Children’s health improves as their parents’ income and education levels rise, according to a study released today by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America. Based on the analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the gap between the percentage of low-income children and high-income children with less than very good health, as reported by their parents, ranges from 2% in New Hampshire to 16% in Texas. Nationally and in nearly every state, infant mortality rates increased as mothers’ educational levels decreased. “This report shows us just how much a child’s health is shaped by the environment in which he or she live,” said Commission Co-Chair Alice Rivlin. “We seek to identify ways to narrow these gaps so our nation can put all children on an even path to good health.” The commission expects to issue recommendations in April 2009.