CARSON CITY - A new study released by the United Way ranks Nevada 44th in the nation in health and welfare services.
The United Way ''State of Caring Index'' compares data on 32 indicators representing economic, educational, health, safety, civic management and environmental factors. All 50 states were ranked in the study that covers 11 years, ending in 1998.
Minnesota ranked as the top, with Massachusetts and Connecticut rounding out the top three. The three worst states were Louisiana, 48th, Mississippi, 49th, and New Mexico at 50th.
Garth Winckler, president and chief professional officer of United Way of Southern Nevada, says that the continued growth of southern Nevada plays a part in the state's low ranking.
''Being ranked 44th is obviously not something to be excited about, but these numbers are only through 1998 and our growth since then has not been taken into account,'' Winckler said. ''You always hear people saying we need infrastructure for schools, but you also have to have an infrastructure for caring.
''That takes time to develop, with all these new residents moving in. It takes them time to get settled, and feeling like this is their home town before they start to do the things to make this a better place.''
''The study will come out annually from now on, so it will provide us with a good benchmark,'' Winckler said. ''At the same time we're going to be working on our own study of southern Nevada, taking into account the growth in the last two years.''