The California County Scorecard of Children’s Well-Being brings together both administrative and survey data in an effort to provide a robust snapshot of children’s well-being. Administrative data is based on county reports to the state. With all survey data, information from these sources are estimates based on samples of the population and should be interpreted as the best available representation of the county communities.

Children Now groups race/ethnicity into five categories: Latino, White, African American, Asian and Other. The Asian category includes Asian, Filipino, Native Hawaiian and/ or Pacific Islander. The Other category includes Native American or American Indian, Alaskan Native, two or more races, and/or some other race. If a particular group was not present in the population, it was not included in the category.

Asterisks*An asterisk indicates that data should be interpreted with caution. Asterisks were used to note low number of events (fewer than 10) or unstable data with large confidence intervals. Data or estimates with low numbers and large confidence intervals indicate that a data point may not be a true representation of the larger population.

NA (Not Available)Data that are not available are noted as NA. The most frequent reasons for using the NA annotation include the unavailability of longitudinal data, data suppression from the original data source due to a low number event, or statistically unstable estimates.

County Star Ratings for Health, Education, and Child Welfare and Economic Well-BeingCounty Star Ratings reflect a relative measurement of a county’s ability to meet the needs of children. The star rating is based upon a standardized score (known as a z-score) created for indicators within health, education, and child welfare and economic well-being. All measures were given equal weight in calculating the total standard score. These scores are on a scale of one to five with lower values representing negative outcomes for children, and higher values representing more positive outcomes. Counties were not given a star rating if they were missing data for one or more indicators in child welfare and economic well-being, and if they were missing more than two in education and health.

Child population by race/ethnicityIncludes the number of children ages 0–17 living in each county. Estimates are based on Children Now analysis of population estimates from the California Department of Finance, Demographic Research Unit, Race/Ethnic Population with Age and Sex Detail, 2016 (July 2016). Race/Ethnicity categories are self-reported by the respondent or her/his parent.

Families that can afford basic living expenses Includes the percentage of families with children whose income is adequate to cover the basic cost of housing, food, child care, health care, transportation and other expenses (i.e. the Family Economic Self-Sufficiency Standard). Estimates prepared by Dr. Diana Pearce, Center for Women's Welfare, School of Social Work, University of Washington, 2014, as cited on Kidsdata.org (accessed August 2016).

Average (median) family incomeProvides the income midpoint (known as the median) for households with children residing in the home. Estimates based on U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2010–2014, five-year estimates.

Children living in povertyIncludes the percentage of children living in poverty based on the percentage of children living at or below 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The 2016 the federal poverty level for a four-person household is $24,250. Estimates based on U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2010–2014, five-year estimates (July 2016).

1. Young children, ages 0-5, who are read to everydayIncludes the percentage of children, ages 0–5, who have books read to them by their parents every day of the week. County estimates are based on California Health Interview Survey. To create multi-year estimates, Children Now conducted analysis of race/ethnicity data using “askCHIS”, and combined 2011–2014 data (July 2016). CHIS clusters responses into three multi-county groups for select low-population counties. The multi-county groups are as follows: (1) Del Norte, Siskiyou, Lassen, Trinity, Modoc, Plumas and Sierra; (2) Tehama, Glenn and Colusa; (3) Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador, Inyo, Mariposa, Mono and Alpine.

2. 3 and 4 year olds who attend preschoolIncludes the percentage of children, ages 3– 4, who attend nursery school or preschool, as reported by parents. Analysis provided by Population Reference Bureau and based upon five year estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 2006–10 and 2010–14. For this analysis, ACS data are clustered into multi-county groups for select low-population counties. The multi-county groups are as follows: (1) Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Inyo, Mariposa, Mono and Tuolumne; (2) Colusa, Glenn, Tehama and Trinity; (3) Del Norte, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Sierra and Siskiyou; (4) Lake and Mendocino; (5) Monterey and San Benito; (6) Sutter and Yuba.

3. 3rd graders who read at grade levelIncludes the percentage of third grade students who met or exceeded state standards on the English Language Arts/Literacy portion of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) as a percentage of all students with scores. Children Now analysis of CAASPP results, 2016, from California Department of Education, DataQuest (September 2016). Because the CAASPP was first administered in the 2013–14 school year, there is not yet sufficient data to establish a reliable trend.

