New 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book Highlights Progress and Ongoing Challenges for Children and Families

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has released its 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, providing a comprehensive look at the well-being of children across the United States. The report examines 16 key indicators across four areas that are critical to child success: Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family & Community.

This year’s report paints a mixed picture. Since 2019, seven indicators have improved, seven have worsened, and two have remained unchanged. While there have been positive gains in areas such as child poverty, parental employment, educational attainment, and high school graduation rates, significant challenges remain for many children and families.

One of the most concerning findings is the continued struggle in education. Reading and math proficiency have declined, preschool participation has fallen, and nearly every state has experienced setbacks in educational outcomes since the COVID-19 pandemic. These trends highlight the lasting impact that educational disruptions have had on children nationwide.

The report also identifies ongoing health and economic concerns. Families continue to face housing affordability challenges, child and teen mortality rates remain troubling, and more than 1.2 million teens nationwide are disconnected from both school and work.

Despite these challenges, there are encouraging signs of progress. Teen birth rates have continued to decline, fewer children are living in high-poverty neighborhoods, and many states have seen improvements in family and community well-being indicators. These gains demonstrate that targeted investments and supportive policies can make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families.

A new feature of the 2026 report is an enhanced scoring system that measures not only how states rank against one another but also how much progress they have made since 2019. The data shows that while 29 states experienced overall declines in child well-being, 15 states improved and six remained stable.

At Evergreen Caregiver Support, we recognize that children thrive when families and caregivers have access to the resources, education, support, and community connections they need. Reports like the KIDS COUNT Data Book help policymakers, educators, caregivers, and community organizations better understand where support is needed most and where investments can create lasting positive outcomes for future generations.

We encourage caregivers, parents, educators, and community leaders to review the findings and consider how we can work together to strengthen opportunities for children throughout Washington State and across the nation.

Learn More: The full 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book is available from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. http://aecf.org/databook

Landmark Legal Defeat: Meta Ordered to Pay $375 Million in New Mexico Child Safety Lawsuit

In a historic blow to Big Tech, a New Mexico jury has found Meta Platforms, Inc. liable for violating state consumer protection laws, ordering the social media giant to pay $375 million in damages. The verdict, reached on March 24, 2026, marks the first time a state has successfully taken a major social media company to trial over systemic child safety failures.

The lawsuit, spearheaded by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, alleged that Meta—the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—knowingly prioritized profit over the safety of its youngest users. Jurors concluded that Meta willfully violated the New Mexico Unfair Practices Act by misleading families about platform safety while failing to protect children from sexual exploitation and addictive design features.

A “Historic Victory” for Child Safety

During the seven-week trial, prosecutors presented internal documents and testimony from whistleblowers showing that Meta executives disregarded warnings from their own safety experts. Evidence revealed that 2019 changes to Facebook Messenger’s encryption limited the company’s ability to report child abuse, while algorithms continued to steer predators toward underage accounts.

“This verdict is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety,” said New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “Meta executives knew their products harmed children, lied to the public about what they knew, and today, the law has finally held them accountable.”

The Battle Escalates: Phase 2 and the $3.7 Billion Demand

The $375 million verdict was only the beginning. As of May 2026, the case has moved into a second “remedies” phase before a judge. The State of New Mexico is now seeking an additional $3.7 billion in penalties and a court-ordered overhaul of Meta’s operations.

Proposed changes currently under review by the court include:

• Mandatory Age Verification: Implementing robust tools to prevent children under 13 from accessing the platforms.
• De-encryption for Minors: Removing end-to-end encryption for users under 18 to allow for better monitoring of predatory behavior.
• Guardian Accounts: Requiring all minor accounts to be linked to a verified parent or guardian.
• Design Changes: Eliminating “addictive” features like infinite scroll and auto-play for younger users.

Empowering Families Online

While the legal battle plays out in the courts, experts emphasize that systemic change also begins at home. This landmark case underscores why parents, caregivers, and adults in children’s lives need to be actively educating and empowering them to make safe decisions online.

Families are highly encouraged to implement a Family Internet Usage Contract to establish clear digital boundaries. For those looking for guidance on how to start these critical conversations, The Internet Safety Workbook for Tweens is an excellent resource available now at local bookstores and online retailers.

Meta’s Response and the Road Ahead

Meta has expressed strong disagreement with the jury’s findings and has officially filed for an appeal. A company spokesperson stated that Meta remains “confident in our record of protecting teens online” and argued that the proposed mandates are “impractical” and could infringe on free speech. In recent weeks, Meta has even suggested it could suspend its services in New Mexico if the court imposes extreme design requirements.

As this landmark case continues, it sets a major legal precedent for dozens of other states currently pursuing similar litigation against social media companies.