United Way Issues Index on ‘Caring’

The United Way of America has developed an annual statistical index that uses existing data on the economy, education, health, charitable activity, and other factors to rank states according to the needs of their residents and to chart changes in social and economic well-being nationally from year to year.

The United Way State of Caring Index uses 32 indicators, such as unemployment and infant-mortality rates, to determine year-to-year improvements or declines in six categories: economic and financial well-being; education; health; volunteerism, charitable giving, and civic engagement; safety; and the natural environment and other factors.

The first index, released last month, showed a 5.1-percent increase in the nation’s social and economic well-being from 1988 to 1998, the most recent year for which data were available.

The index ranked Minnesota first in 1998, partly because of a drop in the state’s unemployment and infant-mortality rates. New Mexico ranked last partly because of increases in the number of high-school dropouts and violent crimes.

The complete index is available on United Way’s Web site, http://www.unitedway.org/stateofcaring. Copies of the executive summary are available for $5 each plus shipping, and can be obtained by contacting Sales Service/America, 3680 Wheeler Avenue, Alexandria, Va., 22304; (800) 772-0008.