Have you ever considered whether your state is a good place to raise a child? All states have numerous laws and requirements that affect your child's health and safety. Child Magazine recently conducted a four-month investigation of child-rearing issues in all 50 states. Using a variety of pediatric experts, they reviewed recent data in 20 categories that are important for new parents and their babies. Maine is ranked number three in the list of best states to have and raise a child. All other New England states except New Hampshire ranked in the top 10.
Some of the factors that put Maine ahead of so many other states include:
~ a strong lead-poisoning-prevention program
~ a ban on smoking in all restaurants
~ doubling of the state's childcare tax credit if a child attends an accredited facility
~ requirement that all newborn screenings recommended by the March of Dimes are performed on every newborn
~ fewer children for each childcare provider
~ high quality children's hospitals
~ more pediatricians per child than many states
~ fewer infants per child caregiver
~ more licensed daycare providers per child
~ permission to breastfeed in public
~ partial paid parental leave and tax breaks for child care expenses
~ quality and availability of children’s hospitals
~ number of certified poison control centers
~ number of car-seat inspection stations
Many of the factors that make a town or state child-friendly are not quantifiable. Maine is a good place to raise a child for many reasons not included in the Child's Magazine study. The Maine Marks Program, an ongoing review of 80 criteria affecting the quality of life for kids in Maine, conducted by the Children's Cabinet, provides a much more indepth look at how Maine is doing with its young people. For more information, see "Maine Marks Criteria Studied" in the linkbox to the upper right of this page.
Organizations involved in the research for the Child's Magazine study include:
American Academy of Pediatrics; American Association of Poison Control Centers; American Lung Association; American Medical Association; Annie E. Casey Foundation; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Children's Defense Fund; La Leche League International; March of Dimes; National Association of Children's Hospitals; National Child Care Information Center; National Conference of State Legislators; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center; National Partnership for Women and Families; National Women's Law Center; and RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association, among others.
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