2013 Children`s Report Card

Solano County
Children’s Report Card
2013
Introduction
We know that children depend on us to make sure they have the support they need for
healthy development. We may not often think about how much we depend on them.
California population trends make it clear that all of us depend more than ever on the
children growing up in California today.1 In the future:
•
Most of California’s population will be California born and raised. In the past,
many people moved to California from other states. Now it’s the reverse: more
move out of state. And the huge wave of immigration from other countries has
slowed dramatically. That means the workers, voters, taxpayers, homebuyers,
and neighbors in our communities will be the children we are raising today.
•
Because of the large aging population of Baby Boomers, there will be fewer
workers per retiree. Everyone who is now an adult will depend on today’s
children to produce and earn enough to support the whole community.
In a few short years, today’s children will become our neighbors, co-workers, managers,
and employees, our salespeople and service providers. We will depend on them to care for
us and our families when we’re sick, repair our cars, teach our children, police our
communities, and drive on our roads. When we retire, we will depend on them to work,
pay taxes, and contribute to Social Security and other safety net programs we will rely on.
The ability of tomorrow’s adults to shoulder these responsibilities depends directly on
their experiences as children today. Evidence continues to mount that children’s experiences have a critical impact on their lifelong learning, health, behavior, and productivity.
Child poverty is the biggest threat to our future. According to Ross A. Thompson of
the UC Davis Center on Poverty Research:
“Children who grow up in poverty are hampered by its effects through
their lives.”
When children are poor, they are:
•
less likely to finish high school
•
less likely to be employed as young adults
•
more likely to be poor as adults
•
more likely to become adults who are in poor physical and mental health, with
problems including substance abuse, depression, and heart disease.
These outcomes are worse the longer a child experiences poverty and the younger the
child is when the family is living in poverty. 2
Poverty is also the major risk factor for child abuse and neglect3 – and the effects of
child maltreatment last a lifetime. Adults who were abused or neglected as
children have an increased risk of chronic physical and behavioral health problems and
higher rates of delinquency.4 On average, they have lower rates of education, employment, and earnings.5
On the other hand, programs that promote children’s education and wellbeing have
powerful positive effects.
2
Introduction
A new study by the US Census Bureau found that safety-net programs for lowincome children, such as child care and health care subsidies and the Women,
Infants, and Children program, are effective in reducing child poverty.6
Quality child care and preschool programs provide benefits that continue to adulthood.
Children who attend these programs are more likely to graduate from high school, attend
college, and own a home. Because of their higher earnings, they generate more tax
revenue. They are less likely to need special education, to be on public assistance, or to
be arrested or incarcerated. For these reasons, according to Nobel-prize-winning economist James Heckman, quality early childhood programs boost the whole economy.7
Our children’s success in the K-12 school system is also critical to their ability to become
productive adults we can depend on. The lifelong economic consequences of dropping
out of high school – and the lifelong payoffs of high school and college graduation –
continue to increase.
Solano County is now at a turning point. Hit especially hard by the Great Recession,
the county’s economy is showing signs of improvement – lower rates of unemployment
and home foreclosures, a small increase in family incomes.
But many families are still struggling to make ends meet. Every economic indicator
shows that the effects of the recession are far from over. In addition, year after year of
state and federal budget cuts have left our safety-net programs in shreds. The state budget
seems to be stabilizing, but the unknown effects of federal budget cuts due to
“sequestration” still threaten the supports that families need.
The data in these pages show that despite the economic challenges we have faced, Solano
has maintained some improvements in the wellbeing of our children. For example, almost
all of our children are covered by health insurance. Most mothers receive early prenatal
care. School achievement is improving, and more students are graduating from high
school.
But the data also show that the effects of the recession have taken a toll on our
youngest residents. The rate of child poverty has increased and, as a result, the gains we
made in preventing child abuse and neglect have been partly eroded. Dramatic cuts to
state child care subsidies have denied many children access to quality early education
programs.
Now that the economy and the state budget picture are improving, we have a new
opportunity to invest in the critical goals of ending child poverty, supporting family and
child health, and making sure every child succeeds in school.
The children are depending on us --- and we will soon be depending on them.
3
Demographics
Solano County is ethnically diverse: no population group is a majority.
Ethnic Distribution of Population (2011)
White
40.6%
Latino
24.6%
African American
15.2%
Asian
15.2%
Pacific Islander
1%
Multiracial
6.5%
Native American
1.2%
8
Babies born in Solano are ethnically diverse, with Latinos a larger percentage and whites
a smaller percentage than in the population as a whole.
