County grades poorly in several measures of kids’ well-being
One of every three children in Imperial County doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from, and nearly half of all seventh-graders are considered obese, problems that are closely linked, according to the findings of a statewide report on children released last week.
That same report, the “2018-2019 California County Scorecard of Children’s Well-Being,” by Children Now of Oakland, shows that in some instances, children in Imperial County are faring better than the statewide averages in a range of indicators in education, child welfare, health and early childhood, but in most cases, Imperial County children are worse off than their peers in other parts of the state.
“Lack of support early in life translates to more problems later in life as children grow into young adults,” said Kelly Hardy, senior managing director of health and research for Children Now. “We see this statewide, but there are some issues that are of special concern in Imperial County.”
One of those concerns, Hardy said, is the twin problem regarding obesity and food insecurity. “When children don’t have enough access to nutritious food they are more likely to be obese, and we see both of those problems are heightened in Imperial County.”
Imperial County ranked dead last among California’s 58 counties in food insecurity, with 33 percent not knowing from where that next meal would come. Some 47 percent of all seventh-graders counted in the study were listed as obese, for a ranking of 52nd among 58 counties.
“One of the solutions here is to invest more in making sure children and families have access to food through [the Women and Infant Children food voucher program] and other sources,” Hardy said.
When it comes to the issue of food insecurity, the reasons for it are complex, said Imperial Valley Food Bank Executive Director Sara Griffen. “It’s not just one thing; it’s entrenched poverty, lack of diversification of jobs here, a cycle of the residual effects of poverty,” she added.
That all plays into the causes of obesity as well, Griffen indicated.
“When you’re in survival mode, picking the best food is not an option, picking what is affordable is.”
Imperial County also came in 58 of 58 counties (42 percent) in regard to newborns who were exclusively breastfed while in the hospital, and 56th of 58 (59 percent) in pregnant women receiving prenatal care starting in the first trimester.
“Again these issues early in life require more investment in the family. It’s not just about the child; two generation approaches are very important,” Hardy said.
Across the state there seems to be a dearth of licensed childcare options available, and Children Now officials say that is disconcerting.
“For our kids and our communities, services like quality childcare help reduce inequities in education, health and social outcomes,” Children Now president Ted Lempert said.
Added Hardy: “Without affordable childcare parents can’t work as many hours as they might like, and it’s difficult for families to succeed and get ahead. Childcare and preschool also help supplement parents, as childcare providers are important first teachers.”
Imperial County ranks 44th (20 percent) in children with parents in the labor force for whom a licensed provider slot was available, compared to 23 percent at the state level.
There were some hopeful signs Imperial County is heading in the right direction, such as the number of kindergarteners who are up to date with immunizations; Imperial ranked second in the state at 98 percent. Ninety percent of students were not chronically absent from school, for a ranking of 12th in the state, and 87 percent of 12th graders graduated school on time, from a ranking of 18th in state.
For the most part, though, Imperial County struggled, often behind the state average in a myriad subjects. Some of the more stark contrasts were:
• Student suspensions not due to “defiance/disruption”: ranking 51st (63 percent)
• English-language learners who gained proficiency in English: ranking 50th (33 percent)
• Students who were college or career ready: ranking 42nd (35 percent)
• Adolescnts in the child welfare system who were placed in family-like settings: ranking 51st (61 percent)
• Students who reported feeling like they do things at school that make a difference: ranking 49th (31 percent
“We want [the scorecard] to serve as a resource to communities to push state and local leaders in improving access to quality supports and services, like access to high quality childcare,” Lempert said. “Our policymakers must make investments and policies that target closing the gaps in racial and regional disparities.”
The “2018-19 California County Scorecard of Children’s Well-Being” is online at https://www.childrennow. org/reports-research/scorecard/