Louisiana continues to rank near the bottom nationally in child well-being, but the state has made notable progress since 2019, according to the Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The report, which scores and ranks states on how children are faring, places Louisiana 48th overall. But Teresa Falgoust, chief data and impact officer with Agenda for Children, said the ranking does not mean the state is moving in the wrong direction.

Falgoust said Louisiana has improved more than almost every other state in child well-being, with much of that progress driven by gains in education. The state now ranks 35th in the education category.

“Louisiana has made some really significant investments in helping children learn to read early and on time," Falgoust said, "and one of those investments has been a major investment in early care and education, helping give the kids the foundation that they need to succeed in school.”

She said Louisiana also has invested heavily in reading programs, professional development and high-dose tutoring for children.

Under this year’s new scoring system, Louisiana received 313 points out of 1,000, well below the national average of 547.

Falgoust said the biggest challenge facing Louisiana children is economic security. According to the data book, about 264,000 children in Louisiana were living in poverty in 2024.

“That’s being driven by relatively high levels of children where no parent has full-time year-round employment,” Falgoust said. “About a third of children in Louisiana live in households where no adult has that full-time year-round employment, compared to about 25% nationwide.”

She said Louisiana leaders need to do more to address the financial hardship many children experience.

Leslie Boissiere, vice president for external affairs with the Casey Foundation, said when families struggle to make ends meet, it can affect a child’s health and ability to succeed in school.

“If you think about the basic needs of a child, the economic well-being of the family, of the parents, a parent’s ability to provide for their children is significant,” Boissiere said.

The report also found that infant health remains a concern. More than 11% of Louisiana babies were born at low birthweight in 2024, a slight increase from five years earlier.

Source: Public News Service