Number
Percentage
African American
645
12.7%
Native American
16
.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander
698
13.8%
Latino
1,679
33.2
White
1,619
32%
Multiracial
288
5.9%
Unknown
102
2%
5,047
100%
Births in Solano 2010
Total Births
9
In almost 30 percent of households in Solano County, a language other than English is the
primary language.10
Solano’s population grew until 2008.
Solano County’s population grew in the past 20 years, from 340,421 in 1990 to 414,509
in 2011, with Fairfield and Vacaville the fastest-growing areas.11 But the population has
gone down a little from a peak of 431,525 in 2008, just before the Great Recession hit.12
4
Demographics
Children are less than one-quarter of Solano’s population.13
14
The percentage of Solano households with children under 18 has gone down from 39.9%
in 2000 to 33.3% in 2010.15
One-third of the households with children are headed by a single parent.16
5
Economic Security
Almost one fifth of all children in Solano County are poor, and the rate of poverty
increased dramatically in the Great Recession, from 9.6% in 2007 to 13.9% in 2011.17
Percentage in Poverty in Solano County, 2011
All Children
Single
Women
with
Children
Single
Women
with
Children
Under 5
All
Families
with
Children
All
Families
With
Children
Under 5
Total
Population
Solano
19.7%
35.1%
37.4%
16.4%
15%
13.9%
Vallejo
28.9%
41.7%
35.8%
25.2%
26.1%
21.1%
Fairfield
21.4%
43.9%
59%
18%
18.9%
13.8%
Vacaville 16.3%
29.5%
0.0%
14.4%
0%
10.6%
Families with children experience poverty at higher rates than the rest of the population –
single mothers are at still higher rates. More than one in three families headed by a single
woman in Solano are poor. In addition, poverty for all groups of people increased sharply
during the Great Recession.
Poverty Trends in Solano County
When the Great Recession began in 2008, poverty soared. Since 2010 it has gone down for
families with children, but many more of these families are poor now than before the
recession. The percentage of families with children living below the federal poverty line
almost doubled between 2008 and 2011. The percentage of single-mother families with
children under 5 living in poverty almost tripled.
18
60.00%
All families
50.00%
Families with children under
18
40.00%
Families with children under
5
30.00%
20.00%
Single‐female‐headed
families with children under
18
10.00%
Single‐female‐headed
families with children under
5
0.00%
2008
2009
2010
2011
6
Economic Security
Looking at the poverty rates for individuals, children have higher rates of poverty than the
population as a whole. Children under five – at the age when poverty is most harmful to their
development – are most likely to be poor.
19
35.00%
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
Children under 5
15.00%
Children under 18
All people
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
2008
2009
2010
2011
Although poverty increased among all children, children in some groups are much more likely to
be poor.
20
7
Economic Security
Many more families are struggling
The traditional measurement of poverty, the federal poverty level, is not really an
adequate measure of the number of people without enough money to meet their basic
needs. Two new measures have been developed to get a more accurate picture. Several
years ago, the Insight Center for Community Economic Development calculated the
percentage of people living below the “self-sufficiency standard” – meaning an income
that enabled them to meet their needs without relying on public safety-net programs. As of
March 2012, almost one quarter – 23.7% – of Solano’s population had incomes below the
self-sufficiency standard.21
In addition, the US Census Bureau has created a new Supplemental Poverty Measure,
which takes into account the cost of living; the cost of a wider range of necessities such as
housing, child care, and health care; and public benefits. According to this measure,
California is the state with the highest poverty rate in the nation – 23.5%, almost onequarter of the population. With the traditional federal poverty measure, California’s
poverty rate is 16.3%.22 County calculations using the new measure are not yet available.
The Census Bureau, however, found that measures specifically aimed at reducing child
poverty are effective, including programs such as CalFresh and other nutrition programs,
the federal Women, Infants and Children Program, CalWORKs, Section 8 housing
assistance, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and Medi-Cal. Using the Supplemental Poverty
Measure, which takes these programs into account, the poverty rate for California children
and youth is 18.1%, lower than the rate for the population as a whole.23 This finding underscores the critical importance of maintaining the safety-net we have built up for children
and families.
In another sign of the economic pressures on families with children, a First 5 Solano survey taken in 2011 reported that parents said their greatest family concern was financial
security.
Not only poor families are feeling the squeeze. The county’s median household income,
while higher than those of the state and the nation, fell from $68,296 in 2000 to $62,928 in
2010.24 Another clue to the financial pressures on families is the increase in the number of
children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school. A little more than one-third
of Solano children qualified for the meal program in 2006-07. By 2011-12, it was almost
half. (Please note: chart below does not include Rio Vista. 2006-2007 figures are not
available for Rio Vista. In 2012, the rate was 46%)
25
Children receiving free/reduced price meals at school.
