Patricia Malagon, guest author from the Public Policy Institute of California, explores how changes in California’s social safety net during the COVID-19 pandemic have shaped poverty trends across the state.

The California Poverty Measure (CPM), developed jointly by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) and the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality, provides a robust measure of Californians who lack the resources to meet basic needs, accounting for local costs of living as well as safety net resources. The CPM poverty rate among Californians of all ages rose from 11.7% in fall 2021 to 13.1% in early 2023, while rates among children jumped even more dramatically. Now that pandemic-era safety net expansions have ended, this upward trend is likely to continue.

To address data limitations and to be responsive to rapidly changing policies, the CPM pivoted during the pandemic to projecting annual poverty rates from pre-pandemic data. For the early 2023 CPM, we combined the 2019 American Community Survey with data on safety net program and economic conditions in January through March 2023. (PPIC technical appendices provide details on data and methodology.)

Because most safety net programs focus on children, program expansions—and their expiration—have had a particularly large impact on child poverty. According to the CPM, child poverty in California jumped from 9% in fall 2021 to 13.8% in early 2023, yet remained below pre-pandemic levels. In early 2023, 1.2 million California children were living under the CPM poverty line—$40,765 annually, on average, for a family of two adults and two children renting their home. And about 195,000 children (2.2%) were living in deep poverty—with less than half the family resources needed to meet basic needs.

In early 2023, according to the CPM, child poverty was highest in families in which the oldest adult was unemployed (29.8%) and in single-parent families (25.6%), followed by families in which the oldest adult had not finished high school (24.1%) or was not a U.S. citizen (24.6%). Across racial/ethnic groups with data, poverty was highest among Hispanic/Latino children (18.2%).

Across counties with data, child poverty was highest in Orange County (17.7%), followed by Los Angeles and San Diego counties (both 16.4%); Riverside County had the lowest rate (10.6%). Across legislative districts, child poverty ranged from 4.7% in Assembly District 71 (San Diego County) to 29.8% in Assembly District 57 (Los Angeles County). Later in the fall, PPIC will release additional estimates for local areas, using two years of combined CPM data.

In early 2023, participation in safety net programs lifted more than 1 in 7 California children, or about 1.3 million kids, out of poverty. CalFresh alone—the only safety net program with pandemic expansions still in effect at the time—lowered child poverty by 5 percentage points; only tax credits had a greater poverty-reducing effect (5.1 percentage points) among measured programs. CalWORKs, Supplemental Security Income, housing subsidies, and other nutrition programs (school meals and WIC) lowered child poverty by less than 2 percentage points each.

If poverty rates continue rising as we expect, this could be an important policy issue next year among newly elected California legislators, many of whom may see poverty increases in their districts. PPIC will continue to monitor poverty trends and assess policies that aim to help Californians meet their basic needs.

Read more from PPIC on poverty and inequality in California.

Children’s Health Resources

Kids’ Share 2024

Approximately 9% of federal spending went to children in 2023, and this figure is projected to fall to 6% over the next decade, according to Urban Institute’s new analysis of federal expenditures on children from 1960 to 2023.

You Count Data Hub: California Youth Homelessness Timeline

The California Homeless Youth Project has developed a comprehensive visual timeline pairing youth homelessness counts with legislative history and budget allocations from 2011 to 2023.

Launching Lifelong Health by Improving Health Care for Children, Youth, and Families

A new consensus report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine explores a transformed child and adolescent health care system—one that rethinks health care financing, public health investment, community partnerships, and accountability—to better meet all children’s needs.

Debt in America: An Interactive Map

New state and national data on medical, student loan, and auto/retail/credit card debt among young adults are available now on the Urban Institute’s Debt in America dashboard. See how young people in communities of color are faring compared with their peers in white communities, and explore policy and program options to support financial stability for young adults in the accompanying blog.

Recently Released Data

We recently released data about family income and poverty. See links to the latest here.

Posted by kidsdata.org

After a sharp drop in 2020 and 2021, childhood asthma hospitalizations statewide rebounded to pre-pandemic levels in 2022. That year, not including treat-and-release emergency room visits, there were more than 7,700 hospitalizations for asthma—a rate of almost 9 discharges per 10,000 children ages 17 and younger.

