By the Population Reference Bureau KIDS COUNT

state effort to track the status of children in the United States. By providing policymak-ers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being, KIDS COUNT seeks to enrich local, state, and national discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all children. At the national level, the principal activity of the initiative is the publication of the annu-al KIDS COUNT Data Book, which uses the best available data to measure the educa-tional, social, economic, and physical well-being of children. The Foundation also funds a nationwide network of state-level KIDS COUNT projects that provide a more detailed community-by-community picture of the condition of children. The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) Founded in 1929, the Population Reference Bureau is the leader in providing timely and objective information on U.S. and international population trends and their implications. PRB informs policymakers, educators, the media, and concerned citizens working in the public interest around the world through a broad range of activities, including publica-tions, information services, seminars and workshops, and technical support. Our efforts are supported by government contracts, foundation grants, individual and corporate con-tributions, and the sale of publications. PRB is governed by a Board of Trustees repre-senting diverse community and professional interests. KIDS COUNT/PRB Reports on Census 2000 This paper is part of a series of reports on the 2000 Census prepared for the nationwide network of KIDS COUNT projects. These reports have been guided by the recommenda-tions of an expert advisory group of data users and child advocates brought together in a series of meetings by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Population Reference Bureau. Members of the advisory group have provided valuable assistance about how to interpret and use data from the 2000 Census. A list of the advisory group members can be found at the back of this report. For more information or for a pdf version of this report, visit the Annie E. Casey Foundations KIDS COUNT website at www.kidscount.org or PRBs AmeriStat website at www.ameristat.org