What are Nebraska Children's Community Well-Being Indicators?

The Community Well-Being Indicators provide information relevant to the well-being of children and families throughout Nebraska. These indicators, most collected annually since 2009, consist of county-level and state-level data including:

1. Child abuse/neglect substantiated reports,
2. Children below poverty level under age 5,
3. Children in out-of-home care,
4. Children in single parent households,
5. High school graduation,
6. Infant deaths,
7. Juvenile arrests
8. Language spoken other than English,
9. Proficiency in English Language Arts at 3rd grade,
10. Births to teens, and
11. Work hours per week to rent 2-bed home

For definitions of these indicators (as of 2021), download the Community Well-Being Indicators Data Book.

How do I access Community Well-Being Indicator data?

Go to the Nebraska Community Opportunity Map at NEopportunitymap.org to access Community Well-Being Indicator data at both the state and county level. The Nebraska Community Opportunity Map is an interactive tool designed to empower people working in and with communities across the state by providing easily accessible, timely, relevant, and high-quality data.

How are the Community Well-Being Indicators used?

The Community Well-Being Indicators serve several purposes. These are:

• Gauging progess: Nebraska Children and Families Foundation uses multiple years of Community Well-Being Indicators to better understand the change in factors relevant to the well-being of children and families over time.
• Communicating need: Nebraska Children and Families Foundation also uses the Community Well-Being Indicators to communicate how counties across the state are faring relative to the state average.
• Informing investments: Historically, Nebraska Children has also used the Community-Well Being Indicators to inform the investments made in communities across the state.
• Empowering others: Additionally, the Community Well-Being Indicator data is provided on the Nebraska Community Opportunity Map to empower people working in and with communities across the state to make data-informed decisions by providing easily accessible, timely, relevant, and high-quality data.