GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT
Trenton Kids Count 2023 Report
Accurate, timely data drives good policy decisions.
“Four years ago, we released our first Trenton Kids Count in over two decades, providing a benchmark to measure progress. Life in the state’s capital city is certainly improving and I am especially hopeful that, with community groups coming together, we can come up with some bold and intentional solutions to improve outcomes for children”
– Mary Coogan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Advocates for Children of New Jersey
Report Highlights
Trenton’s child population rose 2% from 2016 to 2021; total population increased 8% over that period.
Children in Trenton living in extreme poverty (defined as below 50% of FPL) decreased by 24% from 2011-2015 to 2016-2020
Trenton’s unemployment rate increased by 21% from 2017 to 2021.
The number of women receiving late or no prenatal care decreased by 19% from 2016 to 2020.
Reported children with substantiated/established findings of abuse/neglect in Trenton decreased from 5.0% to 2.1% from 2017 to 2021.
The Trenton Kids Count report was produced by Advocates for Children of New Jersey in January 2023
Report Summary
Supported by the Burke Foundation, the Smith Family Foundation, and the Princeton Area Community Foundation, Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) produced Trenton Kids Count 2023, a report that presents data on numerous indicators of child and family wellbeing in the city and serves as a valuable tool for advocacy on behalf of the community.
Much has changed since the 2019 Trenton Kids Count report. What hasn’t changed is Trenton’s resilience and strength in the face of adversity. Trenton Kids Count 2023 reflects awe-inspiring efforts of nonprofit organizations, organizers, policymakers, and community members to improve the wellbeing of children and families during the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impressive strides have been made, including fewer low birthweight births, a decrease in the rate of children living in extreme poverty, and a lower infant mortality rate. The report also shows there’s still much work to be done.
ACNJ will host community conversations to review data from Trenton Kids Count 2023 and enable community members, local organizations, policymakers, and other stakeholders to brainstorm solutions to serve the needs of Trenton children. The conversations will focus on education and development; health and human services; juvenile justice and crime; and housing and economics.
The Kids Count initiative, a state-by-state effort of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, provides high-quality data and trend analysis on the well-being of children in the United States to spark conversation and change local, state, and national policies. Kids Count reports inform policymakers, advocates, grantmakers, and the public. They help influence important decisions and raise the visibility of children’s issues through a nonpartisan, evidence-based lens.
The report’s goals include:
- Providing a reliable benchmark of child wellbeing for Trenton’s youngest residents
- Bringing Trenton stakeholders together around shared metrics and goals
- Strengthening the Trenton community by providing local nonprofits with data to influence and enhance their programming and potentially secure additional funding.
Following release of Trenton Kids Count 2023, the Burke Foundation is well positioned to better identify areas of need for the Trenton community and, alongside community members and other nonprofits, organize initiatives to effect change.
Trenton Kids Count
Programs in Action