School District
2006-07
2011-12
Benicia
12.8%
16.9%
Dixon
40.7%
49.8%
Fairfield-Suisun
41.4%
54.6%
Travis
14.3%
27.6%
Vacaville
27.8%
39.2%
Vallejo
48.3%
65.4%
Solano County
36.5%
48.5%
8
Economic Security
Percentage of Solano Population Relying on the Federal Nutrition Program
(Food Stamps/CalFresh)
Similarly, the percentage of Solano’s population enrolled in CalFresh (the program replacing
Food Stamps) has increased dramatically. In 2011, that percentage was almost double what it
was in 2006, almost triple the rate in 2003.26 However, a comparison of the rate of poverty
(13.9% in 2011) to the percent receiving food stamps (9% in 2011) suggests that the CalFresh
program is not reaching many people who are eligible. (Note: eligibility requirements did
expand marginally in mid 2011.)
2003
2006
2009
2011
The number of families receiving CalWORKs cash grants has fluctuated.
During the Great Recession, the number of families receiving cash grants from
CalWORKs climbed, then began to fall as the economy began to recover. The drop in
the number of families on CalWORKS is probably also due in part to new state laws
that bar families from receiving cash aid for more than two years.
27
9
Economic Security
The graph on the previous page shows changes in the total number of CalWORKs
participants. But these numbers do not convey the full severity of the problems that lowincome families face. Between 2010 and 2012, CalWORKs grant levels were cut 12% and
cost-of-living adjustments were eliminated. In addition, severe cuts affected many programs
that helped CalWORKs families become self-supporting, from employment services to
drug/alcohol treatment to child care. The bottom line: poor families are plunged into even
deeper poverty, and many newly poor families can’t get back on their feet.28
Unemployment rates are still high, but lower than at the peak of the recession.
Unemployment has gone down from its peak at the height of the Great Recession and has continued to fall in the first months of 2013. But in some communities it is still very high, and in all
communities it is higher than before the recession began. Solano’s unemployment rate is the
highest in the Bay Area.
29
Foreclosures
The rate of foreclosure of Solano County homes has also gone down from its peak, when
Solano had the 8th highest rate of foreclosure in the nation.
In September 2012, the foreclosure rate was 2.52%, down more than one percentage point from
September 2011, when it was 3.69%30 – but the rate was uneven, highest in Suisun City, also
high in Vallejo and Rio Vista.31
Notices of default in the first nine months of 2012 were down 17.8% compared to the same period in 2011. The third quarter of 2012 saw the lowest rate of default notices since 2007 – but the
rate was much higher than in 2005, before the housing market collapsed.32
And, as the rate of foreclosures has fallen, the cost of housing is going up – a problem for the
many families struggling financially. Meanwhile, Solano cities have long waiting lists for
Section 8 federal rental assistance. For example, in Vallejo 3,460 people are on the waiting list,
which has been closed since 2007. The Vacaville Section 8 waiting list is also closed, with 2,766
waiting. In Fairfield, the waiting list is 3,100. The Solano County Housing Authority, which
represents Dixon, Rio Vista and other unincorporated areas of Solano has a waiting list of 2,872.
10
Child Safety
The recession has threatened some of Solano’s gains in child safety.
The implementation of new, research-based and promising practices by the Solano County
Child Welfare program and community-based family support programs decreased the number of children removed from their homes from 2007 to 2009. But with the Great Recession
came an increase in poverty – the biggest factor in child maltreatment. According to the
American Humane Association:
“Children who live in families with an annual income less than $15,000 are
22 times more likely to be abused or neglected than children living in
families with an annual income of $30,000 or more.”33
And just as poverty was increasing the risk of child maltreatment, the funding for
prevention, early intervention and response services was being cut. As a result, after declining until 2009, the number of children in out-of-home care began to rise
again, eroding some – but not all -- of Solano’s gains in strengthening families and
ensuring child safety. Funding for the Family Resource Center Network provides
just one example of this trend.
33b
Total Number of Solano Children in Out-of-Home Care
34
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Note: This includes children in non-relative guardianship placement.
11
2012
Child Safety
Fewer youth are being arrested for felonies – but Solano’s rate is still high, with
troubling racial disparities.
