Children in Indiana’s minority and immigrant populations often have a more difficult start in life according to the conclusions of the latest look at disparity in wellbeing for Hoosier kids.

About 20 percent of Indiana’s population identifies as African-American, Hispanic, Asian or another non-white race.

Indiana Youth Institute President Tami Silverman says a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation finds children in these households are less likely to benefit from opportunities to grow and develop.

“Particularly their educational outcomes, their health outcomes it can really create big challenges,” says Silverman.

Indiana ranks near the bottom of participating states in wellbeing factors for African-American children like educational attainment markers or households living in poverty. White youths fare better in the state, though still below average compared to the rest of the country.

Silverman says Indiana’s overall marks are average for the region.

“We’re in the middle of the pack,” says Silverman. “And we don’t want to be in the middle of the pack for anything, for child wellbeing or for any of these disaggregated groups.”

The Race for Results report also measures immigrant families. Nearly 60 percent of Indiana’s 155,000 immigrant children are from low income families. The report comes out every three to four years.

“The whole goal is to make sure that all of our kids are safe and have access to a solid education and that they grow up to be productive citizens,” says Silverman.