The 1995 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Book uses multiple data sources to present a portrait
of children and their families in the state and its 120 counties.
State and county populations for 1980 and 1990 are taken from the U.S. Census of Population and Housing for the appropriate year and reflect persons residing in Kentucky on April 1 of those years. The 1994 populations are a disaggregated estimate provided by the Urban Studies Institute, University of Louisville. Percent changes from 1980-1990 and 1990-1994 are also calculated.
All birth data are taken from vital statistics data provided by the Cabinet for Human Resources. Percent changes from 1980-1990 and 1990-1994 are also calculated.
Poverty statistics display the percent of all persons and children under 18 who lived below the designated federal poverty line for 1970, 1980, and 1990. The data are all taken from the U.S. Census files for the appropriate years.
Four selected trends about the conditions of children are highlighted for the state as a whole as well as for each county. Counties are ranked against each other on these indicators for the years 1980-1982 and 1992-1994. A rank of one is the best. The graphs show trends over time for the four selected indicators.
Three-year running averages are used because Kentucky has many counties with small populations. However, in small counties, changes in vital statistics over time should be interpreted with some caution. Using three-year averages reduces but does not eliminate the likelihood of statistical aberrations.
The number of infant deaths (children less than one year old) in a three-year period was divided by the total number of live births in the three-year period and converted to thousands. The infant mortality rate reflects the number of infants who died per thousand births. The rates are ranked for 1980-1982 and 1992-1994 and graphed using three-year running averages for the years 1980-1994.
The total number of women receiving prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy, as determined from birth certificates, was divided by the total number of live births and converted to a percentage. Three-year averages are ranked for 1980-1982 and 1992-1994. The graph displays annual data from 1980 through 1994.
The total number of births to females 17 and under was divided by the total population of females 12 through 17 years old. The resulting rate reflects the number of births per 1,000 teens between and including the ages of 12 and 17. (Readers are cautioned that the teen birth rates reported in other sources are usually for teens 12 through 19 and so are not comparable.) Three-year averages are ranked for 1980-1982 and 1992-1994. The graph displays annual data from 1980 through 1994.
The total number of births to unmarried women, as determined from birth certificates, was divided by the total number of live births and converted to a percentage. Three-year averages are ranked for 1980-1982 and 1992-1994. The graph displays annual data from 1980 through 1994.
The table shows 1993 data for jobs by place of work (in other words, the Adair County figures reflect the number of jobs in Adair County regardless of the county residence of individuals who hold those jobs) and wage and salary per job in that county. These data are from the Regional Economic Information System (REIS) CD-Rom published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The mean wage and salary data in the graph was adjusted for inflation to 1993 dollars using the consumer price index. Unemployment data were provided buy the University of Kentucky Center for Business and Economic Research. The data are benchmarked to the 1993 Current Population Survey (CPS).
The child abuse and neglect data are taken from the annual data compiled by the Department of Social Services, Cabinet for Human Resources. The total number of children reported and substantiated is an unduplicated count. The incidences reported and substantiated may count a child more that once for various types of abuse and neglect. A report is considered substantiated after state officials complete an investigation and determine that further action is justified to protect the child. Definitions of physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect are commonly understood. Dependency refers to a child who is under improper care in a situation that is not due to an intentional act of the parent or other person exercising custodial control of the child.
The number of persons and children are monthly averages for the fiscal year 1995 (July 1994-June 1995) taken from data compiled by the Department of Social Insurance, Cabinet for Human Resources. The percentage of children was calculated from these data.
The number of persons and children are monthly averages for June 1995 taken from data compiled by the Department of Social Insurance, Cabinet for Human Resources. The percentage of children was calculated from these data.
The number of persons and children are monthly averages for December 1994 taken from data compiled by the U.S. Social Security Administration. The percentage of children was calculated from these data.
The number of persons and children are monthly averages for the fiscal year 1994 (July 1993-June 1994) taken from data compiled by the Department of Medicaid, Cabinet for Human Resources. The percentage of children was calculated from these data.
All education data are reported from the school year 1993-94 from information received from the Kentucky Department of Education. Dropout rates measure the percentage of students enrolled in grades 7-12 who do not enroll the following year and have not graduated or transferred to another school. Retention rates are the percentage of students in grades 4-12 who do not progress to the next grade or graduate. (The primary years are not included in the retention measure.) Transition rates measure the percentage of graduates who are pursuing further education or are employed, either full or part time. The expenditures per pupil is the total expenditures from all sources in a school district divided by the total enrollment for the year.