Community Assessment
Programs include: Carroll County Head Start, Carroll County Early Head Start And Kentucky Preschool
February, 2014
Completed by Training and Technical Assistance at Western Kentucky University
Revised Feb., 2015 by Carroll County Child Development Management Staff (Baseline)
Revised Feb., 2016 by Carroll County Child Development Management Staff (Year 1)
Table of Contents
Introduction and Methodology……………..…………….……………………………………………..…3
Background and History…………………..……………………………………………….………………3
Population Characteristics …………………………………………………………………….…………..5
Number of Eligible Children, Geographic Location and Racial Composition…………………….………7
Other Child Care Providers……………………………………………………………….…….………….7
Disabilities…………………………………………………………………………….…………………...8
Needs of Families and Community…………………………………………………..……………………9
Location Options and Hours………………………………………………………………………………19
Evidence of Community-wide Strategic Planning………………………………………………………..19
Summary Major of Significant Issues…………………………………………………………………….19
Description of Proposed Changes………………………………………………………………………...20
Needs Strategies and Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….20
Tables and Figures
Item Page Item Page Map of Kentucky with Carroll County Colleges and Tech Schools Identified 3 Nearby 10 Map of Carroll County 4 Attendance Issues 11 Population and Race 5 Health Indicators 11 Age Distribution 5 Nutrition/Obesity 14 Racial Breakdown 7 Abuse 14 Disability Breakdown 8 Employment 15 Education Attainment for County 9 Transportation 16 Education Attainment for Program 9 Housing 18
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 2
Introduction
Head Start and Early Head Start services in Carroll County, Kentucky are provided by Carroll County Child Development programs. Through Head Start funding the programs provide services to 105 three- and four-year old children in center based services and Early Head Start to 80 children in center and home based services. Through the funds provided by the State of Kentucky in its Kentucky Preschool, preschool mandates that the program also serve children ages three and four with diagnosed disabilities and/or meet income eligibility requirements of 150% below poverty. The number of these children varies annually. As the grantee Carroll County Schools is the local education authority for Carroll County and is located in Carrollton, Kentucky.
Methodology
The collection and analysis of information from multiple sources serves a critical function in the design of the programs and delivery systems for Carroll County Child Development Center. The community assessment process serves to identify population characteristics and defines the targeted county’s population to be served. It identifies relevant demographic features of the area and identifies existing programs that also serve the target population.
The community assessment process also provides relevant information about the needs and strengths of individuals, programs and areas defined both by agencies that serve the population and by the population to be served.
This community assessment, developed with input from program staff, official data sources and program information, serves to identify population characteristics and defines the target populations to be served. It identifies relevant demographic features of the area and provides analysis about the services need for low-income families in the areas served by Carroll County Child Development Center
The information gathered through these sources will serve as a basis for the future design of the program and the services to children and their families. Background and History
Carroll County is in north-central Kentucky, on the Ohio River at the mouth of the Kentucky River. According to The Kentucky Encyclopedia, “Carroll County is watered and drained by the
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 3
Kentucky River, as well as by the Little Kentucky River, Eagle Creek, and McCool’s Creek. It is located in the Outer Bluegrass region of the state. The elevation in the county ranges from 420 feet to 940 feet above sea level. In 2000 the county population was 10,155 in a land area of 130.09 square miles, an average of 78.1 people per square mile. The county seat is Carrollton. Along the river bottoms the land is gently rolling, with the remainder of the county hilly.” Carrollton is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Kentucky rivers, thirty-nine miles northeast of Louisville. Carroll County comprises a total of 130 square miles, making it Kentucky’s third smallest county.
According to The Kentucky Encyclopedia (1992, The University Press of Kentucky; John E. Kleber, Editor-in-Chief), Carroll County was “the eighty-seventh county established [in Kentucky.] It was formed in 1838 from parts of the adjoining counties of Gallatin, Trimble, and Henry. The county seat is Carrollton; both were named for Charles Carroll of Maryland, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of the Independence. Carroll County is Kentucky’s third smallest, covering 130 square miles.”