Solano’s juvenile arrest rate is among the highest in the state. In the past decade, all of the 21
largest counties throughout California, which account for over 90% of the total youth population, reduced their state juvenile commitment rates per 1,000 juvenile felony arrests by an
average of 75%. Solano County experienced similar declines, where the rate of incarceration
dropped 30% between 2005 and 2008 as compared to 20% statewide.34a Though the arrest of
youths has been dropping, African American youth are still being arrested at a disproportionate rate. African American youth were arrested at two-and-a-half times the county average in
2010. Many studies have shown that racial differences in arrest rates do not accurately reflect
differences in the rates of crime committed. A report by the National Council of State Legislators, for example, points out that police concentrate patrols in low-income areas and cites a
study showing that white and black youth use and sell drugs at about the same rate, while
black youth are many times more likely to be arrested for these offenses.35
Afterschool programs and other community based services provide safe and healthy alternatives
to Solano Youth.
The Day Reporting Centers (DRC) in Fairfield and Vallejo are open between 12pm and 8pm
during the traditional school year and 10am to 6pm during school breaks and summer
months. Leaders in Community Alternatives provides transportation as well as other services
at the DRC programs. Additionally, the Multi-Agency Intervention and Treatment caseload
provides intensive, community based services to minors who experiencing significant legal
and life problems related to the diagnosis of a mental health disorder.
Fifth graders report on how safe they feel.
The California Department of Education surveyed fifth grade students in 2008-10 on safety
issues and recorded the percentage who agreed with statements including those below. Their
answers indicate areas where we need to do better in making sure our children feel safe.
Percentage of Solano Fifth Graders Who Said
They:
37
Are never home without adult supervision
60%
In a car, wear seatbelt most or all the time
93%
When riding a bicycle, wear helmet
50%
Always feel safe at school
47%
Always feel safe outside school
34%
Have been hit or pushed at school
44%
Had rumors spread about them
47%
12
Early Care & Education
Major cuts to state funding for subsidized child care have reduced the number of
children served by more than one-third in the last three years.
Number of children receiving subsidized child care in Solano County
38
6,000
5,000
4,000
children served
3,000
children waiting
2,000
1,000
0
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
(Note: CEL is no longer state subsidized and is instead voluntarily maintained. It can only be reliably
used to approximate number of children waiting.)
Meanwhile, subsidies remain critical to working families, since child care is so expensive. In
Solano County, a parent working full-time at minimum wage would have to pay more than
40% of her income for licensed family child care for one child. Some Solano families are
paying more for child care than for housing.39
40
Yearly Cost in 2011 of Full-time Child Care in Solano County
Without a Subsidy (based on California Dept of Education 2009 survey)
Child Care Center
Family Child Care
For one child 3 to 5
$7,526
$6,842
For one child birth to 3
$10,683
$7,257
13
Early Care & Education
Not only child care subsidies, but the amount of licensed child care available decreased
substantially in the Great Recession.
Because so many parents lost their jobs, some large centers and many family child care
providers were forced out of business. Although some new, smaller centers have opened, this
represents a serious loss of both child care capacity (especially the evening and weekend care
that family child care provides) and small-business ownership in Solano County.
41
Solano County Child Care Supply
Places
available
Licensed Child Care Centers
Licensed Family Child Care
2008
2010
2012
2008
2010
2012
5,904
5,090
4,845
6,167
5,944
4,708
Places in licensed child care are now available for only 22% of children birth to 12 with
parents in the labor force, down from 27% three years ago.42 In addition, we have lost many
full-time places in child care centers, with an increase in part-time places – creating a huge
problem for parents working full-time to support their families.
Solano programs to increase child care quality and to provide more after-school care
are growing.
Quality: The quality of early care and education has been increased by a range of education
and training programs: CARES Plus, a First 5 funded program; AB 212, Preschool
Foundations and Frameworks; ECE Competencies; Career Ladder Project; and, most
recently, the Child Signature Project of First 5 California.
In addition, CARES Plus has contributed to the stability of the workforce by increasing retention of staff at their sites, where many advance to a higher position. Research shows a positive correlation between child care quality and a consistent care provider. Increasing education also contributed to retention of providers.
14
K-12 Education
The Numbers: Schools and School Districts
Number of
schools
Number of
students
Benicia Unified
8
4,923
Dixon Unified
7
3,592
Dixon Montessori Charter
1
287
Fairfield-Suisun Unified
29
21,577
Solano County Office of Education
4
536
Travis Unified
9
5,391
Vacaville Unified
16
12,561
Vallejo City Unified
26
15,313
43
The Numbers: Public School Enrollment by Ethnicity, 2011-12
African American
16.8%
Native American
0.8%
Asian/Asian American
3.8%
Filipino
9.0%
Latino
32.7%
Pacific Islander
1.2%
White
28.6%
Two or More Races
6.1%
44
Solano’s children continue to gradually improve scores on tests of academic
performance.