4. 8th graders who meet or exceed state standards in mathIncludes the percentage of eighth grade students who met or exceeded state standards on the Mathematics portion of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) as a percentage of all students with scores. Children Now analysis of CAASPP results, 2016, from California Department of Education, DataQuest (September 2016). Because the CAASPP was first administered in the 2013–14 school year, there is not yet sufficient data to establish a reliable trend.

5. Students who are low income and have access to a state-funded afterschool programIncludes the percentage of students who are eligible for Free and Reduced Price Meals, and have access to a state-funded afterschool program. Children Now created estimates through analysis of Free or Reduced Price Meals eligibility, California Department of Education (CDE), DataQuest and daily average attendance for state-funded afterschool slots provided by the After School Division, California Department of Education, 2013–14 and 2015–16. Estimates are updated to include attendance which was reported to the CDE by August 2016.

6. High school science classes that are taught by a highly qualified teacherIncludes the percentage of secondary science courses taught by a “Highly Qualified Teacher” (HQT), as federally defined. Children Now analysis of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Core and Compliant Classes by Subject Area, 2011–12 and 2015–16, from California Department of Education DataQuest (July 2016).

7. Students who feel connected to their schoolIncludes the percentage of students in ninth and eleventh grades who feel highly connected to their school. WestEd analysis of the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS), 2011–13 and 2013–15, including estimates by race and ethnicity, which includes the following questions asked to create a composite indicator: “How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements about your school: I feel close to people at this school; I am happy to be at this school; I feel like I am part of this school; the teachers at this school treat students fairly; I feel safe in my school” (August 2016). Counties with low participation will not have data because WestEd was unable to obtain reliable estimates.

8. Suspensions that are limited to serious offenses, not willful defianceIncludes the percentage of suspensions that are not a violation of California Education Code Section 48900(k), also called “willful defiance,” as a percentage of all suspensions. Children Now analysis of data from California Department of Education, DataQuest, data on total suspension and total suspensions coded as willful defiance, 2012–13 and 2014–15 (July 2016).

9. Students who are ready or conditionally ready for college-level math coursesIncludes the percentage of eleventh grade students who met or exceeded state standards on the Mathematics portion of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) as a percentage of all students with scores. Children Now analysis of CAASPP results, 2016, from California Department of Education, DataQuest (September 2016). Because the CAASPP was first administered in the 2013–14 school year, there is not yet sufficient data to establish a reliable trend.

10. 12th graders who graduate on timeIncludes percentage of students who graduate from high school within four years. Children Now analysis of Cohort Outcome Summary data, county level analysis of graduation data for the classes 2012–13 and 2014–15, from California Department of Education, DataQuest (July 2016).

NA (Not Available)Data that are not available are noted as NA. The most frequent reasons for NAs include the unavailability of longitudinal data, fewer than 10 cases (low number events), and statistically unstable estimates.

Asterisks*An asterisk indicates that data should be interpreted with caution. Asterisks were used to note low number of events (fewer than 10) or unstable data with large confidence intervals. Data or estimates with low numbers and large confidence intervals indicate that a data point may not be a true representation of the larger population.

1. Women who receive early prenatal careIncludes the percentage of women whose first prenatal care visit takes place within the first trimester of pregnancy. Location is based on the mother’s place of residence as reported on the child’s birth certificate, race/ethnicity is based on the mother’s race/ethnicity. Children Now public information request to the California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, Automated Vital Statistics System, 2012 and 2014 (August 2016).

2. Newborns who are exclusively breastfed while in the hospitalIncludes the percentage of newborns whose mothers initiate exclusive in-hospital breastfeeding. Location is based on hospital where birth occurred. Children Now analysis, including race/ethnicity, of data from California Department of Public Health, Newborn Screening Program, In-Hospital Breastfeeding Initiation Data, 2012 and 2014 (August 2016).

3. Children who have health insurance for the entire yearIncludes the percentage of children, ages 0–17, who have health insurance for the entire year, as a percentage of all children. County-level estimates are based on California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). To create multi-year estimates, Children Now conducted analysis of race/ethnicity data using “askCHIS”, and combined 2011–2014 data (July 2016). CHIS clusters responses into three multi-county groups for select low-population counties. The multi-county groups are as follows: (1) Del Norte, Siskiyou, Lassen, Trinity, Modoc, Plumas and Sierra; (2) Tehama, Glenn and Colusa; (3) Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador, Inyo, Mariposa, Mono and Alpine.