“Prior to settlement, Indians hunted in the area. A military blockhouse built in 1790 by Gen. Charles Scott and his Kentucky Volunteers provided protection for early settlers from Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The federal government’s treaty with the Shawnee in 1794 lessened the danger of attack, and farmers began producing crops for marketing in Louisville and Cincinnati via riverboats on the Ohio.”
In a separate entry, The Kentucky Encyclopedia gives a brief history of Carrollton:
“Carrollton, the seat of Carroll County, is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Kentucky rivers, thirty- nine miles northeast of Louisville. This… city, laid out by Benjamin Craig and James Hawkins, was named Port Williams by an act of the Kentucky legislature in 1794. When Gallatin County was formed in 1798, Port William served as the seat. In 1838, when part of Gallatin County was Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 4
incorporated in Carroll County, Port William became Carrollton and the seat of the new county. Carrollton’s riverfront location promoted growth until 1868, when the Louisville and Nashville Railroad was built ten miles from the city limits and river traffic waned. The Carroll County courthouse, built in 1841, was replaced by the present courthouse in 1884. It is listed on the National register of Historic Places, along with twenty-five other Victorian buildings in the downtown area.” Population Characteristics
Population (2000 Census) 10,155
Population (2010 Census) 10,811
County Rate of Growth 6.5%
Population Male 5,503 (50.9%)
Population Female 5,308 (49.1%)
Population Single Race 10,563
Population White 9956
Population African American 163
Hispanic of any race 790
Source: U.S. Census Figures
The table above indicates that the population of the county is nearly evenly split in terms of sex and is predominately white. It is expected that the Carroll County Child Development Center’s program will have similar breakdowns.
The 2010 Census now reports over seven percent of the population reporting Latino heritage, but it is still believed that the census figures fail to paint an accurate picture of the Hispanic population of the county. The grantee, Carroll County Schools has a special program to assist families who speak Spanish as a primary language.
Population under five 800
Population 5-20 1918
Population 20-24 615
Population 25-34 1407
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 5
Population 35-49 2297
Population 50-64 2104
Population 65+ 1395
Median Age 35.9
Source: 2010 U.S. Census Figures
The small population is fairly evenly distributed in terms of age. The ‘under the age of five’ category makes up less than seven percent of the total population. The median age for this county is the same as the median age for the state. What this means for the program is that while there will be demand for services there is not an abnormal number of people in any age range. However when the census figures on grandparents raising grandchildren is reviewed, it is observed that there 289 grandparents raising children of all ages in poverty. Overall this is about 3% of all grandparents in the county. Some of the information provided by the 2010 Census explains that most grandparents raising children are female and that overall 64% of all grandparents are married and 51% are in labor force. What this means for the program is that there will be some who may be raising children who are at least age eligible and possibly income eligible and this may have to be taken into account by family services when designing program activities and recruitment materials and techniques.
Estimating Number of Eligible Children Source: 2010 U.S. Census, Ky. Early Childhood Profile
2015 2012 2009
Number of children 0-4 0 – 2: 573 871 771 3 – 4: 339 Poverty Rate 68.8% 33.4% 25.3%
Number of children 0-5 100% - 591 No data 152 in poverty 150% - 705
Estimation of number of No data 31 children 0-5 in 100% 0 – 2: 394 poverty by age group 3 – 4: 233
It is readily observable that children living in poverty in Carroll County has risen at an alarming rate over the past few years. According to the Kids Count Data Book for 2013 and 2015, the rate for children living in 100% poverty grew from 40.6% to 57.7%. The full utilization plan in place means that the program will consistently assign the neediest to Head Start and Early Head Start and the Kentucky Preschool program with it higher income guidelines will be utilized to serve a portion of these 4-year old children. However, additional data also indicates many eligible children receive no formal preschool education. Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 6
Geographic Location
The children served by this program come from the entire county as the grantee serves the entire county. The grantee provides transportation for all preschool children including those served by Carroll County Child Development program. What this means for the program is that the entire county is to be covered by recruiting efforts and service delivery. The location for Early Home Base services also covers the entire county in the fact that the option enrollment is determined by family characteristics and not geographic location. Racial and Ethnic Composition
When comparing the characteristics of the families served with the overall makeup of the community the program matches the community in that most families served are predominately white. The second largest group is multi-racial. African-Americans make up less than two percent of the families served. In terms of ethnic composition the majority of the families and native born but this is not to say that Hispanic numbers are not increasing. There has been a large increase (in terms of percentage) in numbers of Hispanic children being served. This average number over the past three years is running close to 25% which points out the need for the district’s program designed to specifically work with Hispanic families.
