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Study: NJ Ranks Tops For Child Well-Being

By Chelsea Karnash

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It's been called "the Armpit of America," but guess what? New Jersey is a great place for families.

According to a study done by The Foundation for Child Development (FCD) that uses both the organization's annual Child Well-Being Index and The KIDS COUNT Project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Garden State is the best place in the country for child well-being.

The FCD's STATE CWI study analyzed data from 2003-2007 in relation to 25 different indicators clustered within seven domains that include family economic well-being, education attainment and community engagement.

Massachusetts came in second, followed by New Hampshire, Utah, Connecticut and Minnesota.

New Mexico, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Nevada and Arizona were the worst states for kids.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania -- along with Hawaii, West Virginia and Massachusetts -- earned a spot among the most improved.

To see the entire study, visit: http://fcd-us.org/sites/default/files/Analyzing%20State%20Differences%20in%20Child%20Well-Being_1.pdf

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