4. Children who have a usual source of health careIncludes the percentage of children, ages 0–17, who have a doctor or place to go when they need non-emergency health care that is not an emergency department, as self-reported by survey respondents. County-level estimates are based on California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). To create multi-year estimates, Children Now conducted analysis of race/ethnicity data using “askCHIS”, and combined 2011–2014 data (July 2016). CHIS clusters responses into three multi-county groups for select low-population counties. The multi-county groups are as follows: (1) Del Norte, Siskiyou, Lassen, Trinity, Modoc, Plumas and Sierra; (2) Tehama, Glenn and Colusa; (3) Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador, Inyo, Mariposa, Mono and Alpine.

5. Young children, ages 0-3, who are low income and have visited a dentist in the last yearIncludes the percentage of young children, ages 0–3, who had a dentist visit in the last year within the calendar years 2013 and 2015, as a percentage of all young children who were enrolled in Denti-Cal for at least 11 out of 12 months of the year. Children Now public information request to the California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal Dental Services Division (August 2016).

6. Asthmatic children who have been given a written asthma management planIncludes the percentage of asthmatic children, ages 0–17, who have both discussed an asthma management plan with a physician and received a written copy of the plan. California Breathing multi-year estimate analysis of California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), 2011- 12, 2013, and 2014. (August 2016). CHIS clusters responses into three multi-county groups for select low-population counties. The multi-county groups are as follows: (1) Del Norte, Siskiyou, Lassen, Trinity, Modoc, Plumas and Sierra; (2) Tehama, Glenn and Colusa; (3) Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador, Inyo, Mariposa, Mono and Alpine.

7. Children who are a healthy weightIncludes the percentage of students in seventh grade who scored in the “Healthy Fitness Zone” for Body Composition. Children Now analysis of county-level data and county-level race/ethnicity for 2012–13 and 2014–15. Data obtained from California Department of Education (CDE), California Fitness Test, DataQuest (July 2016).

8. Students who are low income and eat free or reduced priced breakfast during the school yearIncludes the percentage of students who participate in the School Breakfast Program during the school year, as a percentage of those who are eligible for Free and Reduced Price Meals. Students whose family income is less than or equal to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible for Free and Reduced Price Meals. Analysis provided by California Food Policy Advocates and based upon data from California Department of Education, 2012–13 and 2014–15 (July 2016).

9. Students who are low income and eat free or reduced price meals during the summerIncludes the percentage of students who participate in federal summer meal programs, as a percentage of those who participate in the National School Lunch Program during the school year. Students whose family income is less than or equal to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible for Free and Reduced Price Meals. Analysis provided by California Food Policy Advocates and based upon data from California Department of Education, 2014–15 (July 2016).

10. Schools that have a health centerIncludes the percentage of schools estimated to have a school-based health center, as a percentage of all public schools within a county. Children Now analysis of “Number of schools per county,” 2012–13 and 2014–15, from California Department of Education, DataQuest (July 2016) and “School-based health centers by county,” California School Health Centers Association, 2013 and 2015, as cited on kidsdata.org (July 2016).

11. Adolescents who are not at risk for depressionIncludes the percentage of students in seventh, ninth and eleventh grades who do not report feeling sad or depressed. WestEd analysis of California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) 2011–13 and 2013–15, including analysis by race/ethnicity (August 2016). Counties with low participation will not have data because WestEd was unable to obtain reliable estimates.

NA (Not Available)Data that are not available are noted as NA. The most frequent reasons for NAs include the unavailability of longitudinal data, fewer than 10 cases (low number events), and statistically unstable estimates.

Asterisks*An asterisk indicates that data should be interpreted with caution. Asterisks were used to note low number of events (fewer than 10) or unstable data with large confidence intervals. Data or estimates with low numbers and large confidence intervals indicate that a data point may not be a true representation of the larger population.

