This CBEM value reflects the proportion of all bereaved children who fall within the subpopulation defined in the query (e.g., bereaved children who experienced a death due to heart disease, bereaved children who identify as Hispanic/Latino). It is calculated by dividing the number of children bereaved in the defined subpopulation by the total number of children bereaved. This output considers all bereaved children in the defined population.

This CBEM value reflects the percentage of children in a population who are bereaved (Current Model Type), will be bereaved (Projected Model Type) or are newly bereaved (Snapshot Model Type) within the search parameters. This output considers all children in the defined population.

This CBEM value reflects the number of children in a population who are bereaved (Current Model Type), will be bereaved (Projected Model Type) or are newly bereaved (Snapshot Model Type) within the search parameters.

This CBEM value is an alternative presentation of the percent of bereaved children result. The X value is calculated by dividing 1 by the percentage of bereaved children.

This value is the threshold age associated with bereavement estimates. CBEM results are typically provided for children by age 18 and for youth by age 25.

For some CBEM analyses, multiple counties are combined. Counties may be aggregated for reasons including: their populations fall below a specified threshold, their data meets suppression criteria, and they have a common characteristic (e.g., their median household incomes fall within a defined range).

For some CBEM analyses, input data for multiple counties are combined to produce an aggregate result for the combined territory. Counties may be aggregated for reasons including: their populations fall below a specified threshold, their data meets suppression criteria, and they have a common characteristic (e.g., their median household incomes fall within a defined range). In this situation, the result is associated with all counties in the group.

The manner, condition, or disease causing the death of adults and children extracted from the CDC WONDER mortality database.

Values ranging from 1 to 51 used in the annual state/DC reports. Rank values are assigned after sorting values for percentage of children bereaved where 1 is assigned to the state with the highest value and 51 is assigned to the state with the lowest value.

Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM): A model developed by Judi's House/JAG Institute with support from the New York Life Foundation to approximate childhood bereavement prevalence rates using publicly available data sources.

Current estimates reflect the number of and percentage of children who are bereaved based on search parameters.

Data year(s) reflect the year when the data inputs were observed (e.g., deaths, population). Single years are most often associated with the CBEM Snapshot Model Type.

Data year(s) range reflect the years span when data inputs were observed (e.g., deaths, population). Multiple data years are associated with CBEM Projected and Current Model Types.

This reflects a range of median household incomes used in the 2024 Key Topic Report to identify and group counties for CBEM analyses within a state.

CBEM Key Topic reports highlight essential factors that contextualize childhood bereavement statistics. Key Topic reports are typically updated every five years.

CBEM Key Topic contextualizing leading cause(s) of death as reported in the CDC WONDER mortality database.

CBEM Local Reports provide childhood bereavement estimates for client-defined service areas and populations.

A median is the middle value that divides data into two equal parts. For household income, the median household income is the dollar amount where half the households in a specified geographic region (e.g., county) earn more, and half earn less than the median.

This refers to the type of result produced by a CBEM analysis. Options include: Current, Projected, and Snapshot estimates (or prevalence results). These terms are defined separately within this glossary.

This is the value for the average age of mothers at first live birth returned from CDC WONDER's birth database. For counties, the value for Unidentified Counties in a state is used when county-specific data is not available.

This CBEM report provides Projected CBEM estimates for the U.S.

Opioids are pain relieving drugs made from natural or synthetic chemicals. Some opioids are illegal, like heroin. Others are routinely prescribed medications, like morphine and oxycodone.

Projected estimates reflect the number and percentage of children who will be bereaved by based on search parameters.

Race categories are used to develop bereavement estimates for distinct population subgroups. Category options are limited to those available in the CDC WONDER birth and mortality databases at the time of analysis. Available category options have changed over time. As of March 2025, available single race categories include: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, More than One Race, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White. Race categories can be combined with Hispanic Origin ethnicity categories to further identify/distinguish population subgroups.

Report years reflect the year CBEM data were published.

Snapshot estimates reflect the number and percentage of newly bereaved children within a defined time period.

The source of bereavement reflects the relationship of the child to the deceased. The CBEM provides separate, independent estimates for the following sources of bereavement: Death of a Parent or Sibling, Death of a Parent Only, Death of a Sibling Only.

CBEM state reports estimate childhood bereavement rates using state-specific birth and mortality data.