Scores on the Academic Performance Index Continue to Climb Overall
(Combines STAR test scores with the California High School Exit Exam)
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Benicia
831
827
817
828
842
853
853
Dixon
742
743
746
749
751
747
754
FairfieldSuisun
713
714
724
736
749
771
783
Travis
811
806
816
817
815
824
833
Vacaville
747
755
765
767
769
776
785
Vallejo
671
671
683
714
731
15
723
722
45
K-12 Education
More children are reading at grade level by the end of third grade.
Researchers have identified this benchmark as a key factor in future school success. The
percentage of children who have met this goal has increased 29% in the last 10 years, but
serious ethnic disparities persist.
Percent reading on grade level by the end of third grade
46
Solano
Latino
White
African American
Asian
Other
45%
33%
60%
33%
53%
54%
More seventh graders are meeting or exceeding state standards in math.
This is a critical predictor of success in science and technology. The percentage of children
who meet this goal has increased 73% in the last 10 years, but more improvement is needed.
Percent of seventh graders meeting state standards in math
Solano
Latino
White
African American
Asian
Other
45%
36%
60%
27%
59%
44%
47
More students are graduating from high school.
The graduation rate for Solano appears to be improving but this may be in part because a
new, improved way of counting the dropout rate has been adopted. The Solano rate is still
high compared to the rest of California and is marked by ethnic disparity.48
Percent dropping out before finishing high school
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
Latino
28.4
26.1
21.4
Native American
27.9
9.5
16.3
Asian
14.5
12.1
9.8
Pacific Islander
24.7
28.6
30.3
Filipino
15.1
11.0
9.6
African American
33.5
30.0
25.5
White
13.6
13.3
9.6
2 or more
8.3
9.8
8.0
Not reported
51.9
66.7
89.5
Solano
21.9
19.9
16.4
California
16.6
14.7
13.2
High school dropouts, their families, and their whole communities pay a heavy economic
price. Compare the 2011 median incomes of U.S. adults with different educational levels:49
— High school dropout: $23,504
— High school graduate: $33,176
— College graduate: $54,766.
Today’s students will soon be a key part of the economic base of our county. We need to
continue the trend of improvement and tackle ethnic disparities. We will depend on the
educational success of all our children. We need them all to grow into adults who earn good
incomes, support families, buy homes, pay taxes, and contribute to a thriving community.
16
K-12 Education
Solano schools are reducing the number of suspensions.
Solano County schools, along with the rest of the state, have made good progress in reducing
the number of times students are suspended, although the number of suspensions is still higher in comparison to total enrollment than the statewide average, and many students are still
being suspended. A growing body of research shows that school suspensions and expulsions
do not succeed in making schools safe, and may contribute to lower grades, dropping out of
school, and involvement with the criminal-justice system.50
Number of suspensions
2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
2011-12
Benicia Unified
266
355
475
171
Dixon Unified
660
1,183
525
378
Fairfield-Suisun Unified
2,340
5,716
3,352
2,149
Solano County Office of
Education
97
134
131
50
Travis Unified
467
416
568
408
Vacaville Unified
1,689
1,857
1,894
897
Vallejo City Unified
6,969
7,674
8,366
3,153
Solano Total
12,501
17,335
15,311
7,172
California
782,692 787,962 694,832
51a
366,829
Many schools are now implementing programs designed to reduce the number of suspensions. This year, for example, the Vallejo City Unified School District launched
several alternative programs to promote positive behavior, such as the Positive Behavior
Interventions and Supports system and a Restorative Justice program. These programs
encourage adults to reward positive behavior and support students in talking with each other
and with adults about issues in their lives, as well as helping students learn and practice
positive strategies for resolving conflicts.
Many students in Solano schools are dealing with homelessness.
Solano County schools are working to document homelessness among their students.
According to their records, more than 1,400 students are homeless, but there is strong evidence that homelessness is undercounted. Many more students lack stable housing and the
physical, social, emotional, and cognitive effects of homelessness add extra challenges to
their efforts to succeed in school.51b
17
Health
Solano has seen significant improvements in maternal and child health, but
important challenges remain.
