NH, Mass, Vt best for kids

Child poverty rates rose in 43 states from 2005 to 2011, ranging from a 10 percent rise in New Hampshire to 33 percent in Mississippi, a non-profit group says. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book found a 20 percent decrease in the number of children without health insurance, a 16 percent drop in the child and teen death rate, an 11 percent reduction in the rate of high-schoolers not graduating from 2005 to 2011. This year's Data Book indicated kids and families nationwide are still struggling economically from the recession. In 2010, one-third of youth had parents without secure employment -- an increase of 22 percent, or about 4 million children, in just two years. "This year's findings reveal signs of hope in the midst of tough economic times for millions of families across the country," Patrick McCarthy, president of the Casey Foundation, said in a statement. New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont rank highest in overall child well-being, while Nevada, New Mexico and Mississippi rank lowest in this year's Data Book. Vermont and Virginia led among 47 states that saw their child and teen death rates decline, with decreases of 46 and 30 percent, respectively, the Data Book said. Minorities continued to lag behind their white counterparts by almost every measure, McCarthy said. In 2010, 49 percent of American Indian and 49 percent of black children had no parent with secure employment, compared with 25 percent white children who did not have a parent with secure employment.