At the local level, wide variation in asthma hospitalization rates persisted over this period. In 2022, Fresno County saw more than 13 asthma hospitalizations per 10,000 children (up from 5.1 in 2020)—more than 3.5 times Santa Barbara County’s rate of fewer than 4 per 10,000 (up from 1.4 in 2020).

Similar to other standard health measures that have pointed to notable improvements in children’s well-being immediately after the COVID-19 outbreak (see trends in emergency room visits, cases of child maltreatment, and sexually transmitted infections), it’s not clear whether falling asthma hospitalizations in 2020 and 2021 were due to fewer children and families reporting problems and seeking treatment, or to social distancing measures that reduced children’s exposure to asthma triggers—such as exercise, outdoor allergens and pollutants, and viruses in school and child care settings—and in turn contributed to preventing serious attacks.

Whatever the reason for the decline, it appears to have been temporary. The latest data reinforce the urgent need for evidence-based strategies to improve asthma management, reduce hospitalizations, and address disparities in asthma burden.

Opportunities

Harnessing Local Data for Upward Mobility

Urban Institute’s Upward Mobility Initiative will host an in-depth look at its new Upward Mobility Data Dashboard on Wednesday, October 2, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. EDT. During this hybrid event, speakers will share the latest tools, research, and real-world examples of data-driven initiatives in communities.

California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) Annual Data Release

On Thursday, October 3, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. PDT, the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research will release data from the 2023 CHIS, which features more than 50 new topics and questions. Join CHIS’s principal investigator and director for a virtual discussion of some of the most notable findings.

Engaging Communities in Research and Policy on Structural Racism and Population Health

The Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health will convene its Ignite the Spark Scholars Program cohort on Friday, October 25, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CDT. This hybrid event will bring together changemaking leaders from across the United States for a day of panels, workgroups, and networking opportunities.

Children’s Health Resources

How Do Children and Society Benefit From Public Investments in Children?

Public programs that invest in children generally have a positive return on investment for society, and some also eventually pay for their cost—and more—to government through increased tax revenues and decreased spending on criminal justice and public assistance programs for adults, says this new brief from Urban Institute.

Supporting Youth Economic Mobility Through Employment-Focused Strategies

WorkRise’s new report on youth economic mobility reviews the evidence of programs and practices that help young workers succeed and advance in the labor market. An accompanying research summary explores where further research could inform more effective programs, approaches, and policies to improve employment prospects for young people now and in the future.

Recently Released Data

We recently released data about asthma and health care. See links to the latest here.

Posted by kidsdata.org

This fourth installment in our series on children with special health care needs (CSHCN) explores the quality of care that CSHCN receive. Check out the third in this series, which examines strengths and challenges related to CSHCN’s access to services, the second on characteristics of CSHCN, and the first on family-centered care for families with CSHCN.

Note: A child who receives care in a “well-functioning” health system must have adequate, continuous insurance coverage; receive medical and dental preventive care; have no unmet needs or barriers to accessing services; receive care within a medical home; and get support for the transition from adolescent to adult health care. Additionally, the child’s family must feel like a partner in shared decision-making with health providers.

A well-functioning health system supports the well-being and development of children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Yet, in California in 2022, fewer than 1 in 13 CSHCN received care in a system meeting minimum federal quality-of-care standards. Among children without special health care needs, the share receiving care in a well-functioning system was twice as high, but still lower than 1 in 6.

CSHCN have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that generally required by children. CSHCN often need more specialized and comprehensive medical care than their peers, and they are more likely to experience social-emotional issues, academic struggles, and other adversities that can complicate their care. Their families, too, may deal with greater caregiving burdens and stress—and face barriers to high-quality care due to racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic factors.

Each component of a well-functioning health system contributes to ensuring that children receive the high-quality care they need. Let’s explore some components and examine how well CSHCN in California are being served.

Care Within a Medical Home

A medical home is a model of primary care in which children receive comprehensive and continuous care to achieve optimal health outcomes. In 2022, 31% of CSHCN in California received care within a medical home, compared with 38% nationally.