Most mothers are receiving prenatal care in the first trimester.52
Solano
Total
Latino
White
African
American
Asian
other
77%
74%
81%
73%
82%
76%
The percentage of mothers receiving prenatal care in the first trimester is increasing – 77.4%
in 2010, up from 71.4% in 2006.53 And, consistent with state and national trends, the rate of
births to teen mothers is decreasing: 22.7 per thousand, down from 29.4 per thousand in 2006.
As would be expected from these improvements, the percentage of babies born at low birth
weight declined from 7.5% in 2006 to 6.5% in 2010.
Despite these improvements, infant mortality rates seem to be increasing. For example, 6.1
Latino babies per 1,000 born between 2006-2010 died in their first year, compared to 4.7 per
1,000 between 2002 and 2006. Asian, Pacific Islander, and African American babies have
also experienced increases throughout the same period. Most notable though is that the disparity between the overall infant mortality rate and the African American rate is significant
and persistent, and needs to be improved. Recent significant cuts to the Black Infant Health
Program could worsen this situation. Here again, the increased poverty of the Great Recession appears to have limited the gains made through positive health programs.
Infant Mortality Rate (number per thousand)55
2002-2006
2003-2007
2004-2008
2005-2009
2006-2010
African American
9.7
9.3
10.3
12.4
10.5
Asian/Pacific
Islander
4.7
4.7
4.8
5.1
Not available
Latino
4.6
5.0
5.3
5.4
6.1
White
4.3
3.7
4.1
4.6
4.4
(Deaths of children under age 1 per 1,000 live births) (In some cases, above rate of change is too small to be
statistically significant.)
From its highest level at the beginning of the Great Recession, the overall death rate for
children and youth in Solano has improved a little for some groups, but throughout
childhood, African American young people die at very high rates. These deaths occur from a
range of causes, primarily health issues, but including accidents and homicides.
Child/Youth Death Rate (number per 100,000)56
20042006
2005-2007
2006-2008
2007-2009
2008-2010
African American/Black
75.1
82.6
93.6
85.2
76.5
Hispanic/Latino
36.3
34.4
32.7
31.8
32.4
White
36.4
44.6
44.2
36.4
31.7
Solano Total
41.6
46.1
45.4
40.8
36.6
(Deaths per 100,000 children and youth age 1-24)
18
Health
Our children’s physical fitness is improving, but more is needed.
More than two-thirds of Solano children (in all ethnic groups except Latinos) maintain,
healthy weight – but improvement since 2001 has been only 4%.57
Percent at healthy weight
by school district 58
Percent at healthy weight
by ethnicity 59
Solano Total
Solano
Total
69%
Latino
62%
White
75%
African American
66%
Asian
69%
Other
67%
Grade 5
68.9%
Grade 7
67.9%
Grade 9
68.1%
Benicia Unified
Grade 5
71.3%
Grade 7
75.5%
Grade 9
81.8%
Dixon Unified
Grade 5
64.1%
Grade 7
72.3%
Grade 9
72.8%
Fairfield-Suisun Unified
Only a minority of Solano children meet all
of the state’s physical fitness standards60
Grade 5
Grade 7
Grade 9
2007
26.8%
32.0%
26.2%
2008
26.6%
31.3%
27.1%
Grade 5
66.4%
2009
27.7%
31.3%
31.3%
Grade 7
66.7%
2010
27.1%
30.6%
25.8%
Grade 9
65.7%
2011
18.5%
26.6%
28.1%
Travis Unified
Grade 5
81.2%
Grade 7
76.8%
Grade 9
73.9%
Vacaville Unified
Grade 5
81.2%
Grade 7
76.8%
Grade 9
73.9%
Vallejo City Unified
Grade 5
75.2%
Grade 7
67.7%
Grade 9
68.3%
19
Health
Almost all Solano children have access to health care.
As a result of increased unemployment in the Great Recession, many children lost the
health insurance coverage that had been provided by their parents’ employers. The
percentage with employer-based insurance dropped from 64.4% in 2007 to 54.6% in 2009.61
As a result, more families accessed Medi-Cal. Because of this safety-net program, Solano
County is doing relatively well in making sure that children have access to health care:
93% of children now have health insurance, and 95% have a regular source of medical
care.62
Total Solano enrollment in Medi-Cal is steadily rising as incomes decline and private
insurance costs rise.
Number enrolled in Medi-Cal
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
50,997
53,709
55,824
57,338
58,202
60,740
64,512
67,786
68,794
63
When the new federal Affordable Care Act goes into full effect next year, the income
ceiling for Medi-Cal eligibility will rise from 100% to 138% of the federal poverty level.
