Health & Safety

Whether a state has enacted legislation to join the Social Work Licensure Compact, which increases professional mobility for licensed social workers and can expand access to behavioral health and family support services, particularly in areas experiencing workforce shortages.

Source: Social Work Licensure Compact

How a state regulates the practice of midwifery and whether that regulatory structure meaningfully enables or restricts access to midwife-led maternity care.

Source: American Medical Association (AMA) and the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL)

Whether a state requires employers to provide earned paid sick leave. Paid sick leave reduces financial and employment risk during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and early childhood illness.

Source: GovDocs

How quickly employees earn paid sick leave under state law, expressed as hours worked per hour of leave accrued. More generous accrual rates increase the likelihood that pregnant employees and parents of young children will have meaningful access to paid time off when health needs arise.

Source: GovDocs

Whether state law permits employers to cap the total number of paid sick leave hours an employee may use within a year. The presence of statutory usage caps affects whether paid sick leave functions as a flexible safeguard during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, or recurring childhood illness.

Source: GovDocs

The availability of pediatric generalists within a state – or pediatricians per capita. Greater availability of pediatric care supports early childhood health, routine preventive services, and timely treatment during the years when mothers are most actively engaged in ongoing medical coordination for their children.

Source: The American Board of Pediatrics

The availability of pediatric medical specialists within a state – or specialists per capita. Access to pediatric specialists affects whether children with complex, chronic, or high-risk conditions can receive timely and appropriate care without significant travel or delay. For mothers navigating specialized medical needs, local availability reduces logistical strain and increases continuity of care.

Source: The American Board of Pediatrics

The share of postpartum women in a state who are screened for depression following childbirth. Routine screening for postpartum depression reflects healthcare system attentiveness to maternal mental health during a medically and emotionally vulnerable period and increases the likelihood that symptoms are identified and addressed early.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PRAMS via the Commonwealth Fund

The increase in insurance coverage among women once they become pregnant, comparing pre-pregnancy uninsured rates to coverage levels during pregnancy.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PRAMS via the Commonwealth Fund

The share of pregnant women in a state who lack health insurance coverage during pregnancy. Higher uninsured rates during this period signal elevated financial and medical risk at a critical stage for both mother and child.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PRAMS via the Commonwealth Fund

The share of minors in a state who lack health insurance coverage. Higher rates of uninsured minors indicate structural gaps that may increase financial and medical risk for families, particularly during early childhood when healthcare utilization is frequent.

Source: US Census American Community Survey (ACS)

The share of women ages 15–44 in a state who lack health insurance coverage. Higher uninsured rates indicate greater financial and medical vulnerability during a life stage closely tied to family formation.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PRAMS via the Commonwealth Fund

The share of women who report going without needed medical care due to cost.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PRAMS via the Commonwealth Fund

The rate of infant deaths occurring before one year of age. As a population-level measure, it reflects the broader health environment into which children are born and the systems supporting mothers during pregnancy and the first year of life.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER

The rate of deaths among children between the ages of 1 and 14. As a population-level indicator, it captures risks that extend beyond infancy and provides a broader view of the conditions in which families are raising children.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER

The state’s maternal mortality rate after adjusting for population-level obesity prevalence. Adjusting for obesity prevalence allows this measure to better isolate variation associated with healthcare access, quality, and system performance rather than underlying population health risk alone.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER

The proportion of pregnancies within a state that result in live birth. The estimate includes both voluntary and involuntary pregnancy losses and does not distinguish between their causes.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER and The Society of Family Planning