California is trailing many other states when it comes to providing health and social services for children with special health care needs.

Our new study, Children with Special Health Care Needs in California: A Profile of Key Issues, analyzes the most recent data from a survey of parents by the U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau. California ranks in the bottom six of states on key health measures such as access to pediatric specialists and coordination of care.  Data from the study are available at http://www.kidsdata.org/cshcn/.

Among the key findings:

• An estimated one in 10 – approximately one million – California children under age 18 has a special health care need, ranging from mild to life-threatening.
More than four in five children with special health care needs in California do not receive care that meets federal minimum quality standards.
• Among the estimated 270,000 children with special health care needs in California with Medi-Cal or other public insurance coverage, only 6 percent receive health care that meets the federal quality standards. California ranks last in the nation on this measure, tied with Nevada.
  

Children are considered to have special health care needs if they have a chronic health problem and use more health care services than typical children.  These children may have asthma or diabetes, conditions that can be controlled with medication and lifestyle changes, or be dependent on sophisticated medical equipment to get through each day. They account for more than 40 percent of all health care costs among children nationwide, despite making up only about 16 percent of the U.S. child population.

Low-income families and families of children with the most complex needs usually have the most difficulty in finding medical and dental care, child care, transportation, educational assistance, medical equipment, consistent health insurance, and a range of other services.

We can and must do better by our children. Here are some possible solutions:

• Strengthen and expand care coordination efforts
• Facilitate access to community-based therapeutic and family support services.
• Improve availability, comprehensiveness, and affordability of insurance
• Improve access to specialist care
• Emphasize family-centered care

To that end, we have established the California Advocacy Network for Children with Special Health Care Needs, which brings together individuals and organizations to press for policy changes to improve the system. More than 450 individuals are Network members, representing families, young adults, care providers, insurers, advocates, researchers, and more. To find out more about the Network or join, click here.

Posted by kidsdata.org

California’s population of children is shrinking, and that means some big changes ahead for the Golden State.

In 1970, children made up 33 percent of California’s population, but by 2030 they’re expected to comprise just 20 percent, according to a new demographic analysis commissioned by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health and conducted by University of Southern California researchers.

The growing imbalance between children and retirees means that the economic role of a child born in 2015 will be nearly twice as important as that of a child born in 1985, the report suggests.

“These trends are not yet widely recognized, but they should be a wake-up call for policymakers. Policymakers are making decisions about public resources and budget allocations based on what they think the child population used to be, and not what it really is,” said report author Dowell Myers, professor of policy and demography and director of the Population Dynamics Research Group at USC. “We will be increasingly dependent economically and socially on a smaller number of children. They are more important to the state’s future success than ever before.”

Why exactly is California’s child population shrinking? Far-reaching demographic changes, including declining birth rates, fewer newcomers to the state and a smaller population of women of childbearing age all play a role, Myers said.

The state’s birth rate has declined in every major racial and ethnic group since 2000 and has fallen below what demographers call the necessary “replacement level” of 2.1 births per woman. The loss of California’s children coincides with the expected retirements of the state’s over-65 population whom these children will replace as workers, taxpayers, voters and consumers.

“Our hope is that this report will encourage policymakers to recognize the population trends identified in this report and address the issues they raise,” said David Alexander, M.D., CEO of the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health. “As children become an increasingly rare and precious resource, the case becomes even more compelling to provide them with best health care and education possible.”

You can read the report and get more information here.

Posted by David Alexander, MD

Finding their way in school can be difficult for many children. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identifies one factor, school connectedness, that can be a protective factor to help students to avoid negative outcomes. The CDC defines school connectedness as “the belief by students that adults and peers in the school care about their learning as well as about them as individuals.” Research shows that students with higher levels of school connectedness are more likely to succeed in school and have lower rates of emotional and behavioral problems.

Here’s some of what we know about school connectedness among California’s children.

• 87-90% of 7th, 9th, and 11th graders, and 82% of students in non-traditional schools, report medium or high levels of school connectedness, according to 2008-10 data.
• While school connectedness varies by county/school district and by racial/ethnic group, from 2004-06 to 2008-10, the statewide percentage of students with high levels of school connectedness rose for all racial/ethnic groups, as well as for all grade levels and for both boys and girls.
• In 2008-10, only 12-17% of California students surveyed reported a high level of agreement that they have opportunities for meaningful participation at school, such as doing interesting activities, helping to make decisions, and doing things that make a difference at school.

On kidsdata.org, school connectedness is measured by student reports of being treated fairly, feeling close to people, feeling happy, feeling part of, and safe at, school. Find more information about these and other key findings from the California Healthy Kids Survey in our recently released data advisory.