Access to a medical home varies by family resources. Just 16% of California CSHCN living below the federal poverty threshold ($27,479 for a family of two adults and two children in 2022) had a medical home according to the latest estimates, whereas 40% of CSHCN in families with incomes at or above 400% of the poverty threshold did. Additionally, California CSHCN covered by public health insurance only were less likely to receive care within a medical home than those with only private insurance (25% vs. 39%, respectively).

Racial/ethnic disparities also exist: In 2022, 24% of Hispanic/Latino CSHCN statewide received care within a medical home, compared with 39% of white CSHCN.

Care Coordination

Coordination of health care across providers and services can maximize children’s health outcomes and reduce stress on families. For children with complex needs especially, care coordination helps them and their families effectively navigate the health care system and receive the right care at the right time. However, 2022 data show that among California CSHCN needing care coordination in the previous year, only half received this aspect of care within a medical home. By comparison, around two-thirds of children without special health care needs received the care coordination they needed.

Health Insurance

There remains room for improvement to ensure all children have continuous and adequate health insurance coverage. Insurance is considered adequate when it meets a child’s needs, allows access to needed providers, and has reasonable out-of-pocket costs. Although a vast majority of CSHCN in California (96%) were consistently insured in 2022—meaning that they were covered during all 12 months of the prior year—only 59% of CSHCN had adequate health insurance at the time of survey, compared with 71% of children without special health care needs.

Gaps in access to adequate insurance, care coordination, medical homes, and well-functioning health systems highlight ongoing challenges faced by CSHCN and their families. Read more about policy implications of these findings and explore solutions to improve care for CSHCN.

This spotlight was authored by KidsData intern Athira Rajiv. Funding for KidsData’s latest information on CSHCN was provided by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health.

Opportunities

BlackECE Symposium on Policy, Practice, and Research

On August 9 and 10 in Sacramento, Black Californians United for Early Care and Education will bring together researchers, educators, policymakers, advocates, providers, and families in research-based learning to advance culturally affirming policies and practices across California’s early learning and care system.

The Live Beyond Campaign: Raising Awareness to Help Californians Heal From ACEs

On Tuesday, August 13, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. PDT, the ACEs Aware Learning Center will host California Surgeon General Diana Ramos, former California Surgeon General Nadine Burke Harris, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) experts, and youth advisers in a discussion of Live Beyond, a new campaign to raise awareness and offer resources to youth and young adults affected by ACEs and toxic stress.

Children’s Health Resources

Perceived Social and Emotional Support Among Teenagers [PDF]

A new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics finds that parents may overestimate how much social and emotional support their teenage children are getting. In a nationally representative sample of teens ages 12-17 and their parents, parents consistently reported higher levels of support for their teens than what teens reported themselves. According to parent reports, 77% of teens always received the support they needed—almost three times higher than the 28% reported by teens.

Building Strong Foundations: Children’s Mental Health

The National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation has released an infographic highlighting data on mental health issues and suicides among children and teens, underdiagnosis and undertreatment of disorders, and strategies to promote youth mental health and improve support.

Early Childhood Adversity May Affect Neurological and Cognitive Development

A new study from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development suggests exposure to ACEs between ages 0 and 7 is associated with deficits in neurocognitive development. Researchers found children exposed to early childhood adversity scored lower on tests of visual-motor and sensory-motor skills, listening-vocal skills, intelligence, and academic achievement when compared with children with low exposure to adversity.

Recently Released Data

We recently released data about family structure and quality of care for children with special health care needs. See links to the latest here.

Posted by kidsdata.org

The United States lags well behind other affluent nations on healthy birthweight and other maternal and newborn health outcomes. Despite substantial investment in childbirth systems and services, Americans of childbearing age today are more likely to have low birthweight babies than to have been born at low birthweight themselves. More than two and a half decades of data on rates of low birthweight show increases of more than 16% nationally and 20% in California since 1995.

Rates of infants born preterm—before 37 weeks’ gestational age—have similarly not improved overall since 2008 (the first year for which comparable estimates are available). After declining steadily between 2009 and 2014, trends then reversed, and in 2022 percentages for the United States (10.4%) and California (9.1%) had returned to 2008 levels.