2014-15 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 HS EHS HS EHS HS EHS White 70% 63% 66% 65% 74% 62% 76% 80%
African 1% 0% 1% 0% 1% 0% 1% 1% American
Multi-racial 12% 14% 6% 12% 7% 9% 10% 19%
Hispanic (any 17% 23% 27% 22% 18% 29% 13% 16% origin)
Source: Program PIR Data review, includes EHS
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 7
Other Child Development Programs
Other than the Kentucky Preschool program operated by the grantee in conjunction with the Carroll County Child Development program there is only one licensed childcare in the county. It serves 6 children, ages birth through school age and is open hours beyond the normal school day.(Source: Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services). In 2013, two addition day care centers opened within the service area. However, cost of these private center services pose a barrier for many families. The going childcare rate per week is approximately $90 which works out to $4680 per year per child which is well out of reach of low income families. This data indicates that a need for additional center-based slots exists. Additionally, the Carroll County Child Development Center ERSEA manager reports that of the 40 home-based enrolled families, approximately 25 -30 percent of them request to be placed on a ‘center-based waiting list’ and seek center-based services for their children. Families report the need for adequate, affordable child care exists as members return to work or take course work at the local community college. Disabilities
According to the U.S. Census, the percentage of the population age 5-20 with a disability in Carroll County is 7.2% which is on par with the state average of 7% (2010 Census). Using the programs own data to indicate the past breakdown of disabilities and likelihood of future occurrences, it is observed that the program is serving the disabled without difficulty and that the primary occurrences are speech/language and/or developmental delay
Total enrollment: 2014-15 2013-14 2012-2013 2011-2012 2011-10*
Diagnosed prior to entry 14 13 8 10 21 (including First Steps referrals) Diagnosed while in 13 14 32 20 20 program Total served 27 27 40 36 41 Disability: Speech and HS – 11 HS – 9 HS – 21 23 22 Language EHS - 3 EHS - 4 EHS - 4 Disability: HS -5 HS – 8 HS – 7 12 11 Developmental Delay EHS - 7 EHS - 4 EHS - 4 Other – Head Start Only Autism - 1 VI – 1 Visual – 1 1 n/a Autism - 1 Hearing – 1 Autism-2 Needs as defined by data and families:
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 8
Education
KY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Carroll County Carroll County Percentages Percentages Population 25 years and 6,690 100.0 100.0 over Less than 9th grade 1,005 15.0 11.7
9th to 12th grade, no diploma 1,128 16.9 14.2 High school graduate (includes 2,513 37.6 33.6 equivalency) 18.5 Some college, no degree 1,222 18.3
Associate degree 269 4.0 4.9 Bachelor's degree 394 5.9 10.3 Graduate or professional degree 159 2.4 6.9 Source: U.S. Census
As indicated by the U.S. Census table, the county has lower educational attainment than the state average. This indicates that the Carroll County Child Development Program goal of getting children ready for school has an important role since few in this community have achieved the state average. When the education level of the families is reviewed it appears that the education levels of the families is increasing. What this means for the program is that families value education and want their children to have higher educational achievement. The program may use this when introducing family literacy services as well as for linkages to continuing education programs.
