State of Children's Health in Wisconsin

Snapshot of Wisconsin's Children

It is often said that children are our future and our greatest resource. As adults, parents, healthcare providers, teachers, lawmakers and community members, it is our responsibility to ensure the health, safety and all around well-being of all children. It is important to learn about Wisconsin’s children and their lives in order to better understand how we can help them achieve their full potential.

Population and Demographics of Children in Wisconsin

Children less than 18 years old make up approximately 24 percent of our state’s population, with an estimated 1,339,500 children living in the state, approximately 685,500 boys and 654,000 girls.¹

Distribution of Wisconsin Children Less Than 18 Years of Age (2010)

Race and Ethnicity Among Wisconsin Children Less Than 18 Years of Age (2010)

Births and Infant Mortality in Wisconsin

• In 2010, approximately 68,000 babies were born in the state¹
• For every 1,000 babies born, about 6 babies died before reaching their 1st birthday¹ (infant mortality rate = IMR)¹; in 2011, 25 states had a lower IMR than Wisconsin.²
• Marked racial disparity in IMR exists in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Infant Mortality by Race

Children’s Education in Wisconsin

• More than 870,000 children are enrolled in school in the Wisconsin school districts, from pre-Kindergarten through high school students³
• In 2011 Wisconsin ranked first in the country for high school graduation rates, with roughly 90 percent of incoming ninth graders graduating from high school in four years;² however, racial disparities are seen in graduation rates—with a graduation rate of 91 percent among white, non-Hispanic children; 88 percent among Asian, non-Hispanic children; 72 percent among Hispanic children; and 64 percent among black, non-Hispanic children in 2010-2011⁴

Children’s Economic Status in Wisconsin

• In 2010, approximately 250,000 (19 percent) children in Wisconsin were living below the federally defined poverty level.³
• Data from 2009, noted that roughly 270,000 (21 percent) children in Wisconsin lived in a household that was food insecure at some point within the previous 12 months³

Percent of Children Less Than 18 Years Old Living Below Poverty Line

Health and Health Care in Wisconsin

• Among parents of Wisconsin’s children, age less than 18 years⁵
• 87.3 percent described their child’s current health status as “excellent” or “very good”
• 10.3 percent described their child’s current health status as “good”
• 2.4 percent described their child’s current health status as “fair” or “poor”
• Based on parental report, among Wisconsin children⁵
• 68.2 percent of children age less than 18 years, were reported to have had both a preventive medical and dental visit in the past 12 months
• Among parents of children ages 2-17 with emotional, developmental, or behavioral problems for which they need treatment or counseling, 34.8 percent with private insurance, 34.9 percent with public insurance, and 86.9 percent with no insurance reported that their child needed, but did not receive, mental health treatment or services in the past 12 months.
• Of children ever enrolled in Medicaid/BadgerCare+, 8.4 percent of children less than 3 years and 37.1 percent of ages 3-18 had a dental service in the state fiscal year 2010.⁶

Types of Health Insurance Among Wisconsin Children (2009)

References

1. WISH
2. http://www.americashealthrankings.org
3. Annie E. Casey Foundation, KIDS COUNT Data Center
4. 2009-2010 High School Gradation Rate, 4 year rate by race/ethnicity across entire state
5. 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health
6. County Oral Health Wisconsin Surveillance System Report