If we want to help every child reach full potential, we have work to do

How do you make equitable decisions if you can’t see the impact of decades of inequities?

When it comes to our children, a data check can provide information about health, education and well-being. It can give a snapshot by age group, by community or by ethnicity. It can bring us together to fill in gaps in supports and resources, accurately and equitably.

It can also tell us when we need to shift approaches — breaking down the numbers to illuminate populations, communities and patterns. Most importantly, we must validate data through community voice and narrative. Data should be used as a flashlight to illuminate patterns, gaps and, of course, successes. Although the data helps us see the system, it is through collaboration, partnership and trust that we move in alignment to meet the needs of Marin County children and families.

So, how are the children in Marin County?

Children Now is a respected nonprofit working statewide in research, policy, communications and network building for childserving systems, financing and programs. It recently published a report titled “California County Scorecard of Children’s Well-being.” The report provides a wealth of information for child advocates, policy experts and community leaders.

Here’s what some of Marin’s numbers say — there are 67,700 children and youth in our county, 47,200 ages 0 to 17, and 20,500 aged 18 to 25.

• Poverty: 21% live at or below twice the poverty level ($53,000 for a family of four).

• Homeless: 1,140 of these children and youth are experiencing homelessness.

• Health: 99% of our children have health insurance, but only 60% of lowincome children aged 0 to 5 saw a dentist last year.

• Education: 95% of White students graduated high school on time, but only 87% of Black students and just 72% of Latino students graduated on time. Marin’s Latino students are falling below the state’s average.

This scorecard is our scorecard. If we are committed to helping every child in Marin reach their full potential, we have work to do.

First and foremost, we need to ensure that every child has access to highquality preschool or child care so they can enter kindergarten at a comparable level to their peers.

We need to see our English language learners as assets, not problems, and develop support that meets their needs and families’ needs. Let’s celebrate literacy to prepare students to be proficient readers by third grade, setting them up for success.

We need to help all students become college or career ready by the time they graduate high school — because 45% of our kids are not.

The challenge before us is compounded for many of our local schools by a year of distance learning caused by coronavirus pandemic restrictions. Before COVID-19, only twothirds of our students felt connected to school — can you imagine how they must be feeling now?

Our children need emotional support, encouragement and positive reinforcement during these difficult times. Truthfully, we all do.

Let’s recommit to children’s health, education and well-being in Marin. Let’s use data as a baseline to hold ourselves accountable and ensure every child learns, grows, and thrives.

Envision living in a county that is committed to kids. We can make that happen in Marin.

Learn more about Marin County’s data when Children Now presents its scorecard to the Marin Communications Forum on March 25 from 10 am to noon. The Forum, sponsored by First 5 Marin Children and Families Commission, is free and open to the public. Email Michelle@ First5Marin.org to register.