What If: How Declines in Teen Births Have Improved Poverty and Child WellBeing Kids Count Conference

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What If How Declines in Teen Births Have
Improved Poverty and Child Well-BeingKids Count
ConferenceSeptember 16, 2005
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What If Overview

• This presentation covers the three Rs
• Research
• Release
• Results

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What If Research

• New state-specific analysis made possible by the
  United Health Foundation shows the power of
  prevention -- declining teen birth rates have
  significantly improved overall child and family
  well-being.
• Builds on national data developed by Joint
  Economic Committee and released by Ways Means
  Committee (Democrats) in 2004.

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What If Research

• Teen birth rates have declined in all 50 states
  between 1991 and 2002.
• This new research asks the question What if
  teen birth rates in each state had not declined?
  and presents data on seven state-specific key
  measures
• Number of additional children born to teen moms
• Number and percent of children living in poverty
• Number and percent of children living in single
  mother households
• Percent improvement in states poverty rate for
  children
• Percent improvement in proportion of children
  under age six living in single mother households.

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What If Release

• A state example of the What If analysis. If the
  teen birth rate had not declined in Maryland by
  35 between 1991 and 2002
• 21,000 additional children would have been born
  to teen moms over this period.
• 7,300 more young children (13) would be living
  in poverty in 2002 (MD ranks 3rd in the nation).
• 9,800 more young children (12) would be living
  in single-mother homes in 2002 (MD ranks 12th).

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What If Release

• Several days prior to the release, the National
  Campaign conducted a conference call with over 70
  individuals from 31 states.
• Prior to the call, participants were given an
  embargoed copy of their state fact
  sheet and tables, and a listing and ranking of
  key data for all states
• On the call participants learned how and why the
  data was compiled and heard from peers on
  concrete ways to use the data and work with the
  press.

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What If Release

• 51 state (and DC) specific press releases were
  prepared and sent to hundreds of media outlets
  nationwide. Specific journalists were also
  contacted.
• Through the Campaigns notification network, we
  sent the research to over 500 professionals
  nationwide.
• The new research was the subject of a special
  edition of the Campaigns e-gram which reaches
  over 5,000 people nationwide.
• The Campaigns extensive list of policymakers
  contacts as well as members of our bi-partisan
  Senate and House Advisory Panels were also
  notified.
• Our summer newsletter (35,000 recipients)
  prominently featured the new research.

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What If Results

• What if research was featured by major media
  outlets, including The Washington Post, regional
  powerhouses like Denver Post, St. Louis
  Post-Dispatch, and Houston Chronicle, and front
  page stories in newspapers such as the
  Albuquerque Journal and Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
• To date, the new research has generated well over
  65 newspaper articles (and counting) and has been
  featured on many local television and radio
  broadcasts.

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What If Results

• The What If data has appeared in news reports
  in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

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What If Results

• To date, What If files have been downloaded over
  70,000 times from the National Campaigns
  website.

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What If Results

• National organizations used the new data. For
  example, the National Governors Association
  described the new data in their email newsletter
  to Governors policy staff with a link to the
  report and information on our website.

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What If Results

• State agencies and organizations also found the
  What If data useful. For example,
• The NJ, MS, and TN Departments of Human Services
  sent out their own respective press releases
  featuring the data.
• GCAPP distributed copies of the press release and
  fact sheet on their letterhead at a media
  briefing in April.
• Marylands Campaign for Our Children E-gram
  list serve notice.
• This is an extremely important study. It points
  to the efforts we have been making all along to
  better the lives of children in New Jersey, said
  James M. Davy, Commissioner of the NJ Department
  of Human Services. If we can help children grow
  and flourish before they tackle the
  responsibilities of parenthood, then they and
  future generations have a great chance of
  becoming self-sufficient and independent.