Increasing school connectedness involves programs and policies that involve all stakeholders in schools: families, faculty and staff, community members, and, perhaps most importantly, students themselves. The CDC describes several strategies to improve school connectedness. Here are three of their strategies that focus on students and their families.

1. Engage students and families in the decision-making processes in schools.
2. Promote families’ involvement in their children’s academic and school life. Schools may need to provide specific opportunities for engagement as well as educate family members about how they can participate.
3. Develop positive learning environments in classrooms. Train and support teachers in utilizing classroom management and teaching methods that create this environment.

What do schools do in your local community to promote school connectedness?

Posted by Roselyn Thomas

Recently updated data on student reports of bullying and harassment in California schools suggest that bullying is an issue of widespread concern in the Golden State. The data come from the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS), a survey of students developed and administered by WestEd for the California Department of Education (CDE). Forty-two percent of 7th graders in California reported being bullied or harassed at school in the past year. Percentages were lower among 9th and 11th graders; 35% of 9th graders and 28% of 11th graders reported being bullied. Student reports of bullying and harassment are available at the school district and county level, providing a local lens on an issue of statewide concern and focus. Data also are available at the state level.

To tackle this issue, the U.S. Department of Justice recently coordinated a Bay Area “Stop Bullying” Summit in San Francisco with local officials. Using data from kidsdata.org, this summit sought to bring more attention to the prevalence of bullying and harassment in California. Moreover the conference highlighted bullying prevention efforts being utilized around the Bay Area. Bullying and harassment are important issues and many Californians including schools, parents, youth, and governmental officials are stepping up to promote bullying prevention and student safety in schools.

Have you checked out the amount of student-reported bullying in your area? What are people and schools in your community doing to prevent bullying?

Posted by Roselyn Thomas

November is National Adoption Month. Data indicate that in 2011 there were 56,138 children in foster care in California. Though the percentage of children who are adopted within four years of entry into the foster care system in California has increased since 1998, most children are reunited with their family. Data also indicate adoption takes time; according to 2011 data, 66% of foster care youth in California who were eventually adopted waited over two years until they were placed into a permanent residence. And oftentimes, that stay in foster care is marked by instability; 2011 data show that 15.6% of California children in foster care for less than one year experienced three or more placements.

For a perspective on helping adopted children overcome adversity, please see our October 2011 guest blog post. You also can help raise awareness this month about youth in foster care using more data from kidsdata.org. Finally, spread the word about National Adoption Month through Child Welfare Information Gateway’s social media initiative.

Posted by Lindsey Nguyen

This November, help raise awareness about childhood diabetes by promoting American Diabetes Month, sponsored by the American Diabetes Association.

Diabetes continues to be one of the leading causes of death in America, according to a 2011 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and its death rate has increased in recent years.

In California, an estimated 2% of children under age 18 with special health care needs has diabetes, according to 2009-2010 data.

Diabetes also is one of the 10 most common primary diagnoses for hospital stays among children under age 18, accounting for around 1% of all hospital discharges in California between 2002 and 2009.

For more information and resources for children and parents affected by diabetes, please refer to these guides provided by the American Diabetes Association.

Posted by kidsdata.org

Following are some recent news highlights about children and families, along with related data from kidsdata.org:

Emotional and Behavioral Health (see related data)

Study: Parents’ Social Anxiety May Raise Kids’ Risk for Anxiety Disorder
(Health Day, 11/7/12)

Analysis Examines Lack of Preventive Mental Health Care Available for Children
(Boston Globe, 10/25/12, by Gold)

National Increase in Rate of Babies Born with Addiction, Study Finds
(Sacramento Bee, 10/29/12, by Schrock)

Positive Home Environment Potentially Reduces Risk for Teen Alcohol Problems, Research Suggests
(Healthline, 11/8/12)

Health Insurance (see related data)

30 States Show No Improvement in Number of Uninsured Children, Report Shows
(MedPage Today, 10/26/12, by Pittman)

Study: California’s Number of Medically Uninsured Children Declines; State Still Has Second-Highest Number of Uninsured Kids
(Sacramento Bee, 10/24/12)

Transition to Denti-Cal from Healthy Families May Reduce Access to Dental Care for Children
(HealthyCal, 10/17/12, by Graebner)

Autism (see related data)

Review: Autism Interventions Require More Evidence-Based Approach
(Disability Scoop, 11/5/12, by Heasley)

Report: Children’s Development at 6 Months Same with Autism as Without; Changes Seen at 14 to 24 Months
(Doctor’s Lounge, 10/30/12)

Study: Flu during Pregnancy May Be Linked to Increased Autism Risk
(NBC, 11/11/12, by Fox)

Transforming School Lunches (see related data)

