Texas KIDS COUNT: The State of San Antonio & Bexar County Children Frances Deviney, PhD Texas KIDS COUNT Director Center for Public Policy Priorities University of Texas at San Antonio Downtown Campus November 17, 2006

What is the Value of KIDS COUNT? Provides the most current county-level data available Tailors data to local audience and circumstances Informs critical decision-making about children and families Serves as a resource for local advocates in Texas

Children in Bexar Co. & Texas Bexar Co. = 410,504 Texas = nearly 6.2 million Source: Texas State Data Center and the Office of the State Demographer, 2004 Population Estimates Children ages 0-17

Children in Bexar County and Texas

Healthy Children Come from Healthy Families

Family Economic Security in Bexar Co. Unemployment –CLIMBS from 4.1% to 5.0% ( ) Still better than rest of Texas (5.3%) Median Household Income –DOWN 2.6% from $39,540 to $38,521 ( ) $1,446 lower than Texas median income Sources: Texas Workforce Commission; U.S. Census Bureau, 2003 Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates

2006 Official federal poverty line –Family of 2 < $13,200/year –Family of 3 < $16,600/year –Family of 4 < $20,000/year Poverty

Living in San Antonio: Family Security Index Single- Parent One Child Single- Parent Two Children Two Parents One Child Two Parents Two Children Necessary Annual Income $31,876$35,117$38,995$42,734 % Federal Poverty Line 241%212%235%214% Source: Family Security Index, Center for Public Policy Priorities; Data Adjusted for 2006 Inflation Levels

Child Poverty is on the Rise Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates

Infant & Child Well-Being

Medicaid Enrollment –DOWN 4.6% (≈ 6,500) to 133,204 (Dec 2005-Oct 2006) CHIP Enrollment –DOWN 31% (≈ 9,600) to 21,439 (Sept 2003-Nov 2006) Services for Children in Bexar Co. Sources: Texas Health & Human Services Commission

Services: Stable Participation State Subsidized Child Care Rate –STABLE at 5.7%, or approximately 17,000 ( ) WIC Participation Rate –STABLE at 43%, or approximately 51,600 ( ) Free or Reduced-Price Lunch –STABLE at 63.1% of ADA, or approx. 177,000 ( )

Food Stamps –UP 111%, over 91,000 enrolled (Feb 2000-Feb 2004) Pre-Kindergarten –UP 47%, over 10,400 enrolled ( ) Services: Increasing Participation

Congress Reduces Funds for Programs Affecting Children and Families: Impact on TX Education-$65.1 Million Preventive Health & Human Services Block Grant -$1.3M WIC Nutrition Program-$3.1M Child Support Enforcement-$200M -$2 Billion in Collections Community Development Block Grant -$8M Source: Federal Funds Watch vol 12(1), Legislative Budget Board, Texas State Legislature

The State of the Economy is Reflected in the State of Texas and Bexar County Children

Bucking the Trend: Bexar County Teens

Juvenile Violent Crime Declines Steadily from early 1990s Source: Texas Department of Public Safety

Births to Teens in Bexar Co. Higher than Rest of Texas... But Falling Source: Texas Department of State Health Services

High School Dropout Rate Shows General Decline Source: Texas Education Agency, 4-year Longitudinal Dropout Rate

High School Attrition Rate Shows Consistent Decline Source: Intercultural Development Research Association’s Attrition Rate

Five Fundamental Resources for Kids Source: The Alliance for Youth, America’s Promise Caring adults Safe places & constructive use of time A healthy start An effective education Opportunities to make a difference

Sustained & Balanced Investment is the Key

Accessing the Texas KIDS COUNT Data