2014-15 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2011-10 HS EHS HS EHS HS EHS Less than High 16% 28% 17% 25% 17% 28% 12 32 school
High school 54% 47% 58% 44% 52% 50% 96 74 graduate
Some college 28% 25% 16% 28% 27% 20% 13 35
Bachelor’s 2% 0% 9% 3% 4% 2% 10 0 degree
Source: Program PIR Data, note enrollment figures greater than funded levels due to replacement
Educational opportunities are limited in Carroll County. As indicated in the tables above, the counties being served are below the state average in terms of educational attainment. What this Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 9
means for the program is that the staff will have to overcome possible objections to education by the parents of children and will have to work to assist families in furthering their education which will be going against the social norm of the area. There are educational opportunities in the area that the program could recommend to parents and to staff themselves. These include:
Colleges & Universities Within 40 Miles of Carrollton Miles Institution Location Jefferson Community & Technical College, Carrollton - Carrollton Campus 17 Hanover College Hanover, IN Jefferson Community & Technical College, Shelby 32 Shelbyville Co. Campus 35 Beckfield College Florence Gateway Community & Technical College, Boone 35 Florence Campus 35 Interactive College of Technology, Florence Campus Florence 35 National College -Florence Branch Florence 35 Southwestern College, Northern Kentucky Campus Florence 37 Kentucky State University Frankfort Gateway Community & Technical College, 40 Edgewood Edgewood Campus 40 Thomas More College Crestview Hills
Kentucky Technical Schools Within 40 Miles of Carrollton
Miles Institution Location - Carroll County ATC Carrollton 25 Oldham County CTC Buckner 32 Shelby County ATC Shelbyville Franklin County Career and Technical 37 Frankfort Center 37 Boone County ATC Hebron
The local community college serves as the only local resource for career or higher education in the immediate area. This is an issue for the program in terms of hiring Para-professional staff. There are few people in the area with the CDA’s which means the program has to work with the technical college to develop these staff.
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 10
Health
There is one small hospital in the county. It has 25 beds and 3 physicians. For most hospital services the resident of the county commute to Louisville or Covington/Cincinnati. The same is true for official sources of assistance for shelter and aid. Primary Care Providers include physicians in the medical specialties of family practice, general practice, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, and pediatrics. Despite its rural location, the program has a history of assisting families so that all children have a medical home.
Another issue confronting the county is the rate of teen births. According to 2015 Kentucky Kids Count Data book the rate of teen births is 63 per 1000, which when compared to the state average of 40 per 1000 shows that despite its few numbers overall, the number of teen births is cause for concern in this community. 26% of all births in Carroll County was to women who were not High School graduates. This compares less than favorably to the state average of 16.8. The county was about on average with pre-term babies 11% versus state average; low birth- weight babies, 8% for the county versus 9% for the state, and the county is better than average when it comes to prenatal care with 70% receiving in Carroll County versus 66% for the state overall. Another issue is the rate of repeat births to teens. For the county this rate is 23% while for the state as a whole it is 19%. Also of concern is the number of smoking mothers. For Carroll County this has been an ongoing concern with the latest figures showing 31.7% reported smoking during pregnancy where for the state this rate was only 22.5%. What these concerns serve to illustrate is that there is a very real need for services aimed at infants and toddlers is likely to continue.
HEALTH CONDITION INDICATORS
Carroll Kentucky
Uninsured Population (percent adults under age 65) 16% 18%
Forego Care Due to Cost (percent adults) 27% 18%
Medicaid Enrollment Children ages 0-19 1,433 NA
Medicaid Enrollment (percent of population) 24% 22%
Uninsured Child Population (percent children under age 19) 9% 9%
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 11
For the following two items: Counties were ranked (from 1 to 120) according to the percentage of public school students enrolled in free and reduced lunch program. This data is considered a proxy for the number of low-income and potentially KCHIP-eligible children in a county.
