Young Children and the Rural Information Gap

This study examined the extent to which commonly used measures of well-being can be estimated for children living in rural areas. Large national data sets were examined that provide source data for well-being indicators. Two primary issues either impede or preclude the calculation of many child well-being indicators for rural children: (1) data confidentiality protocols, and (2) small sample sizes for rural children. Few indicators can be estimated when rural is defined more precisely (i.e., areas with populations of less than 2,500 residents). Gaining access to non-public-use data increases the number of indicators that can be estimated with the more precise definition of rural, but at substantial monetary and administrative costs. Suggestions are offered for next steps to promote analysis and dissemination of child well-being indicators for rural young children. Data tables are appended.