Family Insight Dashboard
A collection of insights, stories and datapoints on the well-being of North Carolina families.
About the Family Insight Dashboard
Since 2023, the Institute for Family has been committed to elevating family voices through the Family Insight Survey in North Carolina. This survey focuses on pivotal dimensions crucial for family well-being, revealing the diverse contexts and needs of families. The Family Insight Dashboard was created to combine state-wide data, insights from our survey, and stories from our Shine On Initiative to highlight the people behind the numbers, offering a county-level tool for organizations to hear directly from families. This invaluable tool sheds light on areas of success, challenges, and opportunities for growth, enabling communities to fully understand the complexities of family life in NC. It gives professionals, advocates, and community members alike a way to ensure improvement efforts are aligned with the needs and desires of the community.
With 16 county-level data points, the survey responses are categorized into six themes that represent families’ perspective on what they need to thrive. The rationale for these categories is explained below:
Categories of the Family Insight Dashboard
Work and Wages
The employment status of parents and the median household income are crucial factors in predicting the economic well-being of a family. The top 5 employers’ data provides a clear picture of the economic landscape and employment opportunities in a county, which can guide policy decisions.
Housing
Homeownership is another predictor of economic well-being and stability of families, as well as the percentage of a household’s income that goes towards housing costs. The general rule is that no more than 30% of a family’s gross monthly income should be spent on housing.
Nutrition and Healthcare
To thrive, families need access to healthy, nutritious food and high-quality healthcare. The dashboard will show the number of grocery stores in each county, highlighting where food deserts exist and how accessible quality food is to families. Prenatal care predicts healthy babies and mothers. Health insurance is essential for individuals to receive the care they need for their physical, mental, and emotional health.
Education
The average grade of schools in each county and the percentage of schools not meeting growth standards are provided to understand the quality of education provided to youth. Quality education is a cornerstone of healthy child development.
Civic Engagement
The number of voting facilities in each county highlights the accessibility and opportunity individuals have to engage in civic matters. Voter turnout is a key measure of civic participation.
Child Protective Environment
Children need a safe environment to develop and grow to their potential. Part of providing this environment is ensuring they grow up with financial resources and are not facing adverse and harmful conditions that could lead to neglect or abuse.