Five Facts and Trends We're Watching in 2026
Care, the future of work and AI, and other themes we’re keeping an eye on in the new year
Area of Expertise
Children, Youth, & Families
A prosperous future depends on understanding the complex, evolving needs of our children.
Investing In The Next Generation
By making evidence visible and actionable, we help ensure every child grows up with the opportunity to thrive.
Why It Matters
When children and young people succeed, societies prosper. Yet too often, their realities are overlooked in the evidence that shapes decisions. Today’s generation faces complex pressures: rising mental health needs, gaps in access to quality education, persistent poverty and inequality, and uneven protections for safety, health, and well-being. Globally, young people are also navigating public health crises, climate change, and shrinking opportunities for decent work. These conditions threaten not only their own futures but the resilience of societies as a whole. That’s where PRB comes in.
How We Drive Change
With trusted data and clear insights, PRB sheds light on what children and youth need now and what it will take to secure their futures. Our work includes:
- Delivering trusted tools like KidsData to give policymakers and advocates accessible information on child health, education, and family well-being.
- Turning research into impact by translating complex findings into insights that shape investments in children and adolescents.
- Building capacity by equipping journalists, youth advocates, and organizations to use data to tell powerful stories and influence change.
- Elevating urgent issues through Population Bulletins such as Losing More Ground and Dying Young in the United States, which spotlight critical trends in youth well-being and equity.
Latest News & Insights
Childhood Adversity Casts a Long Shadow on the Health of LGBTQ+ Youth
New data on adverse experiences and gender identity reveal troubling disparities among U.S. high schoolers
Why Americans Are Delaying Parenthood
Four studies offer new insights on the decision to have kids in a low birth rate era.
New Report on U.S. Children’s Well-Being Shows Signs of Recovery—but Gaps Remain
While many economic measures are looking up, key health and education indicators are backsliding, according to the 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book
Committing to Localization: Centering Youth in Sustainable Development
[version française] Over the past decade, the global development aid sector has increasingly recognized the importance of localization and power-shifting.
For Homeless Youth, Is Poor Health Just a Matter of Time?
A new study finds that the longer young adults spend unsheltered, the more likely they are to report poor health outcomes
Latest Resources
A Closer Look at How Kids and Moms Stay Connected Over Time
A new study finds that growing up doesn’t mean growing apart—at least not always.
When Doctors Advise Teens on Contraception, Bias May Shape the Conversation
For many teenagers, a conversation with their doctor is the primary way they learn about contraceptive options. One talk can shape both the methods they choose and their confidence in seeking future care.
Counting Young Children in the 2030 Census: Setting a Research Agenda
Young children, particularly infants and toddlers, have historically been undercounted at higher rates than any other age group. A recent convening identified critical evidence gaps and outlined a research agenda designed to inform census planning and improve outcomes for children.
Report: The Latino Working Class: America’s Economic Engine
PRB and UnidosUS are exploring the characteristics of the Latino working class, offering insights to inform policies that expand economic opportunity.
7 Trends Reshaping the Health and Lifespans of America’s Rapidly Aging Population
Experts point to key dynamics challenging policymakers, health care planners, and families
Fact Sheet: Trends in Family Care for Older Americans
In the United States, over 24 million people provide unpaid care for older adults—a 32% increase from a decade ago.
Projects
California’s most comprehensive platform on child health and well-being. With over 1,000 indicators compiled from dozens of trusted public sources, KidsData makes complex information clear and usable for policymakers, journalists, and community leaders. From child mental health services to tackling youth homelessness, it has informed decisions that directly improve children’s lives.
The nation’s leading effort to track child well-being across all 50 states. For more than 30 years, PRB has provided high-quality data analysis and technical support for the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT project, a national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children and provide legislators, advocates, and other decisionmakers with the data and tools needed to help advance policies that benefit children and their families. Resources like the annual KIDS COUNT Data Book and the KIDS COUNT Data Center are trusted tools used at the local, state, and national levels to push for stronger policies and investments in children.
PRB produced a global interactive database and a series of regional policy reports and data sheets that highlight the importance of taking action now to address noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factors among youth.
A global initiative to put evidence in the hands of young advocates. PRB equips youth leaders with the tools to use data in policy conversations on reproductive health and rights. By combining statistics with personal stories, youth are leading the dialogue on their futures and pushing for stronger commitments from decisionmakers.
The national hub linking academic research with public policy. CPIPR translates cutting-edge population studies into accessible insights for legislators, funders, and local advocates. Its products have been cited in congressional briefings and used by federal agencies, ensuring research findings shape policy priorities for children, youth, and families.
This is thPRB’s flagship publication series on demographic trends. Bulletins such as Losing More Ground and Dying Young in the United States spotlight urgent shifts in child and youth well-being, from rising mortality to shrinking opportunity. These analyses shape public debate and provide policymakers with evidence to act on the most pressing issues facing young people. item.