human wellness

I just happened upon a very cool website.

AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The American Human Development Project is a nonpartisan, non-profit initiative established to introduce to the United States a well-honed international approach and tool for measuring human well-being: the human development approach and the human development index. The project’s mission is to stimulate fact-based public debate about and political attention to human development issues in the United States and to empower people with an instrument to hold elected officials accountable for progress on issues we all care about: health, education and income.

so, that is what is about. One of the reasons this site is really interesting is because of their interactive map, down to the congressional districts, of well being in this country. There is also a little quiz where you can measure your own well being and compare to the rest of their data. Don’t want to brag too much…. but let’s just say I’M VERY WELL, thank you!!!

Here are some findings from this year’s report:

- The U.S. infant mortality rate is on par with that of Croatia, Cuba, Estonia,
and Poland.

- By the end of fourth grade, African American and Latino children, and chil-
dren of all races who are living in poverty, are two years behind their more
affluent, predominantly white peers in reading and math. They have fallen
three years behind by eighth grade, and four years behind by twelfth grade.

- Research shows that investment in intensive early childhood education
pays high dividends in educational attainment and reduction of social
problems, including crime, that correlate to high dropout rates.

- Fifteen percent of American children—10.7 million girls and boys—live in
families with monthly incomes of less than $1,500 per month.
- The United States is far behind other developed countries in its support to
working families, particularly in terms of family leave, sick leave, and child
care.

HERE is the link to the interactive map. Peruse the rest of the site, take the test… it is all pretty interesting