VOICES for Alabama’s Children has released the 2025 Alabama Kids Count Data Book, marking a shift to a fully digital, year-round data platform with an expanded focus on children’s mental health.

The 2025 edition represents the 32nd installment of the organization’s long-running assessment of child well-being in Alabama. Unlike previous years, the Data Book will no longer be limited to a single annual release. Instead, VOICES plans to publish ongoing updates, analyses, and issue briefs throughout 2026.

“For more than three decades, the Data Book has helped Alabama understand how our children are doing,” said Dr. Tracye Strichik, executive director of VOICES for Alabama’s Children. “But children’s lives—and their mental health needs—are changing quickly. A digital, year-round approach allows us to respond with data that is timely, relevant, and actionable.”

Children’s mental health serves as a central theme of the 2025 Data Book, reflecting its connections to education outcomes, family stability, child safety, and economic security.

“The data shows why continued investment in effective mental health supports is critical,” said Apreill Hartsfield, director of policy, advocacy, and research at VOICES. “As policymakers focus more on these challenges, timely data will help guide decisions that improve outcomes for children and families.”

According to the Data Book, Alabama’s child population grew 1.7% from 2000 to 2024, while the state’s overall population increased by 16% during the same period. Infant mortality declined 10.2% from 2013 to 2023, and early intervention services expanded by 48% since 2014, now serving more than 9,000 children.

Education indicators also showed improvement. Fourth-grade reading scores increased by nearly 10 percentage points since 2021, with gains in math as well. Chronic absenteeism fell to 12.4% during the 2024–2025 school year, dropping below pre-pandemic levels.

At the same time, the report found that the rate of children with indications of abuse or neglect rose to 10.1 per 1,000 children in 2024, involving more than 38,000 children statewide. Child poverty also increased among children under age 11.

“Sustained, year-round attention is essential to improving children’s mental health and long-term outcomes,” Strichik said.