An estimated 680,000 to 1.2 million more Californians will receive coverage, many of them
children.64
According to US Surgeon General, “dental disease is at ‘epidemic’ levels among California
children.65a In Solano, 91% of the children visited a dentist in the past year, although only
65% of the children in the Child Welfare System had documented dental visits.65 According to a recent policy brief by the Children’s Partnership, as many as half the children in
California could start receiving dental care through Medi-Cal under the new expanded coverage.66
20
Recommendations
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
Recognize that many of the problems our children face – from poor school attendance
and high dropout rates, to family violence, to high rates of infant mortality – have their
roots in the economic and social stresses on families and in particular on our high rate of
childhood poverty.
Recognize that a range of family support programs are effective at reducing child hood
poverty. Assure all children are receiving the food, shelter and early educational
opportunities they need to grow to be happy, healthy, productive members of our
community.
Recognize that current levels of public, private and community support for children in
our communities fall far short of the mark. We need to strive for 100% coverage for all
vital supports for children, not solely health care. Just as no child should be without
health care, no child should be without adequate food, shelter, child care, or educational
opportunities, and this specifically includes all eligible children receiving WIC, Cal
Fresh/foodstamps, high quality pre-school experiences and mental health services, if
needed.
Recognize that we can only be successful with genuine and broad-based collaboration.
All service providers, from the faith community to city and county government to non
profits and civic groups, are needed in this effort.
To be successful, integration and coordination of this work is essential and
should be adequately funded.
Available, underutilized resources, such as foodstamps, need to be readily
accessible from neighborhood based locations (ie, FRC’s, schools, community
centers.)
Recognize additional resources need to be identified and secured for comprehensive high
quality early education, family support programs, youth tutoring, mentoring and recreational opportunities and food and nutrition programs.
Recognize that it is always best to prevent problems before they occur. Invest in
prevention.
Take action now! Investigate and pursue opportunities for raising additional funds for
children’s services:
Develop local Pro – Child ballot measures.
Advocate at the state and federal level for the removal of counterproductive
eligibility requirements for accessing public benefits.
Partner with local government and institutions to raise the visibility of and
donations to Solano’s Children’s Trust Fund.
Adopted by the Solano Children’s Alliance on June 5, 2013
21
Notes
1. Myers, D. California Futures: New Narratives for a Changing Society. Boom California, Summer, 2012. www.boomcalifornia.com/2012/07/summer-2012
2. Thompson, R., UC Davis Center on Poverty Research. Presentation to California Assembly
Budget Committee Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, March 13, 2012
3. American Humane Association fact sheet on child abuse and neglect, http://
www.americanhumane.org/children/stop-child-abuse/fact-sheets/americas-children.html
4. ChildHealth USA 2012 http://mchb.hrsa.gov/chusa12/hs/hsc/pages/an.html
5. National Institutes of Health. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3571659/
6. Fuentes, R., O’Leary, A., Barba, J. Prosperity Threatened: Perspectives on Childhood Poverty
in California, Center for the Next Generation, January 2013
http://www.tcng.org/files/Prosperity_Threatened_Final.pdf
7. MacGilvary, J. and Lucia, L., Economic Impacts of Early Care and Education in California, UC
Berkeley Labor Center, August 2011,
http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/research/child_care_report0811.pdf
8. American Community Survey, US Census 2011.
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml
9. Kidsdata. http://www.kidsdata.org/data/region/dashboard.aspx?loc=341
10. ibid.
11. http://www.co.solano.ca.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=11041
12. California Child Care Resource and Referral Network, California Child Care Portfolio, 2011.
http://my.rrnetwork.org/site/DocServer/Solano_County.pdf?docID=1027
13. ibid.
14. http://www.co.solano.ca.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=11041
15. Bay Area Census, http:/www.bayareacensus.ca.gov/counties/SolanoCounty.htm
16. Kidsdata op. cit.
17. U.S. Census. 2011 American Community Survey, Selected Economic Characteristics,
1-Year Estimates, http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml
18. ibid.
19. KidsData op. cit.
20. ibid.
