SALT LAKE CITY – True to its family-friendly reputation, Utah has been ranked as being one of the best states in the nation for raising happy, healthy and supported children.
That’s according to a nationwide study of conducted by family experts at Go Au Pair, a child-care service based in Salt Lake City.
“A child’s well-being isn’t just about test scores or income on paper,” according to Devon Kapler Leftwich, a spokesperson for Go Au Pair.
“It’s about whether families feel supported,” she adds, “whether kids feel safe and whether parents have the stability they need to show up consistently for their children.”
To better understand where children are truly thriving, the researchers in Salt Lake City examined factors like economic stability, educational outcomes and home environments across all 50 states, finding that those conditions vary wildly depending on geography.
Utah was found to rank fourth among the 50 states, earning high marks for economic stability and family median income ($116,400) and low parental unemployment rates (only 2 percent).
The Beehive State also exceled academically, with its school children ranking fourth in 4th grade math achievement and seventh in reading that the same grade level.
In terms of physical health, Utah also ranked fourth nationally with a rate of child obesity at only 12 percent.
The state might have listed higher in the national ranking, except that 18 percent of its children reported experiencing anxiety or depression, illustrating that economic factors don’t necessarily translate to emotional well-being.
“What stands out in the top ranking states is balance,” Leftwich observes. “Strong school matter, but so does health care access, economic security and a healthy home environment.
“If one of those pieces is missing,” she emphasizes, “it shows up elsewhere.”
The Go Au Pair study evaluated child well-being using 10 weighted metrics, including parental unemployment; media family income; crowded living conditions; child/teen death rates; academic achievement; rate of anxiety/depression; access to quality health care; childhood obesity rates; and percentage of children living in households with smokers.
Data was obtained from nationally recognized sources, including the Annie E. Casey Foundation Data Center, the National Assessment of Education Progress and the Kaiser Family Foundation, among others.
In addition to Utah, other states in the study’s top five ranking included Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut and Colorado.
At the opposite end of the spectrum were the states of Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico and West Virginia, which the Go Au Pair researchers identified as facing challenges that require long-term solutions.
“Improving child well-being isn’t quick or simple,” Leftwich acknowledges.
“But this data helps highlight where support is most urgently needed.”
Au pairs are pre-screened international young adults with child-care experience who provide full time, live-in child-care and introduce a memorable cultural experience at an affordable cost.
Go Au Pair is a service dedicated to helping families in the Salt Lake City area choose an Au Pair that fits their specific family needs.