Much more can be done to care for mothers and babies before, during, and after pregnancy—not only to improve childbirth outcomes overall but to reduce long-standing disparities by race/ethnicity, geography, and other sociodemographic factors. Read about evidence-based policy, system, and practice options that could influence low birthweight and preterm birth rates.

Opportunities

Building Trust in Healthcare Among Historically Marginalized Pregnant Women

The Standing Committee on Reproductive Health, Equity, and Society of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will hold the last webinar in its five-part series, Maternal Health Disparities: The Women Behind the Data, which explores social determinants of health that negatively impact maternal health outcomes. On Friday, June 28, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET, guest speakers and panelists will discuss building trust amongst historically marginalized pregnant women.

Cutting Child Poverty in Half and More

On Thursday, July 11, at 2:00 p.m. ET, the Foundation for Child Development will host a webinar exploring insights from their newly released paper, Cutting Child Poverty in Half and More: Pandemic-Era Lessons From Child and Family Advocates and Organizers. A panel of parents, community organizers, and policy advocates will discuss takeaways from the groundbreaking federal policy changes that achieved unprecedented success in driving down child poverty in 2020 and 2021.

Children’s Health Resources

2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book

For the second year in a row, the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT Data Book ranks California 35th among U.S. states in overall child well-being. Explore the data and learn what the latest national fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math scores reveal about pandemic learning losses.

An Expanded Approach to the Ascertainment of Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs

More than 4 million U.S. children with diagnosed health conditions and functional difficulties who experience health impacts similar to those of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) are not identified as CSHCN by the standard screening instrument, according to a new study published in Pediatrics. The researchers propose an expanded approach to counting CSHCN, and a companion piece discusses policy and research implications.

Family Experiences With Medi-Cal Renewal

Earlier this year, The Children’s Partnership conducted focus groups with parents and guardians of color and those with limited English proficiency to learn about their families’ experiences during the Medi-Cal “unwinding” period (after pandemic enrollment protections ended), which aspects of the renewal process work well, and what needs to change in order to keep their children covered. A summary slide deck and advocacy fact sheet based on their observations, recommendations, and concerns are available now.

Barriers, Inequities, and Policy Options for Youth With Special Health Care Needs Aging Out of Public Programs

The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, supported by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, has published a national report, a five-state case study, and three policy briefs on what happens to young adults with disabilities when they age out of public programs. Together, these resources identify policies and strategies to ensure and improve access to adult benefits, reduce disruptions to care, and address inequities, with a focus on the experiences of Black youth.

Recently Released Data

We recently released data about demographics and low birthweight and preterm births. See links to the latest here.

Posted by kidsdata.org

The third in our series on children with special health care needs (CSHCN) highlights strengths and challenges related to CSHCN’s access to services. Also read the second in this series, on characteristics of CSHCN, and the first, on family-centered care for CSHCN families.

Nearly 1.4 million California children ages 0 to 17—and more than 15 million children nationwide—have or are at increased risk for a chronic health condition and require care and services beyond that required by children generally.

Getting timely, appropriate, and affordable care is a major problem for many families with children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Major barriers to care, especially in California, include a fragmented system of services and an insufficient, shrinking workforce of pediatric subspecialists. Beyond service system barriers, social factors and practices—such as poverty and discrimination—influence access to care and, ultimately, health outcomes.

New and updated 2022 data from the National Survey of Children’s Health reveal both bright spots and areas for action in access to health services for California’s CSHCN.

Bright spots include:

• Ninety percent of California’s CSHCN who needed specialist care in the previous year were able to receive that care. Specialist care includes visits and services from providers who specialize in one area of health care other than mental health—such as surgeons, heart doctors, and allergists.
• California’s CSHCN with emotional or behavioral health conditions were more likely to receive mental health treatment or counseling than the national average. In California, 74% of CSHCN ages 3 to 17 with a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, behavioral or conduct problems, or depression had received counseling or treatment in the previous year. Meanwhile, 63% of CSHCN in the United States with those diagnoses had received services.
• CSHCN in California were more likely to have received dental or oral health care visits compared with peers. In California, 91% of CSHCN ages 1 to 17 had received dental or oral health care in the previous year—higher than estimates for their peers without special health care needs in the state (83%) and for their CSCHN peers throughout the United States (86%).

