Georgia KIDS COUNT Expands Statewide Indicators of Child and Family Well-Being

Georgia Family Connection Partnership (GaFCP) has released an updated list of Georgia KIDS COUNT indicators, expanding the statewide measures of child and family well-being from 52 to 54 indicators.

KIDS COUNT is a national initiative by the Annie E. Casey Foundation that tracks child well-being. As Georgia’s official grantee, GaFCP reviews these indicators every five years to ensure the data remains meaningful, actionable, and aligned with current research and policy priorities.

“Our goal is for Georgia KIDS COUNT to continue providing communities and policymakers with the information they need to make decisions that improve outcomes for children and families,” said GaFCP Data Manager Jacquan Jordan.

Georgia KIDS COUNT indicators are drawn from trusted state and national data sources and allow communities to monitor long-term trends affecting children and families. The updated indicator set helps local- and state-level leaders identify emerging needs, understand disparities, and develop data-informed strategies that strengthen the systems supporting Georgia’s children and families.

GaFCP convened partners from state agencies, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations to evaluate the existing indicators and recommend updates during the 2025 review process:

• Georgia Department of Community Health,
• Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning,
• Georgia Department of Education,
• Georgia Department of Human Services,
• Georgia Department of Public Health,
• Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, and
• U.S. Census Bureau.

“Our focus in reviewing the indicators this cycle was to verify we still measure what matters,” said Jordan. “We retired seven indicators that no longer reflect meaningful measures of success and introduced nine new metrics to address youth mental health, maternal health, broadband access, and other critical current issues.”

Indicators are removed when reliable data are no longer available, collection methods or definitions change, or new measures better reflect emerging issues affecting children and families.

Among the indicators removed were six metrics tracking the percentage of third-, fifth-, and eighth-grade students scoring at the “Developing Learner” level or above on Georgia Milestones assessments. Statewide data partners determined that this specific baseline no longer reflects the high level of achievement necessary for long-term student success.

Additionally, the teen births indicator (ages 15 – 19) was removed. The remaining teen pregnancies indicator (ages 15 – 17) offers a more complete picture of the landscape—capturing live births, fetal deaths, and abortions—while eliminating data ambiguity.

The Georgia KIDS COUNT indicator list is organized around GaFCP’s five result areas:

One of the most significant updates replaces indicators from the Georgia Student Health Survey with measures from the Georgia School Climate Survey administered by the Georgia Department of Education. The updated survey provides richer data on student experiences, including youth mental health and electronic vapor product use, allowing communities to better understand student well-being and develop more targeted strategies to support young people.

The review also added several health-related indicators to better reflect emerging priorities. Emergency department visits for cardiovascular disease and self-harm were added to the Stable, Self-Sufficient, and Productive Families result area. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in Georgia, while suicide is the second-leading cause of death among children ages 10 to 14.

In response to a growing statewide focus on maternal health and GaFCP’s continued work through the Promoting Women’s Health and Healthy Births Cohort, the women with late or no prenatal care indicator has been added to the Stable, Self-Sufficient, and Productive Families result area.

The households with broadband access indicator was added to the Vibrant, Robust Communities That Thrive result area. Broadband access has become critical factor in health, education, and economic opportunity by expanding access to telehealth services, educational resources, and workforce opportunities.

Access Statewide and County-Level Data

Georgia KIDS COUNT indicators and county-level trend data are available through GaFCP’s online data tools. Users can explore local data, compare trends over time, and access resources to support community planning and policy development.

All 54 Georgia KIDS COUNT indicators are available for download.

If you have questions about these updates or would like a demonstration of the tools, reach out to Jordan at jacquan@gafcp.org.

Visit gafcp.org/data to explore statewide and county-level data.