How Are Kids Faring in CA’s 2nd Biggest County?

The Children’s Initiative recently released the 2009 edition of the San Diego County Report Card on Children and Families, a summary of the overall health and well being of children, youth, and families in the state’s 2^nd biggest county, as measured by child population.

Among the highlights from the report: Although San Diego County child poverty rates are lower than both state and national averages, the rate increased to 16.6 percent of children in 2008 – the highest in the county since 2000.

Some other notable trends from the report include:

• 93 percent of families reported having health care coverage for their children, on par with state averages and well above national averages.
• Domestic violence and child abuse trends are improving, but county rates still remain above the state average. Also, child victims of violent crime have dropped only slightly.
• Despite annual fluctuations, motor vehicle crashes involving DUIs among drivers ages 16-20 are still at the same level as they were in 1996. And DUI arrests among adolescents in this non-legal drinking age group actually are increasing.

The 2009 Report Card also offered 10 recommendations focused on prevention and intervention, including:

• Intensive home visiting of vulnerable families to improve parenting skills and reduce child abuse, neglect, and repeat teen births.
• Closely monitoring school attendance; providing after school programs to help prevent substance abuse; and restoring driver education in schools to reduce DUI cases.
• Improving parent-to-teen communication. Teens reporting good relationships with parents are less likely to engage in truancy, substance abuse, DUI, and crime, the report notes.
• Raising the economic status of poverty-stricken families through health and housing benefits, as well as job training and educational opportunities.

Kidsdata.org has long been affiliated with children’s reports, particularly those in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, so we know how vital such reports can be in drawing local attention to how kids are faring, and focusing the community on related improvements. If you’re at work on – or recently have released – a summary report on local children, please let us know by adding a comment/link below.

Tags: Data Projects

Posted by kidsdata.org

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