Free and Reduced School Lunch Program 32 NA
Medicaid and KCHIP Enrollment 77 NA
Source: www.kentuckyhealthfacts.org
The table above offers some interesting observations. Uninsured is better than average but percentages forgoing service is higher than the average for state. This indicates adults still cannot afford medical service out of pocket expenses. It is important for the program to monitor this situation to see if it applies to children. The county is high in free/reduced lunch services and low in medical program enrollment. This means the program will need to continue to work with parents about signing children up for services if they are income eligible.
Carroll County Kentucky
Infectious Disease (per 100,000 population) 1.4 8
Less than Good Health (percent adults) 34%(21.0 - 49.8) 23%(22.0 - 23.6)
Physically Unhealthy Days (per month 5 5
Mentally Unhealthy Days (per month) 5 4
Prevalence of Asthma (percent adults) 23% 13%
Prevalence of Diabetes (percent adults) 8% 8%
Health Care Providers (per 1,000 population)
Primary Care Physicians 0.7 1
Physician Specialists 0.3 1.4
Registered Nurses 4.2 11.2
Pharmacists 0.4 1.1
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 12
Dentists 0.4 0.6
Source: www.kentuckyhealthfacts.org
The table above indicates the extent of the health situation for the general population. As most of the benefits are based upon social characteristics it is clear to see that health issues confront this area of Kentucky. What this means for the program is that staff interacting with the adults need to be knowledgeable about the health resources available in the area. It also means that Carroll County Child Development needs to utilize the health resources available in the schools as much as possible. A third item is that staff will have to stress how important it is for families to keep health appointments once the appointments have been made. Given the limited health resources it is incumbent for parents to realize the importance of keeping appointments.
Carroll Tooth Loss (percent adults missing 6 27% or more teeth)Source: www.kentuckyhealthfacts.org
According to Kentucky Youth Advocates, “While Kentucky provides fluoridated water to more than 99 percent of the state, it has the third highest rate of “toothlessness” in the country among adults 65 and older.1, 2 A 2011 national study by the Pew Center on the States gave Kentucky a grade of C for its ability to provide oral health care to children, meaning Kentucky only met half of eight benchmarks aimed at addressing children’s dental health needs” (2011 Databook).
Dental services are few and far between so family service staff will need to work closely to ensure that dental appointments are kept. Despite its rural location, the program has a history of assisting families so that all children have a dental home.
Nutrition/Obesity Carroll Kentucky
Lack of Physical Activity (percent adults) 47% 31%
Limited Activities in Previous Month (percent adults) 32% 23%
Prevalence of Overweight (percent adults) 59% 64%
Prevalence of Obesity (percent adults) 19% 27%
Recommended Fruit and Vegetable Intake (percent adults) 17.6% NA
Early Childhood Obesity* 25% 15%
Source: www.kentuckyhealthfacts.org, *Kids Count 2011 Databook
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 13
The state does not report the nutrition and obesity information for children but the adult statistics show that the child development services need to emphasize proper nutrition and the benefits of physical development. Staff is mindful of the fact that food resources tend to be more charity based and the official sources of assistance for food, abuse and shelter is often found outside the immediate service area. Abuse
The table below provides some insight into the area of drug, alcohol and physical abuse for the county overall. These stand as a proxy for the conditions in the county. While drinking is not as bad and the state average, drug and physical abuse is much worse. This means the child development program staff needs to work with the low income populations on these topics.
Carroll Kentucky
Binge Drinking (percent adults) 8% 10%
Drug Arrests (per 100,000 population) 2,054 1,116
Violent Crime Offenses (per 100,000 population) 420.3 267
Source: www.kentuckyhealthfacts.org
Employment
Employment is a major issue in this area. According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, unemployment has ranged over the past 4 years from a high of 6.9% to a low of 5.4%. When compared to the rest of the state these figures appear to be in line, but when view against the local labor market a different view emerges. The local labor market unemployment rate has ranges from a high of 5.1% to a low of 4.7% across the same years. The county’s low was higher than the area’s high.
