Publications
KIDS COUNT produces a wide variety of publications aimed at improving the lives of West Virginia's children. Whether you are interested in early child development, early literacy, school readiness or data about the well-being of West Virginia's children, KIDS COUNT has important information to share with you.
Publications you can download
2009 West Virginia KIDS COUNT Data Book
Eight of the twelve key indicators of child well-being have shown solid improvement since the start of the new millennium. The most dramatic improvements have been in the percent of eligible children served by Head Start (a 23.4% improvement) and the juvenile delinquency case rate (an 18.2% improvement). However, three important indicators of child well-being have gotten worse. The percent of low birth-weight babies increased from 8.4% in 2000 to 9.6% in 2007, a worsening of 13.7%. The percent of children approved for free and reduced price school meals increased from 49.5% in 2000 to 53.6% in 2007, a worsening of 8.4% and evidence of increasing child poverty. And, the percent of high school dropouts increased from 16.4% in 2000 to 17.0% in 2007a a worsening of 3.7%. Click here to download the complete 2009 Data Book. 
Click here to download the 2009 Data Book Essay, "The Kids First Communities Campaign: A Playbook for Early Child Development Policy Change."The essay outlines KIDS COUNT's successful campaign to advocate for legislations creating a childcare quality rating and improvement system in West Virginia.
Click here to download the 2009 Data Book Supplementary Data Tables.
Click here to go directly to the West Virginia page of the new KIDS COUNT Data Center.
2008 West Virginia KIDS COUNT Data Book
64,000 West Virginia children spend a large part of their day in the care of someone other than their parents. The state currently has no comprehensive system for measuring the quality of that care, and only 8% of the state's childcare centers meet the national gold standard for quality. To address the quality gap, many states are implementing childcare quality rating and improvement systems. The 2008 KIDS COUNT Data Book takes an in-depth look at the rationale for these childcare quality rating systems; the successful experiences of other states that have implemented them; and KIDS COUNT's grassroots effort to build broad public support for a childcare quality rating and improvement system in West Virginia.
Click here for a link to the supplementary data tables, the raw data that formed the basis of the 2009 Data Book.
Business on Board with Childcare! Award Application Packet
In 2009, KIDS COUNT launched an award program for West Virginia businesses that offer a childcare friendly workplace. The Business on Board with Childcare! award will signify an employer's adherence to loca and national createria for a childcare-friendly workplace. KIDS COUNT's goal is to create a recognition program that is accessible and achievable for West Virginia business and providers the support and information all employers need to offer a childcare-friendly workplace.
There are sponsorship opportunities for businesses who want to lend their financial support to this award program. Click here to learn about becoming a Business on Board with Childcare! sponsor.
2007 West Virginia KIDS COUNT Data Book
The 2007 Data Book details a series of focus groups and surveys KIDS COUNT conducted with parents, childcare providers and community leaders during the summer of 2007. The research was designed to tell the story of how working parents, providers and communities struggle to meet the developmental needs of young children and find out what they believe state government and local communities can and should do to ensure childcare quality.
Click here for a link to the supplementary data tables, the raw data that formed the basis of the 2007 Data Book.
KIDS COUNT Fund Raising Case Statement
In 2009, KIDS COUNT is launching an innovative new project called Business on Board with Childcare! to recognize West Virginia employers who support their employees' childcare needs and advocate for better childcare. This publication makes a strong case for West Virginia business to lend their financial support to Business on Board with Childcare! and to KIDS COUNT's other signature projects: the KIDS COUNT Data Book and the Kids First Communities Campaign.
Kids First Issue Brief: 64,000 West Virginia Children Need Great Childcare
This two-page publication lays out a compelling case for new investments in a childcare quality rating and improvement system (QRIS). Key points include 1) what we want for West Virginia's youngest children, 2) why a high-quality early child development system is important, 3) why we are advocating for a QRIS, 4) what the QRIS will look like, 5) how KIDS COUNT is helping, and 6) what quality looks like. The issue brief also includes great supporting data on the current state of West Virginia's early child development system.
The Annual Report is a review of KIDS COUNT's ongoing initiatives, as well as the organization's current board members, donors and financial information.
2006 West Virginia KIDS COUNT Data Book
The 2006 Data Book details a three-year effort led by KIDS COUNT to create the framework for quality and accountability in West Virginia's early child development (ECD) system.
The essay section of the book focuses on the results of the first year of that effort: an assessment of West Virginia's current ECD policies and an analysis of how policymakers, opinion leaders and advocates feel about new investments in ECD programs.
2005 West Virginia KIDS COUNT Data Book
The focus of the 2005 Data Book is a major project KIDS COUNT launched to help parents and caregivers lay the Building Blocks of Learning for children zero to three. In 2005 KIDS COUNT talked to West Virginia parents and caregivers about their awareness, understanding and practice of key building blocks of learning: love, talk, rhyme, read and play. Their answers formed the basis of a social marketing campaign to remind parents and caregivers to incorporate the building blocks into their every-day activities with young children.
From March to December of 2006, the West Virginia KIDS COUNT Fund conducted a multi-county, social marketing campaign aimed at improving the early literacy practices of low-income parents and family child care providers. The results of the 8-month project, released today, include significant gains in the amount of time parents and Family Child Care providers spent reading to, rhyming with and asking questions of young children. The project also demonstrates significant positive shifts in attitudes about the kinds of activities that can help lay the foundation for learning to read such as talking at mealtimes, playing with everyday items and giving children hugs and kisses.
The Building Blocks of Literacy
In 2004, KIDS COUNT published a report identifying five key Building Blocks of Literacy: love, talk, rhyme, read and play. The report examines each of these components in detail and offers practical tips for parents, communities and policymakers interested in improving early literacy.
2004 West Virginia KIDS COUNT Data Book
The focus of the 2004 Data Book is the readiness of young children to enter school. KIDS COUNT gathered data on a number of school readiness indicators to stimulate public discussion and assist in the development of policies that would ensure every West Virginia child enters school ready to learn and succeed.
So You Want to Get a Business Partner?
KIDS COUNT has developed a practical guide for community organization that want to establish relationships with local businesses. Six simple steps outline a process for establishing successful long-term partnerships with businesses who are interested in supporting non-profit efforts in their communities.
Early Child Development Is Economic Development
Traditional economic development strategies are a high-risk proposition, often with low public return on investment. By contrast, one of the most productive economic development investments is early child development (ECD). This briefing paper makes a strong argument for ECD as an investment in West Virginia's economic future.