Children's Agenda - Indicators 1 thru 4
Indicator 1: Routine Access To Health Care
The Issue: While we have nearly universal health insurance enrollment for children in Santa Clara County (97.8%), many children and families are not accessing medical systems for routine medical care. This is can be seen in the immunization rates for Latino children (only 63% of Latino children had immunizations on time and early prenatal care (only 68.1% Pacific Islander women received early prenatal care.) Additionally, nearly 13% of all children ages 2-17 report they have never been to see a dentist. (Source: www.kidsdata.org/santaclarareport and Childrens Report 2005.pdf) We Want To: Understand and address the issues that are impeding the routine use of health care by many families, largely low-income and/or Latino. Our Goal: Increase the percentage of children who receive immunizations on time and routine physical exams in a given 12 month period and narrow the ethnic disparity in women receiving early prenatal care children. How to Get Involved: Kids in Common will take the lead on research activities that will help us better understand the story behind the data. Please contact us. Issue Brief coming soon. :: Indicator 2: Healthy Lifestyle
The Issue: Only half of all fifth, seventh and ninth graders could meet 5 or more of 6 statewide fitness standards. Additionally 24.7% of fifth, seventh and ninth graders were overweight or at risk of being overweight based on calculations of their body mass index. Less than 50% of our youth report exercising every day and many students report having poor nutrition habits. (Source: www.kidsdata.org/santaclarareport and Childrens Report 2005.pdf We Want to: Create school environments and promote a community-wide culture that support physical activity, healthy lifestyle and healthy food choices. Our Goal: Increase the percentage of 5th,7th, and 9th grade students achieving at least 5 of 6 fitness standards and narrow the ethnic disparity in these percentages How to Get Involved: Join Healthy Silicon Valley by going to www.healthysiliconvalley.org Issue Brief coming soon. :: Indicator 3: Early Social Emotional Health
The Issue: More than 1 in 4 children have significant developmental needs in either self-regulation, language development or both when they enter kindergarten. Self regulation involves controlling impulses, focusing attention, regulating emotions, adhering to social norms, displaying appropriate compliance and learning from mistakes. Children learn self-regulation best when responsive, caring adults model effective behavior. Learning language relies on rich and varied verbal interactions with parents, caregivers and teachers. We know that the quantity of language exposure as well as the richness of the content are important. Parents dealing with life stressors, depression and other mental health issues may not be able to provide language-rich environments and model responsive, caring behavior. (Source: How to Support School Readiness and Success of Children, Families and Schools found at: http://www.appliedsurveyresearch.org/www/products/Study%20Circle%20White%20Paper%20FINAL.pdf) Our Goal: Increase the number of children entering kindergarten who are socially and emotionally ready to learn and address the disparity that exists between classrooms by increasing the readiness of children in classrooms that are historically low-scoring. How to Get Involved: Contact the Lori Burns at the Partnership for School Readiness lori.burns@uwsv.org. Issue Brief #4: June 2008 -Helping Santa Clara County Children to Thrive by Supporting Early Childhood Social-Emotional Development Infant/Child Mental Health Collaborative of Santa Clara County Policy Paper July 2005 :: Indicator 4: Developmental Assets
The Issue: Developmental assets are the positive relationships, opportunities, values and skills that young people need to grow up caring and responsible. Yet only 38% of 4th – 6th graders and 8% of middle and high schoolers have at least 31 of the 41 identified assets that put them in the “thriving zone.” (Source: www.projectcornerstone.org) We Want to: Ensure that parents, businesses, community organizations, schools and government understand and embrace the fact that interacting with young people is important and that every interaction makes a difference. Our Goal: Increase the number of children in all socio-economic groups that are in the Developmental Asset Thriving Zone. How to Get Involved: Visit Project Cornerstone at www.projectcornerstone.org or call (408) 351-6482. Issue Brief #2: March 2008 - Helping Santa Clara County Children to Thrive by Building Developmental Assets |
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