• The percentage of children whose single mothers were employed full-time declined from 50 percent in 2002 to 47 percent in 2003 and 2004.
  • This decline came after the percentage had increased substantially from 39 percent in 1996 (the year in which welfare reform was first implemented) to 50 percent in 2002.
• The percentage of children with at least one resident parent employed full-time, full-year increased steadily, from 72 percent in 1990 to 80 percent in 2000, before gradually decreasing after 2000.
• Increases during the 1990 to 2000 period were particularly large for children in families headed by single parents, non-Hispanic black children, and children in poor families.
• Since the year 2000, the percentage of children with at least one parent employed full time has decreased to 78 percent in 2004. 

• The percentage of all children under age 18 with private health insurance coverage decreased from 71 percent in 2000 to 65 percent in 2005. 
  • the percentage of children with Medicaid increased from 20 percent to 27 percent.
• Eighty-nine percent of children were covered by private or government health insurance in 2005.
• Children's health insurance coverage comes from two major sources-private insurance companies and the government (much of which comes from Medicaid).
  • Medicaid coverage for children increased from 20 percent of all children under age 18 in 2000 to 27 percent in 2005.
  • The percentage of children with private health insurance decreased from 71 percent in 2000 to 65 percent in 2005.

Child care centers are much safer than all other forms of child care, according to a new national study.

• The fatality rate for children who receive child care in private homes is sixteen times higher than the fatality rate for children in child care centers.
• Infants are by far the most vulnerable children in care.  Their fatality rate from both accidents and violence is nearly seven times higher than that of children from one to four.
• The infant fatality rate in the care of nannies or family day care providers is more than seven times higher than that in centers.
• Not a single shaken baby fatality was found in a child care center, while 203 were reported in arrangements in private homes.  

• Download PowerPoint® Slides 
• Full Report: "Fatalities and the Organization of Childcare,"