The United States stacks up poorly with many developed nations on key measurements of childhood well-being, such as poverty and birth weight, and should invest more in programs that help kids age zero to six, a report found.

The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development study found the U.S. has the fourth worst infant mortality rate among its member countries, the sixth worst rates of low birth weight and a teen birth rate three times the average among its members, in a summary of U.S. findings. In addition, U.S. child poverty rates are double the average of its members, 21.6 percent compared to 12.4 percent.

The United States should spend more on young children and disadvantaged teenagers to improve poor child health, poor basic education and high rates of child poverty, according to the OECD’s first report on child well-being. "Despite the United States' strong research and policy tradition in the area of child well-being, too many American children are still left behind", according to co-author of the OECD report, Mr Simon Chapple. – “Doing Better for Children,” 1/09.

(Thanks to CLASP for highlighting this report in an excellent summary.)

The poor U.S. scores also are found in a country where spending on children and family income are among the highest in all OECD states, the report says.

Good beginnings are crucial. But in spite of having above average overall child spending, the United States spends one third less than the OECD average on young children….  

Check out both the report and the broader CLASP story, which includes other coverage and useful links.