NEWS & NOTES
from ND COMPASS         
A monthly newsletter to keep you informed.
Focus on the Youngest!
 
North Dakotans are well aware of the growth of the state's population over the last decade. However, many may not know how this shift in population is shaping various age groups in particular.   Last month, ND Compass  examined the older adult population. This month, attention is paid to the youngest residents, North Dakota's children and youth.

Children and Youth Overall  - When examining trends since 1990, North Dakota lost residents in the  children  and youth population (ages 0-17)  until 2010. Although the population has not reached the level it was in the year 2000, North Dakota's child and youth population has seen growth in its numbers annually since 2010 (see  graph  below). The latest population data indicates that North Dakota's children and youth (ages 0-17) accounted for 168,527 of the state's total 739,482 residents in 2014 (22.8% of the total population). 

Breakdowns - Race and ethnicity hold valuable significance for culture, identity, and overall well-being in a community. Although minority children continue to remain a somewhat small proportion of the overall child and youth population, the minority population is seeing a steady growth that is leading to increases in diversity statewide. Specifically since 1990, the number of Black children and youth (those younger than age 20) more than tripled (1,316 in 1990 and 4,805 in 2014) and the number of Hispanic children and youth more than quadrupled (2,090 in 1990 and 8,844 in 2014).

When breaking down and examining the overall children and youth population by age groups, it is noticeable that there are currently slight differences in numbers of children. The largest group is represented by the youngest child population, the 0 to 4 year olds (see the graph below).


With the youngest North Dakotans in mind, in this month's   Ask a Researcher , ND Compass staff delves into the ND Compass Early Childhood data to paint a picture of North Dakota's youngest children. As North Dakota continues to grow, it is important not to forget about our future - children - and what they may need to develop into successful and contributing adults for society.

With growth, the state has seen many people come and go throughout the recent years due to opportunity; the same is true for people and talents at the Center for Social Research, the home of the ND Compass project. It is with pleasure that ND Compass welcomes Dr. Jim Deal, whose research focuses on personality development in early childhood, as the Center's Interim Director. Read his  For Discussion  column to learn what experience he brings to the project, as well as his vision for moving forward.

For Discussion
Changes to Come
                      
Join Dr. Jim Deal, professor of Human Development and Family Science and the new interim director of the Center for Social Research at North Dakota State University, as he shares what experience he brings to the North Dakota Compass project and what can be expected for the future.

Ask a Researcher
A Look at the Youngest North Dakotans
 
North Dakota has been getting younger overall, but what about its youngest residents? The North Dakota Compass staff takes a look at the demographic data and information associated with young children in the state.
Understanding data helps us plan and improve our communities and our state for future generations.
 
Updated Job Posting!
You could be the next full-time Director for the Center for Social Research at North Dakota State University!
 
The director will serve as the Center's principal leader and representative, and play a key role in defining the Center's mission, strategy, and vision for growth. The director will lead the Center to become a recognized academic and service center for social science and evaluation research in the Northern Great Plains region and the state of North Dakota.
 
Check out the newly updated announcement here!

Updated Data!
The following charts have been updated under the JOBS key measure:


By tracking and analyzing trends in areas that affect our quality of life, North Dakota Compass gives everyone in our state--policymakers, business and community leaders, and concerned individuals who live and work here--a common foundation to act on issues to improve our communities.
  
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