Areas for action include:

• A smaller share of CSHCN in California (82%) received recent preventive care than CSHCN nationwide (87%). Yet, within the state, CSHCN were more likely than their peers without special health care needs to have received preventive care in the previous year (82% compared with 68%).
• When sick, California CSHCN covered only by public health insurance were more likely to use the emergency room or to have no usual source of care (25%) than those with private insurance only (14%). In California and throughout the nation, privately insured CSHCN are more likely to have a doctor’s office or usual source of care to turn to when ill.
• CSHCN in California had more difficulty getting needed referrals for specialty care than the national average. Nearly 40% of the state’s CSHCN had difficulties getting referrals they needed to see doctors or receive services in the previous year, compared with 31% of CSHCN throughout the nation.

Read about how we can support California CSHCN and their families.

Funding for KidsData’s latest information on CSHCN is provided by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health.

KidsData in the News

Mental Health in High Schools

The Baker Institute’s report Mental Health in High Schools: A Houston Survey cites the KidsData News piece “Hospitalizations for Mental Health Issues Were Rising Before Pandemic.”

Santa Clara County Children’s Data Book [PDF]

KidsData is cited on several topics throughout the 2024 Santa Clara County Children’s Data Book.

U.S. Birthrate Hit New Low in 2023

Deseret News quotes KidsData director Beth Jarosz in an article on declining birth rates in the United States.

Children’s Health Resources

California Kids Wait Months or Years for Specialty Care. Here’s What Would Help

A California Health Report article explores how a shortage of pediatric specialists, coupled with limited numbers of providers who accept some health insurance plans, contributes to barriers to accessing specialty medical care for California’s children—particularly children with disabilities and those from lower-income families.

Firearms and Suicide Risk: Implications for Preventing Mortality and Morbidity Among California’s Youth

Researchers at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research found that 15- to 24-year-olds who said they had access to firearms were twice as likely to have made a suicide attempt than their peers without access to a gun. The study provides insight into the impact of firearm access on the psychological well-being of youth and young adults.

2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People

Among LGBTQ+ young people ages 13 to 24 in United States, 66% have experienced recent symptoms of anxiety, 53% have experienced recent symptoms of depression, and 39% have seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, according to new data released by The Trevor Project. Overall, more than 5 in 6 LGBTQ+ young people wanted mental health care in the past year; of those, half were not able to get it.

Adolescence Post-Dobbs: A Policy-Driven Research Agenda for Minor Adolescents and Abortion

Youth Reproductive Equity has released its research agenda on abortion policy and its impacts on adolescents under age 18. The report contains a state policy landscape on minors and abortion, principles for conducting equitable and actionable research, and strategies for overcoming challenges that have historically hampered research in this area.

Recently Released Data

We recently released data about access to services for children with special needs; housing affordability and resources; and unemployment. See links to the latest here.

Posted by kidsdata.org

Changes in public assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic lifted thousands of Americans out of hunger. Households with children and those receiving food stamps were the main beneficiaries of increased tax credits, funding for social programs, and food assistance.

But in 2022, as such supports expired, food security dropped significantly. Pandemic financial benefits ended, 17 states withdrew from receiving extra support from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and food prices spiked across the country.

Read PRB’s research highlight.

Explore California strategies to improve children’s food security on KidsData.

Children’s Health Resources

Other Recent Work at PRB

New articles by PRB researchers and partners examine:

• How upcoming changes to race and ethnicity reporting in federal surveys will impact data users.
• Whether, for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, a college degree is worth it.
• Which parental discipline behaviors are associated with positive child development.

State Policy Considerations to Support Equitable Systems of Care for CYSHCN

A new brief by the National Academy for State Health Policy highlights three areas in which states are promoting equitable access to care for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN): data collection, sharing, use, and quality; access to providers and specialists; and supports for family caregivers.