21. Catholic Charities of Monterey County. California Poverty Data by County,
http://catholiccharitiescentralcoast.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/
California_Poverty_Data_by_County_05-04-2012.pdf
22. Fuentes, et al. op. cit.
23. Presentation at Assembly Budget Committee, Health and Human Services Subcommittee,
March 13, 2013
24. Solano County Index of Economic and Community Progress,
http://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=12623
25. California Department of Education, Educational Demographics Unit
26. California Food Policy Advocates, CalFresh Increases by County in California, 2006 –
2011, http://cfpa.net/CalFresh/CFPAPublications/CalFreshIncreasesByCountyFrom20062011.pdf
27. California Department of Social Services. http://www.cdss.ca.gov/research/PG298.htm
28. Assembly Budget Committee, Health and Human Services Subcommittee, March 13,
2013 hearing materials
29. Employment Development Department, Labor Market Information Division.
http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/LMID/Labor_Force_Unemployment_Data.html
30. Times-Herald, http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2012-1121&val=735825&cat=finance Times-Herald,
31. RealtyTrac,http://www.realtytrac.com/trendcenter/ca/solano-county-trend.html
32. Solano County Index of Economic and Community Progress, updated October 2012
http://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=12633
22
Notes
33. American Humane Association, http://www.americanhumane.org/children/stop-child-abuse/
fact-sheets/americas-children.html
34. California Child Welfare Services, Child Welfare Dynamic Report System.
http://cssr.berkeley.edu/ucb_childwelfare/PIT.aspx
34a. Males, M., & Macallair, D. (2010). The California Miracle: Drastically Reduced Youth Incarceration, Drastically Reduced Youth Crime. Retrieved April 9, 2013 from http://www.cjcj.org/files/
The_California_Miracle.pdf
35. National Council of State Legislatures, Minority Youth in the Criminal Justice System, 2009,
http://www.ncsl.org/print/cj/minoritiesinjj.pdf
36. Center for Juvenile and Criminal Justice, http://casi.cjcj.org/Juvenile/
37. WestEd, http://chks.wested.org/resources/SolanoCounty_elem0810.pdf
38. Solano County Child Care Planning Council, Child Care in Solano 2012 and Solano CEL Data
39. California Child Care Resource and Referral Network, op. cit
40. ibid.
41. Solano County Child Care Planning Council, op. cit.
42. California Child Care Resource and Referral Network, op.cit.
43. California Department of Education, data1.cde.ca.gov
44. ibid.
45. California Department of Education,
http://api.cde.ca.gov/reports/page2.asp?subject=API&level=County&submit1=submit
46. Children Now op.cit.
47. ibid.
48. California Department of Education.
http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/page2.asp?level=County&subject=Dropouts&submit1=Submit
49. Minnesota Office of Higher Education, Facts About the Income of Graduates.
http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/tPg.cfm?pageID=948
50. Justice Center, The Council of State Governments: http://justicecenter.csg.org/resources/
juveniles/report
51a. California Department of Education, data1.cde.ca.gov
51b. Solano County Office of Education.
52. Children Now. op. cit.
53. kidsdata. op. cit.
54. ibid.
55. ibid.
56. ibid.
57. Children Now op. cit.
58. California Department of Education, data1.cde.ca.gov
59. ibid..
60. ibid.
61. kidsdata, op. cit.
62. Children Not op. cit.
63. State of California, Department of Health Care Services, http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/
dataandstats/statistics/Pages/RASB_Enrollment_by_Geographic_Region.aspx
64. UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and UC Berkeley Labor Center, Medi-Cal Expansion
Under the Affordable Care Act.
http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/healthcare/medi-cal_expansion13.pdf
65. Children Now, op.cit.
65a. http://www.contracostatimes.com/contra-costa-times/ci_22908325/lack-dental-servicesfactor-grades-attendance-state-schools
66. California Healthline, http://www.californiahealthline.org/features/2013/half-of-californiaskids-may-get-dental-care-through-medical.aspx
23
Children’s Bill of Rights
The Rights for Children and Youth is a bold, public agreement that all children and youth are en tled to certain fundamental elements. The United Na ons proclaimed an Interna onal Children’s Bill of Rights in 1990, and the State of California passed its own version in 2009. Solano County has adopted its Children’s Bill of Rights on April 5th, 2010. Specifically, all children and youth have a right to: ♦ A healthy mind, body and spirit that enables them to maximize their poten al. ♦ Develop a healthy a achment to a parent, guardian, or caregiver and an ongoing rela onship with a caring and suppor ve adult. ♦ Have their essen al needs met – nutri ous food, shelter, clothing, health care, and accessible transporta on. ♦ A safe and healthy environment, including homes, schools, neighborhoods and communi es. ♦ Access to a 21st century educa on that promotes success in life, in future ca‐
reers and a love of life‐long learning. ♦ Training in life skills that will prepare them to live independently, be self‐
sufficient and contribute to their community. ♦ Employment opportuni es with protec ons from unfair labor prac ces. ♦ Freedom from mistreatment, abuse and neglect. ♦ A voice in ma ers that affect them. ♦ A sense of hope for their future. 25