States that Implement Nutritional Changes in School Lunches See a Decrease in Childhood Obesity, Report Shows
(USA Today, 10/24/12, by Hellmich)

Report: Few K-12 Schools Offer Healthy Snack Options Outside of Mealtimes
(Reuters, 11/1/12, by Heavey)

Opinion: More Work Needed to Make Implementation of New School Lunches Successful
(NY Times, 10/29/12, by Brody)

Mothers and Infants (see related data)

Children’s Weight Linked to Mother’s Pre-Pregnancy Weight and Smoking Status, Study Finds
(MedPage Today, 10/29/12, by Petrochko)

Study: Obese Women Twice as Likely to Develop Gestational Diabetes as Healthy Weight Women, Orange County Study Finds
(OC Register, 10/30/12)

Breastfeeding Rates of Preemies in California Hospitals Increases, Research Shows
(Scope, 11/9/12, Steakley)

Teen Sexual Health (see related data)

Study: Smartphones Linked to Higher Rates of Teen Sex
(CBS, 10/30/12, by McMillen)

Teen Pregnancy More Likely Among Pre-Teens with Low Literacy Levels
(Healthline.com, 10/30/12, by Nerenberg)

Study: Many Teens Born with HIV Unlikely to Disclose to Partners
(Washington Times, 11/11/12, by Wetzstein)

Posted by Roselyn Thomas

The 2012 California County Scorecard on the state of children’s health has been published for all 58 counties in California. Created by Children Now, a national organization focused on making children’s health a top priority for policymakers and the public, this report allows users to explore data by topics broken down by income level, living area, and race/ethnicity.

With 28 different key indicators ranging from “young children who read every day” to “asthmatic children who have been given an asthma management plan,” this report also lets users organize each indicator by each topic.

This scorecard is an important tool in assessing the needs of California’s children.

For more data on children’s health, explore kidsdata.org by topic.

Posted by Lindsey Nguyen

Following are some recent news highlights about children and families, along with related data from kidsdata.org: 

Children with Autism (see related data):

• San Francisco Prepares for Wave of Autistic Adults
  (SF Chronicle, 10/4/12, by Allday)

• Study: Half of Children with Autism Wander from Caregivers, Increasing Risk of Accidents and Injury
  (MedPage Today, 10/8/12, by Phend)

• Daily Yoga Found to Improve Classroom Behavior of Kids with Autism
  (NPR, 10/12/12, by Barclay)

Poverty, Disparities, and Child Health (see related data):

• The U.S. Budget and the Fate of Children
  (NY Times, 10/9/12, by Porter)

• CDC Reports Child Poverty Is High, Families Continue to Struggle
  (Huffington Post, 9/28/12, by Edelman)

• Disparities Persist in Children’s Well-Being, According to Health Report Card
  (Bay Citizen, 10/10/12, by Lin)
  Also See: http://www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2012/10/9/study-calif-childrens-health-well-being-varies-based-on-location.aspx
  http://www.mercurynews.com/census/ci_21727930/health-well-being-californias-children-varies-widely-based

Child Abuse and Neglect (see related data)

• Study: Child Hospitalizations for Physical Abuse Increased 5% Over Past 12 Years
  (Futurity.org, 10/2/12, by Yale)

• Eye Injury Examinations May Be Used to Distinguish Accidental Head Injuries from Child Abuse of Infants and Toddlers, Research Finds
  (HealthDay, 10/8/12, by Dotinga)

Environmental Health (see related data):

• Study: Traffic Pollution May Cause Long-Term Lung Damage to Children
  (Healthline, 10/12/12, by Severson)

• Report: Pesticides Related to Increase in Serious Health Problems Among Children
  (SF Chronicle, 10/9/12, by Lee)

• Survey: Thousands of Kids at Risk for Lead Poisoning May Not Get Treatment Due to Budget Cuts
  (USA Today, 10/2/12, by Ridel)

Posted by Roselyn Thomas

October 23 to October 31 marks Red Ribbon Week. Founded and sponsored by the National Family Partnership, Red Ribbon Week serves to raise awareness about substance abuse, especially in youth and teens. Kidsdata.org has a variety of indicators on youth substance abuse in California.

From 2008 to 2010, approximately 1 in 5 California 11th graders reported recreational use of prescription drugs at least once in their lives.

A notable 40% reported using alcohol or other drugs in the past month, according to data from 2008-2010. In this same time frame, 46% of California 9th graders and 62% of 11th graders reported having at least 1 full drink of alcohol in their lives.

About 13% of California 7^th graders reported using inhalants at least once in their lives, 2008 to 2010 data show. These data exclude cigarette use from 2008 to 2010, which is separated by grade level and county here.

View related data on drug abuse here.

Posted by Lindsey Nguyen