Our 2026 County Data Cards are here, and new data from NC Child shows that the number of children who are food insecure is at the highest level recorded in almost a decade.

The County Data Cards are an annual snapshot that outlines 15 key metrics assessing child health and well-being in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties. Our Executive Director, Erica Palmer Smith, says, “The old adage is true—you can’t change what you don’t measure. We all have big dreams for our state's children, and equipping advocates, leaders, and decisionmakers with the latest data on child well-being ensures that those dreams can become a reality.” To download the Data Card for your county, visit https://bit.ly/4yanciz. For more information about child health and well-being, visit the NC Child Data Center at https://bit.ly/45YsBxg.