Library

Reports: Public safety

Child Maltreatment
Children's Bureau, January 2025, 297 pp.
National and state-level data on child abuse and neglect. more info >

State of America’s Children Report
Children's Defense Fund, January 2024
This report summarizes the status of America’s children in 11 areas: child population, child poverty, income and wealth inequality, housing and homelessness, child hunger and nutrition, child health, early childhood, education, child welfare, youth justice, and gun violence. more info >

Separating Poverty From Neglect in Child Welfare
Child Welfare Information Gateway, February 2023, 12 pp.
This publication explores what the research shows about the overlap among families experiencing poverty and those reported to the child welfare system for neglect, the societal context within which both poverty and neglect exist, and strategies that have proven effective for preventing and addressing both poverty and neglect, together. more info >

Parenting in America Today
Pew Research Center, January 2023, 44 pp.
A research survey on American families reveals that parents' biggest concern is their children's mental health, including anxiety and depression. For lower-income parents and Hispanic parents, children's physical safety is a major concern. more info >

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, June 2019, 162 pp.
National survey that monitors six categories of health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults (grades 9-12). The study addresses violence, tobacco and drug use, sexual behaviors, dietary behaviors, and physical activity. Includes state-by-state comparisons. more info >

Just Kids: When Misbehaving is a Crime
Vera Institute of Justice, August 2017
Actions such as skipping school or violating a curfew are considered illegal for children under 18, but criminalizing such misbehavior has detrimental consequences. This report highlights key factors that contribute to the cycle of kids being pushed into the juvenile justice system and what can be done to shift away from this punitive approach. more info >

Web sites

Attendance Works Toolkits
Attendance Works has developed toolkits tailored for educators working with students in preschool through secondary school, as well as principals and school districts. The toolkits are filled with strategies and resources for monitoring, understanding and addressing chronic school absence. more info >

Kids Count North Dakota
North Dakota KIDS COUNT is a statewide resource for data on the well-being of children in North Dakota, addressing six domains: demographics, health, education, family and community, economic well-being, and safety. more info >

Burns Institute for Juvenile Justice Fairness & Equity
Presents data on disparities in the juvenile justice system. Data are available by state. more info >