PACEs in California Data Report: CHIS, 2021

The California Essentials for Childhood Initiative and All Children Thrive California have released a new report on positive and adverse childhood experiences (PACEs) among California adults, based on data from the 2021 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

Undercounts of Young Children in the 2020 Census

The U.S. Census Bureau has released new estimates of 2020 Census undercounts and overcounts for children ages 0 to 4 at the state and county level. Previously, the Census Bureau estimated that, nationally, young children were undercounted by 5.4% in the 2020 Census. California’s undercount rate, 7.8%, was among the highest of any state in the nation.

Posted by kidsdata.org

The second in our series on children with special health care needs (CSHCN) explores key demographic and health characteristics of CSHCN in California. Read the first in our series, on access to family-centered care for CSHCN families, here.

In 2022, an estimated 16% of California children ages 17 and under had special health care needs. This means that nearly 1.4 million of the state’s youngest residents had or were at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and required related services beyond what’s required by children generally. The ongoing health challenges facing children with special health care needs (CSHCN) can affect their ability to function and participate in important educational and social activities; in some cases, the challenges can shorten their lives.

What do existing data tell us about these children? Here are five things you should know about California’s CSHCN:

1. CSHCN are more likely to have multiple adverse childhood experiences than their peers. The share of CSHCN in California who have experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is more than five times that of children without special health care needs. These experiences can disrupt healthy development and lead to behavioral, emotional, academic, and health problems throughout life. The more traumatic childhood events experienced, the more likely the impact will be substantial and long lasting, especially if the child does not receive the right support in the aftermath.

2. Parents of CSHCN are less likely to report that their children are resilient when faced with challenges. Resilience may help mitigate the harmful effects of ACEs and toxic stress in children. But just under half of CSHCN in California were described by their parents as resilient—meaning they usually or always stay calm and in control when faced with challenges—compared to 80% of children without special health care needs.

3. Mental health conditions are more common among CSHCN. According to 2022 data from the National Survey of Children’s Health, 51% of California CSHCN ages 3 to 17 had one or more diagnosed mental health conditions—attention deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety problems, behavioral or conduct problems, or depression—compared with just over 5% of their peers without special health care needs.

4. Most CSHCN have complex health care needs, including multiple chronic conditions, requiring in-depth services and treatment. In California, over three-quarters (77%) of CSHCN had complex health care needs in 2022, with 65% having more than one chronic condition and 27% having more than three.

5. While the share of CSHCN in middle- and higher-income families is above the national average, racial and ethnic disparities exist. Nearly one-third of CSHCN in California had a 2021 family income of at least 400% of the poverty threshold (i.e., $109,916 for a family of two adults and two children), compared with just over one-quarter of CSHCN nationally. Yet just one-fifth of Hispanic or Latino children, who comprise about half of the state’s CSHCN, live in families with this income level, and Hispanic or Latino CSHCN are more likely to live just above the poverty threshold than in other income brackets. On the other hand, while white children comprise less than one-third of the state’s CSHCN, more than half of them live in families with incomes at or above 400% of the poverty threshold.

Read about how we can support California CSHCN and their families.

Funding for KidsData’s latest information on CSHCN is provided by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health.

We Want to Hear From You

Closing Tomorrow: KidsData User Survey 2024

How do you use KidsData data and resources? What could we do differently? We want to hear from you about how we can improve our offerings to better support your efforts on behalf of children and families. Please consider taking 10 minutes to share your thoughts in our user survey. The survey closes this Friday, March 29.

Opportunity

2024 Santa Clara County Children’s Summit

The Santa Clara County Children’s Summit, presented by Kids in Common on April 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PDT, gathers cross-sector and young leaders to connect and collaborate in improving the well-being of the county’s children. This year’s theme, “Cultivating Caring Communities,” marks the launch of initiatives aimed at boosting the social-emotional health of children, youth, and families, offering attendees the opportunity to learn from experts and strategize on advancing this critical aspect within their communities. Register here.

Children’s Health Resource

Measuring Student Safety: New Data on Bullying Rates at School

About 19% of students in the United States reported being bullied during the 2021–22 school year. A new release by the National Center for Education Statistics uses data from the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey to highlight recent bullying victimization in U.S. schools.

Recently Released

We recently released data about characteristics of children with special health care needs. See links to the latest here.