Source: Program PIR Data, note enrollment figures greater than funded levels due to replacement
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 14
Unemployment
According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, overall the most common jobs for men are:
Construction (17%) Metal and metal products (14%) Chemicals (9%) Transportation equipment (7%) Public administration (6%) Utilities (4%) Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (4%)
While the most common jobs for women are:
Health care (17%) Accommodation and food services (14%) Educational services (13%) Metal and metal products (7%) Public administration (6%) Food and beverage stores (4%) Wood products (3%)
It is doubtful that the parents of the program have a similar distribution of employment. Given the consistent number of families with unemployed members, it would be expected that job readiness skills may be welcomed by families. What this means for the program is that family Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 15
services staff may have to increase their offering to refer families for job preparation and employment education programs.
Transportation
One issue that may be impacting employment by the low income families is lack of transportation. The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development reports:
Means of transportation to work
Drove a car alone: 3,609 (81%) Carpooled: 611 (14%) Bus or trolley bus: 3 (0%) Taxi: 2 (0%) Bicycle: 7 (0%) Walked: 70 (2%) Other means: 40 (1%)
This may be compared to transportation means by income levels for the county.
Total: 4,475
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 365
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 402
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 3,708
Car, truck, or van - drove alone: 3,485
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 267
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 250
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 2,968
Car, truck, or van - carpooled: 632
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 92
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 39
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 501
Public transportation (excluding taxicab): 4
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 0
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 16
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 0
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 4
Walked: 81
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 0
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 79
Taxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, or other means: 214
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 2
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 111
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 101
Worked at home: 59
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 4
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 0
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 55
Source: 2010 U.S. Census
Even the low income population tended to drive themselves. Reliance on individual automobiles in high within the county, which means parents are relying on the program for transportation for their children. Housing and Homelessness
Households by Percentage of Gross Income Paid toward Housing Costs
Total Households 1,464
Less than 10.0 percent 163
10.0 to 14.9 percent 253
15.0 to 19.9 percent 140
20.0 to 24.9 percent 84
25.0 to 29.9 percent 124
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 17
30.0 to 34.9 percent 157
35.0 to 39.9 percent 60
40.0 to 49.9 percent 48
50.0 percent or more 326
Not computed 109
Source: 2010 Census
As indicated in the above table Carroll County has at least thirty percent of its population paying 35% or more of its household income to cover housing costs. This means that in the county nearly a third of the population is burdened when it comes to housing costs. The conventional wisdom is that if the household pays a third or more of its income in housing payments it is considered to be burdened. In terms of housing characteristics, many of the low-income population families report housing issues and these tend to fall into weatherization, repair and housing affordability issues. What this means for the program is that staff need to be able to assist families in obtaining housing resources which means being knowledgeable about resources the agency provides as well as knowledge about home budgeting. It is expected that staff make housing referrals and workshops on repairs and budgeting topics.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness that the Estimated Rate of Homeless is approximately 0.12% for Kentucky. Using this rate and the population figures from U.S. Census, it is believed that the number of homeless in approximately 14 in Carroll County. These numbers are for the entire population and do not represent the number of families with children of program age. In terms of homeless being served by the program, the services are often provided to the “hidden homeless” who are staying with one set of family or friends for a period and then moving on to other family and friends after a while. These hidden homeless require that the staff assisting them have a solid understanding of the availability of resources that might be employed to aid these families and also have a firm knowledge of how to work around the mental health issues that can arise from these situations. Latest data from 2015 Kids Count Data Report:
