Pennsylvania ranked 18th overall in child well-being, according to the 2026 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation but advocates said federal cuts, which have not fully taken effect, could threaten recent gains.
Kari King, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, said the state’s improvements are driven largely by gains in health and insurance coverage. Still, about 153,000 children in Pennsylvania remain uninsured, an increase from previous years. King added federal policy changes, including those in House Resolution 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” could threaten access to Medicaid and other programs that help keep children healthy.
“For Pennsylvania's children, about 38% receive their insurance through Medicaid, and as the impacts of H.R. 1 are going to be implemented at the state level, we'll unfortunately see those uninsured rates continue to rise,” King explained.
King noted the group’s new mapping tool shows how federal changes could affect Medicaid and SNAP access at the local and district levels. While the law passed last year, many provisions have not taken effect yet, with effects expected to roll out later this year. The Trump administration maintains the cuts are necessary to eliminate fraud and waste.
King pointed out for the first time this year, the nationwide data book includes a comprehensive score from zero to 1,000. She explained the rankings remain useful for comparing states but the overall rating offers a more nuanced look at how public investments are affecting children and families.
“Our score overall was 626,” King emphasized. “The good news there is that we're above the national average of 547. So we're making improvements in some measured ways.”
Leslie Boissiere, vice president of external affairs for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, said the annual report also shows nationwide progress on some issues.
“There's a 22% decline in kids who live in neighborhoods that have high concentrations of poverty,” Boissiere reported. “We know those neighborhoods tend to have more crime and tend to be less stable communities for families.”
Boissiere argued policymakers should examine data on children in their own states and invest in programs proven effective.
Source: Public News Service
