Using Data and Evidence to Create Equitable Opportunities for All Kids

The Annie E. Casey Foundation seeks to create a brighter future for the nation’s children by developing solutions to strengthen families, build paths to economic opportunity and transform struggling communities into safer and healthier places to live, work and grow. The Foundation strives to create equitable opportunities for all children, regardless of race or ethnicity, by removing structural and systemic barriers for kids of color. Through KIDS COUNTwe provide reliable, consistent data on child and family well-being to inform decision makers, including public systems that directly affect the lives of millions of children across the country. We also work with these systems and communities to support and promote their adoption of evidence-based programs, as well as the development of state and local data systems to enable decision makers at all levels and across sectors to make smart choices that better serve children, families and communities. Also, because we know a bad system can trump a good program, we invest in ensuring that programs are implemented with fidelity. Examples of our data and evidence work include launching the Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development, fostering the development of evidence-based programs created by and for people of color. And through our Evidence2Success initiative, AECF helps public systems and communities align and collaborate to invest in what works for kids, implementing tested, proven programs to address such issues as trauma and mental health challenges.