Posted by kidsdata.org

In a series starting this month, KidsData News is examining data on children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and their families to understand who they are, their strengths, and the challenges they face. We’re analyzing recently released data from a California oversample of the National Survey of Children’s Health and will be publishing an expanded suite of CSHCN indicators and breakdowns. These data will provide the most comprehensive portrait of California CSHCN in a decade. In our first installment, we highlight a new PRB research brief on family-centered health care for CSHCN families.

Family-Centered Care Linked to Better Outcomes for CSHCN, but Families Report Challenges With Providers

When CSHCN receive high-quality, family-centered health care, they enjoy improved care outcomes, including better overall health; better access to coordinated, ongoing, comprehensive health care within a medical home; fewer emergency department visits; and fewer unmet health needs. Putting families at the center of care requires doctors and other providers to spend enough time with the child, listen carefully, show sensitivity to the family’s values and customs, provide the family with specific information they need concerning the child, and help the family feel like a partner in the child’s care.

Many CSHCN families face challenges in accessing family-centered care: In California and across the United States, around 1 in 5 CSHCN with health visits in the previous year did not receive family-centered care, according to 2016–2019 estimates. Research also has pointed to disparities in access to family-centered care for CSHCN based on demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics, but these studies have not always controlled for potentially confounding factors. When these factors are controlled for, does receipt of family-centered care for CSHCN families vary consistently by race/ethnicity, parent education, or primary language spoken at home? The results might surprise you. Read more.

We Want to Hear From You

KidsData User Survey 2024

How do you use KidsData data and resources? What could we do differently? We want to hear from you about how we can improve our offerings to better support your efforts on behalf of children and families. Please consider taking 10 minutes to share your thoughts in our user survey. The survey will be open through Friday, March 29.

Opportunity

Ignite the Spark Scholars Program

The Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health is awarding grants of up to $72,000 to early and mid-career scholars committed to developing novel measures and approaches to studying the impact of structural racism on population health. Up to six pilot studies will be funded. The application period opens Friday, March 1.

Children’s Health Resources

Expanded SNAP Benefits Boosted Food Security During the COVID-19 Emergency

More than 1.8 million children participate in CalFresh, California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program. A new PRB research brief highlights a national study that found that households receiving SNAP benefits at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to be able to access sufficient and nutritious food and a study from North Carolina that found that SNAP shoppers bought fewer less-healthful food items in the first year of the pandemic.

You Count Data Hub 2024 Update

The California Homeless Youth Project at the California Research Bureau has released new data and features on its You Count Data Hub, California’s first integrative dashboard on youth homelessness. Access the latest data from the California Homeless Data Integration System, California Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Also, see how California ranks among states on key measures of youth experiencing homelessness and availability of youth-dedicated beds, find a local continuum of care (CoC) homeless assistance program, and more.

Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platform

California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative has launched two free behavioral health services apps for families with kids, teens, and young adults ages 0 to 25. BrightLife Kids provides behavioral health coaching for parents, caregivers, and children ages 12 and younger. Soluna offers confidential, one-on-one support for 13- to 25-year-olds.

Recently Released

We recently released data about disconnected youth. See links to the latest here.

Posted by kidsdata.org

The teen years are hard. But are they harder than they were in the past? A recent report by our PRB colleagues finds that while American teenage girls of Gen Z are making strides in key areas of education and opportunity, they face alarming threats to their physical and mental health.

While the PRB report focuses on girls born 2000 and later throughout the United States, KidsData tracks California data for many of the topics covered. Here we explore how California’s teen girls are faring on three key measures.

High School Graduation

California girls’ high school graduation rates have been rising. Statewide, girls are more likely to graduate high school with their class than their male peers (87% versus 81% in 2021). And in 16 California counties, girls’ graduation rates exceeded 90% in 2021.

Teen Births

Teen birth rates for Gen Z girls, like the Millennials before them, have plummeted statewide and nationally. California’s rate dropped by 80% between 2000 and 2021—from 47 births per 1,000 young women ages 15 to 19 to 9 per 1,000—remaining lower and falling faster than the national average. Rates also decreased for all racial and ethnic groups with data over this period, with African American/Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic/Latina teens recording the largest declines. Despite these improvements, large differences remain; for example, while 2021 birth rates exceeded 10 per 1,000 for African American/Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic/Latina teens in California, they were lower than 4 per 1,000 for Asian and white teens. And at the local level, some counties recorded teen birth rates more than double the statewide average.

