Publications : Issue Briefs

The Issue Briefs currently available (click the links below to download):

Issue Brief #1 - Children's Agenda Overview - February 2008

Volume 1 – Number 1: February 2008 -The goal of the Santa Clara County Children’s Agenda is to improve the lives of children by focusing on improving ten indicators of child well-being. The Children’s Agenda is a focused, integrated initiative that engages all segments of our community and provides a common vision for our community’s children. It forces us, as a community, to move from data to action and to be accountable for how our children are faring.

Issue Brief #2 - Developmental Assets - March 2008

Volume 1 - Number 2: March 2008 - Developmental Assets are the experiences, values, relationships and opportunities that all children and youth need to thrive. They are the building blocks of healthy development. As young people experience more assets, they make more positive healthy choices. To achieve the first goal of the Children's Agenda - Children are physically, socially and emotionally healthy - we need to work to increase the number of youth who have 31 or more of the 41 developmental assets and are in the "thriving zone".

Issue Brief #3 - Third Grade Reading Scores - April 2008

Volume 1 – Number 3: April 2008 - This issue brief looks at Third Grade Reading scores and how Santa Clara County children are faring. Third grade reading scores are impacted by a variety of factors starting at birth, through the early years, kindergarten entry and on through third grade and are linked to the other goals and indicators of the Santa Clara County Children's Agenda. The story the data tells us is mixed. When looking at all students, Santa Clara County fares better than the state with 48% of our children scoring "Proficient" or "Advanced" in the English Language Arts STAR test. However, when you look at how different groups of children fare, there is reason to be concerned. Economically disadvantaged, Latino, African American and Native American children fare poorly.

Issue Brief #4 - Early Childhood Social-Emotional Development - June 2008

Volume 1 - Number 4: June 2008 - This issue brief looks at early childhood social-emotional development and its importance for children's later success in school and adult life. The issue brief defines early social-emotional development, examines the challeges that may hamper healthy social-emotional development including maternal depression, and reports local data on early childhood social-emotional development. The brief concludes with recommendations to establish systems to identify children and parents struggling with issues that may affect children's early social-emotional development.

Issue Brief #5 - The Governor's Budget - Is is Good For Santa Clara County Children?

Overview: In order to address a $15.2 billion budget deficit, the Governor has proposed a budget focused on cuts to many safety net services that help children and families including cuts to Medi-Cal, child welfare services, foster care, CalWORKS, child care and education. In June, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved the Fiscal Year 2008-09 budget that addressed a $172.4 million county budget deficit. In October, the Board of Supervisors will reopen budget discussions in order to address a potential shortfall of $74.7 million dollars created by the State spending cuts. Kids in Common is encouraging our legislators to reject a “cuts only budget” and find a middle ground that is good for Santa Clara County’s children and families.