All percentages are weighted to represent all parents of children under 18 in Georgia. The full report with complete data tables is forthcoming. Select findings are presented here.
Parents selected and ranked their top three concerns from a list of fifteen issues. The percentages below reflect the share who included each issue among their top three choices.
Weighted proportions. Parents selected their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd most important concerns from a list of 15 issues. Percentages reflect share who included each issue in their top 3. N=1,002.
Gun violence was the #1 concern for Black parents (44.8%) and the top concern overall — but ranked 4th for White parents (27.7%).
For rural parents, mental health and suicide rose to the top concern (33.5%), while urban and suburban parents ranked gun violence first (32.5%). Education and school quality appeared in the top five across all subgroups.
Insurance coverage for Georgia children, including Medicaid/PeachCare and private insurance, with coverage loss rates.
39.7% of Georgia children are covered by Medicaid or PeachCare — and 13.7% of those families lost coverage at some point in the past year.
Race differences in Medicaid coverage were significant (p=0.001): White children 30.4%, Black children 52.1%, Hispanic children 49.7%. Rural children 52.0% vs. 36.4% non-rural (p=0.005). Coverage loss base: Medicaid/PeachCare enrollees only. N=1,002 overall. Weighted.
USDA Household Food Security Scale results, food spending changes, and support for free school meals.
USDA Household Food Security Scale. Food insecure = low + very low food security. N=1,002. Weighted proportions. Rural vs. non-rural difference significant (p=0.024). Income differences significant (p<0.001).
Diagnoses among children, parent concerns about undiagnosed conditions, and support for school-based mental health services.
Diagnosed conditions reported by parents. Base: 823 respondents. Weighted proportions. Parents could select multiple. ADHD race differences significant (p<0.001): White 25.9%, Black 21.0%, Hispanic 4.8%.
More than half of Georgia parents — 54.1% — have talked to their child about suicide or self-harm.
Support for school-based mental health services is high and consistent across race and county type. 61.1% of children with a diagnosis currently receive mental health treatment.
Screen time, social media concerns, and support for Georgia's school cellphone ban extended to high schools.
Support for the high school cellphone ban was consistent across income (p=0.7) and education levels (p=0.7). N=1,002. Weighted proportions.
Top reasons parents support a cellphone ban: improved academic focus (87.7%), better in-person social interactions (71.2%), and improved mental health (69.1%).
Among the 29.2% who oppose a ban, the leading concern is the inability to reach their child during a school emergency (74.8%). Base for reasons: supporters and opposers respectively.
Reasons for supporting ban. Asked among parents who support a ban. Weighted proportions.
This report surveyed 1,002 Georgia parents with children under 18 from October 24 through November 24, 2025. All reported percentages have survey weights applied so findings can be generalized to all parents of children under 18 in Georgia.
Demographic breakdowns include analysis by race/ethnicity, county type (rural vs. non-rural), household income, and education. Statistical tests used chi-squared analysis with p<0.05 as the significance threshold.
Biostatistician: Raphiel J. Murden. Conducted by the Emory Center for Child Health Policy, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University.