I grew up in Tupelo, and I've spent much of my career using numbers to tell stories about people's health. Some of the most important numbers I know are the ones that show how Mississippi's children are doing.
This year's KIDS COUNT Data Book, released in June by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, tells two stories about our state.
One is a success story. Mississippi ranks 16th in the nation in education, the highest ranking the state has ever earned in the Data Book's history. Strong early literacy policy and investment in pre-K are paying off.
The other story is harder to hear.
Mississippi ranks last
in the country for overall child well-being, with a score of 271 out of 1,000. The national score is 547. We rank 50th in children's health, 49th in economic well-being and 49th in family and community. Our state has the highest share of low birth-weight babies in the nation, and our health score of 122 trails even 49th-ranked Louisiana by more than 250 points.
But the data also show something worth holding onto: From 2019 to 2024, Mississippi improved in education, economic well-being, and family and community. Progress is possible. The question is how we build on it, especially when it comes to our children's health.
Annie E. Casey Foundation, to bring the KIDS COUNT numbers off the page and talk about what they mean for families. Here's what we'll cover:
Navigating healthcare changes.
Many Mississippians are facing changes to Medicaid, Marketplace plans and private insurance, and it isn't always clear where to turn. Mississippi Today's Kate Royals will moderate a practical conversation with Khaylah Scott of the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program and Dr. Michael Minor of Get Covered Mississippi, who helps people around the state find coverage.
Food insecurity and what it means for kids.
Hunger doesn't just mean an empty stomach. It shows up as stress at home, struggles at school and instability that can follow a child for years. Candice Wilder will moderate a conversation with Robert Langford, executive director of Operation Shoestring, and Oleta Fitzgerald, director of the Southern Regional Office of the Children's Defense Fund, about how food insecurity in Mississippi has shifted in recent months and what experts expect next for the state's most vulnerable children.
We'll also hear keynote remarks from state Rep. Zakiya Summers of Jackson. And we'll save time for your questions.
Laura Santhanam, Health Editor, Mississippi Today andAuthor
Whether you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, healthcare worker or simply someone who cares about the kids in your community, this conversation is for you.
