Communicating Data to Support Child Well-Being in Delaware

Researcher(s)

  • Miranda Perez Rivera, Public Policy, University of Delaware

Faculty Mentor(s)

  • Janice Barlow, Biden School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware
  • Erin Nescott, Biden School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware

Abstract

Children are the future of our nation. Stability and support are important to ensure that a child receives the resources they need to thrive, yet the future of a child is tied to their families and social determinants of health. Social determinants of health are the environmental factors that impact a child’s well-being. These include economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and surrounding environment, and social and community context. Without advocacy towards legislation on the issues that children face, many children are at risk of being left behind.

KIDS COUNT Delaware communicates data in various ways to ensure that different demographics are well-informed. My projects this summer have worked to communicate data through various products in order to inform the public and be a driving factor for policy changes, towards enhanced child wellbeing. I compiled a Legislative Calendar created to inform legislators of the disparities faced by children in Delaware. Many legislators don’t have the time to read lengthy documents, so this page-a-day style publication contains snippets of data from various indicators that can help legislators understand the issues children face in Delaware. I also communicated data through issue briefs, with the most time spent on a Nutrition Brief, paired with the editing process for Poverty and Medicaid Briefs. The briefs go into detail about the issue and what is currently being done to promote child well-being.

My time spent with KIDS COUNT in Delaware taught me how to further communicate information in various ways and help educate populations, in hopes that the data shared out will get people thinking about how they can make a change to better the well-being of a child.