1. Overview of Micro Level Indices of Child Well-being Kristin Anderson Moore, Ph.D. Presented at the ISCI inaugural conference June 27, 2007

2. THE CONUNDRUM The U.S. is ‘awash’ with data about children Extensive, though not complete, information is available about child well-being Information is too confusing and complex to capture the public’s attention Data could be boiled down to a single index Can this be done in a meaningful way? If so, how? What are the costs and benefits?

3. CREATING AN INDEX: ADVANTAGES Easy to understand Attracts attention Could be included in “State of the Nation” reports Reflects whole child perspective Allows for easy subgroup contrasts

4. CREATING AN INDEX: CHALLENGES What domains are included? What measures represent those domains? What about gaps in the data? How are the items weighted? Averaging effect of an index when indicators are moving in different directions Sensitivity of an index to the items that are included Should it be a macro or micro index?

5. MACRO DATA versus MICRO DATA Most indices developed as indicators to date are based on macro data Macro data functions at the population level Micro data functions at the level of the individual If data are representative, we can and do estimate macro-level statistics using micro data However, unlike macro data, micro data can be linked with individual background characteristics, and with other objective and subjective data The macro approach is particularly sensitive to the variables included, especially low-frequency items

6. Papers Using Micro-Level Indices of Child Well-Being Indices of Child Well-Being Based on the National Survey of America’s Families Sharon Vandivere and Kristin Anderson Moore, Child Trends, USA An Index of Child Well-Being Based on the National Survey of Children’s Health Laura Lippman, Kristin Anderson Moore, and Sharon Vandivere, Child Trends, USA The “America’s Promise” Index Peter Scales and Peter Benson, Search Institute; Kristin Anderson Moore, Laura Lippman, Brett Brown, Child Trends, USA

7. Research in the Service of America’s Children www.childtrends.org www.childtrendsdatabank.org