysis indicates that using child well-being measures for the total population in a state does not adequately reflect child well-being of Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black children.