CLASP DataFinder is a custom, easy-to-use tool developed to provide select demographic information as well as administrative data on programs that affect low-income people and families. Users can create and download custom tables that present a national picture, a state picture or a comparative look at states and communities.

The DataFinder currently includes state and national data on: child care assistance spending and participation; Head Start and Early Head Start participation; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) expenditures; young child demographics; and poverty. The tool also provides community-level statistics on education, demographics and youth violence. CLASP will add more data to this evolving tool over time.

The tool was developed to make it easy for advocates and policymakers to access, download and synthesize information about various programs and trends that affect low-income people and families.

Examples of questions that can be answered with the DataFinder include:

• What share of TANF spending goes to basic assistance in each state - and how has this changed in recent years?
• How many children are served by Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care subsidies?
• How many children are in extreme poverty in each state, and in selected communities?
• What percent of students in distressed communities drop out of high school in ninth grade or complete high school on time?

The CLASP DataFinder includes statistics from multiple sources, which are cited in the tables. For questions about use of the data or to provide feedback on the tool, email jrrobinson@clasp.org.