Fargo, N.D. – Richard Rathge, professor in the agribusiness and applied economics department at NDSU, has received a $75,000 grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The grant provides funding for the North Dakota Kids Count program that is part of a nationwide network of state-based programs to track the status of children. The initiative is funded from the Annie E. Casey Foundation whose primary mission is to foster public policies, human-service reforms and community supports that more selectively meet the needs of today’s children and families.

The mission of North Dakota Kids Count, which has been housed at NDSU since 2003, is to provide accurate, current data on child well-being in order to inform local and state discussions about how to secure better futures for all of North Dakota’s children. The program produces two annual publications that provide county, regional and state-level profiles on children’s well-being as it relates to demographics, family composition, economics, health, education and early care and safety and risky behaviors. The program also offers other publications, presentations and newsletters throughout the year highlighting recent trends affecting North,Dakota children and families.