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The Well-Being of American Indian Children in North Dakota. Polly A. Fassinger, North Dakota Kids Count. Presentation for the North Dakota Association of Extension Agents, March 28, 2007. North Dakota KIDS COUNT. Our mission:
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The Well-Being of American Indian Children in North Dakota Polly A. Fassinger, North Dakota Kids Count Presentation for the North Dakota Association of Extension Agents, March 28, 2007
North Dakota KIDS COUNT • Our mission: • Promote the well-being of North Dakota's children through data-based public awareness activities. • Encourage policy decisions that enable families to successfully raise their children.
Main Topical Areas • The next generation • demographic portrait • Family composition • Economic condition • Education • Health • At-risk factors
Some basics • Children are persons younger than age 18, unless otherwise noted • Data is for state of North Dakota, unless otherwise noted • American Indians may include persons who are multiracial • Tribes and reservations
Five Tribal Reservations and Trenton Indian Service Area in North Dakota, 2000
The Next Generation • American Indians are the largest minority group of children in the state. • About 9% of all children are American Indian.
Number of Children Younger than 19 by Race and Hispanic Origin, 1994-2004
Young American Indians comprise over 40% of all American Indians in the state.
A little over half of all American Indian children live on reservations or tribal trust lands.
Number of American Indian Children by Residence Location, 2000
Number of American Indian Children Younger than 19 by County of Residence, 2004
Family Composition • American Indian children benefit from strong extended family support.
Percent of Children Who Live with a Relative Householder other than Their Parent, by Race of Child, 2000
The majority of American Indian grandparents who live with their grandchildren are also responsible for them.
Percent of Grandparents Living with Their Grandchildren Who were also Responsible for Their Grandchildren, by Race of Grandparent, 2000
About 3 in 7 American Indian children reside with a single parent.
Economic Condition • American Indian family incomes are much lower than those of other families.
Median Income of Families with Children by Race of Householder, 2000
Percent of Mothers Employed by Age of Children and Race of Mother, 2000
American Indian children have poverty rates more than 4 times higher than white children. • Over half of American Indian children under 6 are poor. • More than 25% live in extreme poverty.
Education • North Dakota has five tribal colleges. • More than 20% of American Indian youth (ages 18-24) are enrolled in college or graduate school.
Percent of American Indian Youth Enrolled in College or Graduate School, N.D. and U.S., 2000
Over one-third of all children enrolled in Head Start are American Indian.
Number of Children Enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start by Race, 1999-2005
Health • Between 4% to 17% of American Indian children did not have health insurance in 2003. • Between 5% to 8% of white children lacked health insurance in 2003.
American Indian teenagers have birth rates over twice as high as all teenagers.
Number of Live Births per 1,000 Teenage Women Ages 19 and Younger, by Race of Mother, 2000-2004
There has been a significant drop in the infant death rate for American Indians.
Number of Infant Deaths (per 1,000 live births)by Race of Mother, 2000-2004
At-Risk Behaviors • American Indian teens have higher suicide rates than do all teens.
Teen Suicide Rates by Race, 2000-2004 (per 100,000 teens 13-19 years old)
American Indian teens have “at risk” behaviors similar to most youth in the state.
Findings from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey for Students of Grades 9-12 by Race, 2005
American Indian children comprise 9% of all children, but 29% of children in foster care.
Be an advocate for American Indian children • Be informed! • Start a program • Encourage economic development on reservations • Communicate with legislators • Vote • Donate
Staying informed… How to find Kids Count data for your county or region Go to www.ndkidscount.org