Missoula Measures - Children, Youth & Families
- Family Reading
- Family Structure
- Children as a Proportion of the Population
- Related Measures
- Related Websites
- What is Missoula Measures
Why this section?
Although most of these topics are also addressed in Health and Basic Needs, many feel an ultimate measure of how a community is doing is related to how well its children, youth and families are faring. In Missoula County, there are hundreds of organizations, agencies and programs providing programs to assist children and families. Many of these organizations use Measures information included below for the many grant proposals and reports that come out of our community.
Number of children, by age (US Census):
| Age | Missoula | Montana |
| < 5 | 6334 | 62,423 |
| 5 - 9 | 6007 | 60,765 |
| 10 - 14 | 5847 | 61,124 |
| 15 - 19 | 7827 | 66,724 |
Family Reading to Young Children
Reading to young children promotes language acquisition and correlates with literacy development and, later on, with achievement in reading comprehension and overall success in school. The percentage of young children read aloud to daily by a family member is one indicator of how well young children are prepared for school. Mother's education is consistently related to whether children are read to by a family member.
Percentage of children ages 3–5 who were read to every day in the last week by a family member by mother's education, selected years 1993–2007
NOTE: Data are only available for 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2005, and 2007. Estimates are based on children ages 3–5 who have yet to enter kindergarten.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Household Education Surveys Program.
Children under 5 who are read to by a family member, 2007:
US - 76%
Montana - 86%
National Survey of Children's Health
Family Structure and Children's Living Arrangements
The number of parents living with a child is generally linked to the amount and quality of human and economic resources available to that child. Children who live in a household with one parent are substantially more likely to have family incomes below the poverty line than are children who live in a household with two parents.
Percentage of children under age 18 by presence of parents in household, 1980-99.
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, March Current Population Survey.
Most children spend the majority of their childhood living with two parents; however, significant proportions of children have more diverse living arrangements. Information about the presence of parents and other adults in the family, such as the parent's unmarried partner, grandparents, and other relatives, is important for understanding children's social, economic, and developmental well-being.
Percentage of Children Under Age 18 Living in Various Family Arrangements, 1996
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Survey of Income and Program Participation.; America's Children 2000
Children as a Proportion of the Population
Though children represent a smaller percentage of the population today than in 1960, they are nevertheless a stable and substantial portion of the population.
Figure POP2 Children under age 18 and adults ages 65 and older as a percentage of the U.S. population, 1950-99 and projected 2000-20:
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates and Projections.
Related Measures
Links in all caps represent groups of Measures
Related Websites
Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics - Snapshot of national trends in U.S. children's welfare, based on such factors as family structure, economic security, health status, access to health care, behavior, social environment and education".
Child Health USA - annual compilation of state and national data.
National Casey Family Foundation Kids Count report.
What is Missoula Measures?
Missoula Measures presents indicators and other data, background information, and pertinent links on scores of topics related to health and quality of life in Missoula County. This site grew out of a healthy community indicators project initiated by Missoula city and county government in 1997-1999. Contributors to original project.
If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions please contact us.
