About KWIC

1. What is KWIC?
2. What does KWIC try to accomplish?
3. What are the benefits of using a web-based data system?
4. What framework does KWIC use and why?
5. What criteria are used in selecting the KWIC indicators?
6. What other data sources supplement the KWIC data?
7. What other formats are used to distribute KWIC data?

1. What is KWIC?

The Kids’ Well-being Indicators Clearinghouse (KWIC), a project of the New York State Council on Children and Families, provides timely access to New York State Touchstones/ KIDS COUNT data through an interactive, publicly accessible Web-site.

2. What does KWIC try to accomplish?

By providing policymakers, program administrators and citizens with timely access to New York State Touchstones and KIDS COUNT data, users will have an enhanced tool to gather and use indicator data to assess needs, design and improve programs, and sharpen their focus on outcomes.

3. What are the benefits of using a web-based data system?

KWIC will impact current practices at a number of levels by:

• expanding access to New York State children’s health, education and well-being data;
• providing more current data;
• expanding the number of indicators;
• providing access to other data resources;
• allowing users to chart and graph data; and
• giving users the ability to tailor data to fit their needs.

4. What framework does KWIC use and why?

KWIC uses the Touchstones framework, organized by six major life areas: economic security, physical and emotional health, education, citizenship, families and communities. Each life area has a set of goals and objectives-representing expectations about the future, and a set of indicators-reflecting the status of children and families. This framework provides a holistic approach.

5. What criteria are used in selecting the KWIC indicators?

There are four major criteria for indicator selection:

• The measure has to focus on the characteristics of children and families, not on the characteristics of programs or services;
• The measure has to be population-based;
• The data has to be available annually for counties; and
• The measure has to be reliable.

6. What other data sources supplement the KWIC data?

KWIC provides demographic data from the U.S. Census for each county and region of New York to help users understand the characteristics of the people behind the data.

7. What other formats are used to distribute KWIC data?

The New York State Touchstones/ KIDS COUNT data used in KWIC was originally available through a paper-bound data book produced by the New York State Council on Children and Families. Data books will continue to be produced and will also be available on the Council’s website (www.ccf.state.ny.us/Touchstones.html). Special reports focusing on specific topics, e.g., teenage pregnancy, also use the Touchstones framework and data.