Kids Count Data Center

Definitions: A model-based estimate of children below the federal poverty threshold. The Census Bureau creates this estimate based on administrative data derived from tax returns, counts of food stamp participants, data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), decennial census estimates, intercensal population estimates, and Annual Social and Economic Supplements of the Current Population Survey (CPS). Beginning with the estimates for 2005, data from the American Community Survey are used in the estimation procedure in place of CPS data.

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE). http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/saipe.html

Footnotes: These are estimates. To obtain margins of error for the estimates please consult original SAIPE data. Counties with smaller populations will have larger margins of error.

Data Source: Minnesota Department of Education. http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/Data/index.html

Footnotes: Children approved to receive these meals in October of each school year. Household income must be below 185% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines to qualify. Schools are assigned to the county where their district offices are located. Not all income-eligible students participate in the program. Private and home-schooled children are not included.The data year represents the first portion of the school year, e.g., data for 2005 is for school year 2005-06, etc.

Definitions: Data through 2004 is an average monthly estimate of children in Food Support caseloads, whereas data from 2005 and thereafter is the average monthly enrollment of actual children receiving Food Support. The percentage is this figure divided by the estimated total number of children in the state or county. Numbers for Mille Lacs County do not include the Mille Lacs County Band of Ojibwe. Not all income-eligible children participate in the program.

Data Source: Minnesota Department of Human Services, Reports and Forecasts Division and MAXIS Data Warehouse.

Definitions: Number of children in families which visited food shelves, counted at each visit.

Data Source: Hunger Solutions Minnesota, Food Shelves Statistics Report, 1/2009 to 12/2009.

Footnotes: Not a unique count of children. All children in the household were counted each time a family member visited the food shelf. Some counties do not have food shelves.