Ohio lands in bottom half of states for children's wellbeing
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Ohio ranks in the bottom half among states for children's wellbeing, according to a new report.
Why it matters: Children's wellbeing affects future workforce participation and economic growth, and researchers warn rising costs and safety-net reductions could further strain families.
How it works: The 2026 Kids Count Data Book report, put together by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, measures children's vitality across four categories: economic wellbeing, education, health and family and community.
What they found: Scores declined nationally from 2019 to 2024, with kids in 29 states faring worse than before the COVID pandemic, according to the report.
- Children's wellbeing improved in 15 others, with Ohio being among them.
Zoom in: Ohio ranked 27th among states for overall child wellbeing, 27th for economic wellbeing, 26th for health and 33rd for family and community.
- The state's best placement was 12th for education.
Zoom out: Five of the top seven states are in the Northeast, with New Hampshire taking the top spot.
- Eleven of the 15 lowest-ranked states are in the South, with Mississippi placing last.
What they're saying: "Research shows that kids who are healthy, safe, fed, educated and surrounded by strong family relationships have a much better chance to thrive and contribute as independent adults," says Leslie Boissiere, Annie E. Casey Foundation vice president of external affairs.
- "We know that today's children are tomorrow's workforce so the strength of the economy in the future is tied to the wellbeing of kids today," adds Boissiere.
The bottom line: There's a "direct correlation" between "how states invest in children and how kids are doing," Boissiere says.