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
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 county-level data about West Virginia kids.
Click here for a link to the supplementary data tables, the raw data that formed the basis of the 2007 Data Book.
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.
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 Annual Report is a review of KIDS COUNT's ongoing initiatives, as well as the organization's current board members, donors and financial information.
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.
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.