Post Author
Luna Homsi
Research and Data Analyst
North Carolina families have been through a lot in the last few years, and we have the data to show it. Having compiled data available from agency sources from 2021 and 2022, we have a look into how families were doing during the pandemic that allows us to consider what supports they may need today.
This week, NC Child released its annual County Data Cards, highlighting key indicators of child well-being that elected officials should track, and respond to, in their communities.
View the 2023 County Data Cards.
A strong start for babies sets them up for health and success
Across the state, we saw improvements in the prenatal and perinatal outcomes that we track year to year. The first 2,000 days of a child’s life have a lasting impact on their health, educational outcomes, and overall success. Parents and caregivers need support to set their children up for a lifetime of health and achievement.
In 2021, 73.8% of women received early prenatal care, compared to 67.5% in 2019. This increase is encouraging, and we hope to see continued improvement in access to prenatal care and perinatal outcomes in future analyses, as legislation passed in 2022 extended Medicaid coverage for mothers and as Medicaid Expansion is implemented beginning December 1, 2023.
Health Insurance is the first step towards access
In 2021, many counties saw improvements or maintenance in the percentage of children without health coverage. Health coverage is key for family financial stability and for children’s healthy development. The counties with the highest rates of uninsured children are mostly concentrated in the northeast corner of the state. More than 11% of children are uninsured in Currituck, Duplin, and Perquimans counties. In the most Southwestern region of the state, 21% of children in Swain County and 11.7% of children in Macon County have no health coverage. Research shows that as parents gain health insurance coverage, uninsured children often do, too.
| NC Counties with Highest & Lowest Child Uninsurance Levels in 2021 | |
| Highest | |
| Swain | 21% |
| Currituck | 14% |
| Macon | 11.7% |
| Duplin | 11.6% |
| Perquimans | 11% |
Family economic security is within reach for all NC children
Children living in financially secure families are more likely to succeed in school and stay healthy. Before the pandemic, 2 out of 5 (44.5%) North Carolina children lived in poor or low-income households. In 2021, childhood poverty slightly decreased to 41.7% of NC children living in poor or low-income homes. At that point, the policies like the child stimulus checks, expanded SNAP benefits, and free school meals for all public-school students implemented as a part of the Public Health Emergency really helped bolster and protect children and families.
Across the state, children most at risk of living in poor or low-income homes include:
- Black and Latinx children. Years of barriers to family economic mobility continue to hold back opportunity from many Black and Latinx children;
- Children under age 6, who are more likely to be born to parents who are younger and less financially established; and
- Children in rural counties, where low incomes are often compounded by limited access to core needs like transportation and health care.
The Takeaway
What these numbers tell us is that sound public policy can improve outcomes for North Carolina’s children and families, and we should all work together to advocate for the continued investment in policies that set our families up for success.
Our team is always happy to review county data with community groups, civic and faith organizations, and local leaders to help paint a better picture of what the needs and opportunities are for our state’s children. If you’re interested in having an NC Child staff member speak at your event, contact Michael@ncchild.org.