FROM INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING
Overall child well-being in the state has improved in recent years, according to a new report from the Indiana Youth Institute.
However, the organization says state leaders can do more for children’s health, education and economic welfare.
The report shows significant gains in graduation rates, which rose from over 86 percent to nearly 89 percent.
Indiana currently ranks 13th in the country in education.
There was also a decrease in the number of children in foster care, and the percentage of children without health insurance dropped from nine percent to six percent.
Tami Silverman is the president and C-E-O of the Indiana Youth Institute and she says Indiana has improved overall in every category the organization uses to measure youth wellness, but there is still work to do.
Silverman says the state must focus on areas like reading, math, and keeping kids in school.
She says Indiana must also find solutions to high infant mortality rates and high numbers of child and teen deaths.