1. Young children, ages 0-3, who do not experience recurring abuse or neglectIncludes the percentage of children, ages 0–3, who are victims of a substantiated maltreatment allegation and who do not have a second substantiated case of maltreatment within six months of the first allegation. Children Now analysis of Child Welfare Dynamic Report System data, for quarters April- September 2013 and April–September 2015, “No Recurrence of Maltreatment” (S1.1). California Department of Social Services and UC Berkeley Center for Social Services Research, Child Welfare Data Analysis Bureau (July 2016).

2. Children in the child welfare system who have stability in their placementIncludes the percentage of children, ages 0–17, who are in the child welfare system for a minimum of eight days and no more than 12 months and who have had two or fewer out-of-home placements during that time. Children Now analysis of Child Welfare Dynamic Report System data, for quarters April 2013 to March 2014 and April 2015 to March 2016, “Placement Stability (8 days to 12 months in care)” (C4.1), California Department of Social Services and Center for Social Services Research at University of California, Berkeley, Child Welfare Data Analysis Bureau (July 2016).

3. Adolescents in the child welfare system who are placed in family-like settingsIncludes the percentage of adolescents in the child welfare system, ages 12–17, who are placed in a family-like setting at any given point in time, as a percentage of all placements. Family-like settings include placement with kin, in a foster home, Foster Family Agency (FFA) or FFA certified home, in a court-specified home, with a guardian, in a trial home visit or in a pre-adoption placement. Group care, transitional housing and shelters are not considered family-like settings. Adolescents residing in the following placement types were excluded from the analysis because it could not be determined if the adolescent was living in a family-like setting: Supervised Independent Living Placements (SLIP), other, runaway, missing, and non-foster care placements. Children Now analysis of Child Welfare Dynamic Report System, April 2014 and April 2016, “Point in Time/Children in Foster Care,” California Department of Social Services and Center for Social Services Research at University of California, Berkeley, Child Welfare Data Analysis Bureau (July 2016).

4. Children in the child welfare system who have had a medical exam in the last yearIncludes the percentage of children in foster care, ages 0–17, who have been in foster care for at least 31 days and receive a medical exam before his or her next birthday. Children Now analysis of Child Welfare Dynamic Report System data, for quarters January to March 2013 and January to March 2016, “Timely Medical Exam” (5B, Part 1), California Department of Social Services and Center for Social Services Research at University of California, Berkeley, Child Welfare Data Analysis Bureau (July 2016).

5. Children in the child welfare system who exit to permanency within three yearsIncludes a six-month cohort measure of the percentage of children, ages 0–17, who have been in care for at least eight days, are entering foster care for the first time and are no longer in the foster care system within 36 months of their first entry. Children Now analysis of Child Welfare Dynamic Report System, for quarters October 2010 to March 2011 and October 2012 to March 2013, “First Entries at 3 Years: Still in Care” (C1.3), California Department of Social Services and Center for Social Services Research at University of California, Berkeley, Child Welfare Data Analysis Bureau (July 2016).

6. Children who are not living in communities of concentrated povertyIncludes the percentage of children, ages 0–17, who are not living in census tracts where 30% or more of the residents are living below the federal poverty level. In 2016 the federal poverty level is defined as $24,250 for a family of four. Analysis provided by Population Reference Bureau and based upon five year estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 2006–10 and 2010–14.

7. Youth who attend school or are employedIncludes the percentage of adolescents, ages 16–19, who are either enrolled in school or working as a percentage of all youth ages 16–19. Analysis provided by Population Reference Bureau and based upon five year estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 2006–10 and 2010–14. For this analysis, ACS data are clustered into multi-county groups for select low-population counties. The multi-county groups are as follows: (1) Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Inyo, Mariposa, Mono and Tuolumne; (2) Colusa, Glenn, Tehama and Trinity; (3) Del Norte, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Sierra and Siskiyou; (4) Lake and Mendocino; (5) Monterey and San Benito; (6) Sutter and Yuba.

NA (Not Available)Data that are not available are noted as NA. The most frequent reasons for NAs include the unavailability of longitudinal data, fewer than 10 cases (low number events), and statistically unstable estimates.

Asterisks*An asterisk indicates that data should be interpreted with caution. Asterisks were used to note low number of events (fewer than 10) or unstable data with large confidence intervals. Data or estimates with low numbers and large confidence intervals indicate that a data point may not be a true representation of the larger population.