Suicides

The suicide death rate for California young people has increased over the past 20 years, despite staying under the national average since at least 1999–2001.  The suicide rate among Californians ages 15 to 24 increased from 6.7 suicides per 100,000 in 1999–2001 to 8.7 in 2018–2020. The annual number of suicides among young women in the state doubled between 2000 (59) and 2020 (118). While young men are more likely to die by suicide statewide and nationally, young women are more likely to consider suicide. In 2017–2019, more than 1 in 5 female students in grades 9, 11, and non-traditional programs in California reported seriously considering suicide in the previous year, compared with fewer than 1 in 7 of their male counterparts.

Explore PRB’s national report and read more about California policy and program options to improve youth outcomes related to high school graduation, teen births, and suicide and self-inflicted injury.

Children’s Health Resources

2024 California Children’s Report Card

Children Now’s annual California Children’s Report Card grades the state’s performance in implementing policies and making investments needed for all kids to reach their full potential. Across more than 30 wide-ranging issues in children’s well-being, it provides a progress report and recommendations to state leaders on how to give kids their best chance to thrive.

California Safety, Health, Resilience and Equity (CalSHARE) Data Hub

The UC Berkeley School of Public Health and California Department of Public Health have released the CalSHARE Data Hub, which brings together data from more than 20 sources to allow state and local practitioners and other data users to view more than 80 indicators of health, safety, and well-being at the neighborhood, county, and state level.

Take Action

Information-Gathering Meeting: The Experiences of Youth and Practitioners in Afterschool Programming

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will host a virtual public meeting Thursday, February 8, from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. ET, in which young people and staff will share their lived experiences participating in or supporting afterschool programs. Young people will share personal stories about what afterschool programs have meant for their lives, while staff will share their experiences and perspectives on professional pathways in the field.

Listening Sessions: California Fair Housing Plan

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is updating California’s Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice and will hold listening sessions related to homelessness, people with disabilities and aging population, persons who are immigrants, tribes and tribal residents, tenant protections, and mobile home parks. Each session will provide a brief overview of current fair housing trends, pose questions that HCD would like participants to answer, and invite participants to share their feedback and lived experiences.

Recently Released Data

We recently released data about teen births. See links to the latest here.

Posted by kidsdata.org

KidsData looks back on 2023 with gratitude for our colleagues, partners, and, most importantly, you, our network of data users and changemakers. It’s our privilege to support the work you do on behalf of young people and families across our state. Before the year is over, we hope you’ll consider making a donation to help keep KidsData available, and free, for anyone who shares your commitment to making kids a priority.

Throughout 2023, we collaborated with longtime partners on a range of pressing issues in children’s health and well-being:

• With the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network, we looked at what the latest data tell us about the state of the licensed child care system in California and its capacity to provide accessible and affordable care for families.
• With the Public Policy Institute of California, we published new California Poverty Measure estimates that provide a snapshot of child poverty a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight the role of safety net expansions in driving historic improvements in family economic well-being.
• With the California Homeless Youth Project and supported by Blue Shield of California Foundation, we hosted a discussion of our state’s homelessness crisis and explored youth- and family-centered approaches and tools to support Californians facing housing instability and homelessness.

In 2024 we look forward to:

• Hosting more events, bringing together experts and stakeholders from across sectors and regions—supported with the best available evidence—to inform and advance action on key children’s health issues. (Stay tuned for an upcoming webinar on tracking and responding to child maltreatment and deaths.)
• Sharing our resources and original research more broadly, and learning from the inspiring work of our peers, through in-person opportunities that strengthen existing connections and build new ones. (Look for us at the First 5 California Summit in March, or at another event near you.)
  
• Continuing to be your leading resource for data to build a better future for our kids.

If you’d like to sponsor or co-host an event with KidsData, or have us present KidsData to your group, please email kidsdata@prb.org.

Thank you again for being here, and wishing you a happy and healthy new year.

Sincerely,
–The KidsData Team

Posted by kidsdata.org