The latest statistics from Kentucky Youth Advocates 2015 Kids Count Data Report shows that children in Carroll County rank very low in overall well-being. This determination was made based on the scores from the four domains critical to well-being: Economic Security, Education, Health, and Family and Community Strength. Each domain includes four indicators of well- being for a total of 16. The report shows Carroll County’s rank at 111 out of Kentucky’s 120 counties. This represents a drop of 4 points in the past two years. The chart below compares Carroll County to the States averages:
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 18
16 Key Indicators of child well-being in Carroll County as compared to the State averages
Domain Indicator Indicator Indicator Indicator Children in Children living in Median family High Rental Cost Economic Poverty high-poverty areas income (homes Burden Security Carroll – 47% Carroll – 80% with children) Carroll – 43% State – 26% State – 42% Carroll - $34,000 State – 49% State - %52,000 K students ‘not Fourth Graders not Eighth Graders not High School Students ready’ on state proficient in reading proficient in Math Not graduating on Education screener: time Carroll – 54% Carroll – 66% Carroll - 68% Carroll – 5 State - 50% State – 48% State – 56% State – 12 Smoking during Low birth weight Children and young Teen births per 1,000 Pregnancy Babies adults without ages 15 – 19 Health health insurance Carroll – 31.7% Carroll – 7.9% Carroll – 22% Carroll – 63.5 State – 22.5% State – 8.7% State – 13% State – 40.6 Birth to mothers Children in single- Children in out of Youth incarceration Family & w/o a HS degree parent families home care per Per 1000 Community 1000 (ages 0 - 17) Ages 10 – 17 Carroll – 25.9% Carroll – 48% Carroll - 52 Carroll – 55 Strength State-16.8% State – 32% State – 37.2 State – 37.5
Considering the low number of children attending preschool, Carroll County Child Development Center will continue to look at additional ways to bring services to these unenrolled students. These existing opportunities will be maximized:
Continued collaboration with the Community Early Childhood Council and its K Boost program would help impact this area. Examine programming, staffing and budgeting to include extensive use of the Mobile Education Bus throughout the community – especially in areas of high poverty. Target possible summer enrichment programs to prevent ‘summer slide’ for those students entering Kindergarten in the fall. Research more effective means of recruitment to unenrolled, eligible families. Research was to offer preschool to all 4-year students.
Considering the high rate of pregnant women reporting smoking during pregnancy and the alarmingly high rate of teen pregnancies in the county, the Child Development Center should target these two groups and look at ways to provide educational services to these two high-risk groups.
School Readiness
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 19
Although the county average of ‘non-ready’ students entering kindergarten in 2015 shows 54%, further analysis of data shows a high rate of success with kindergartens attending the Carroll County Child Development Center. The charts below proves this:
60% 42 37% 40% 20% 7% 0% Ready Head Start/Preschool
Qualified for Services- Did not attend
Did not Qualify for Services-Stayed at Home with Parents Source: 2015 Brigance data
Of the students scoring ‘ready’ on the Brigance screener, 42% of the students the attend Head Start/Preschool scored ready compared to 7% of those students that would have qualified for Head Start/Preschool services but did not attend.
Additional data analysis of the December, 2015 STAR testing data shows students that attended Head Start/Preschool continue to maintain academic success. Of the students scoring in the probably/transitional area, 37% of them were Head Start/Preschool students. Comparatively, of the students eligible for services but did not attend, only 15% of these students scored in this category. 40% 37% 31% 30% 20% 15%17% 10% 0% Probable/Transitional Head Start/Preschool Qualifed for Services- Did not Attend Did not Qualify for Services- Stayed at Home with Parents Other
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 20
Both sets of data shows the positive effects of the Carroll County Child Development’s success in preparing their students for kindergarten. The challenge for this program and the community as a whole is to research ways to effectively recruit and enroll the non-attending eligible families so that more students achieve the necessary school readiness skills. Evidence of Community-wide Strategic Planning
Multiple sources of information were sought and utilized in this assessment. These include U.S. Census data, information provided by the county health department, Carroll County Memorial Hospital, Carroll County Schools Child Development Center, Carroll County Schools Office of Special Education, and Carroll County Schools Office of Migrant Advocate. Also included were the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce. In order to be truly effective information must be shared not horded. To this end this information has been provided to the school board and to the Policy Council which means the information has been provided to The Northern Kentucky Community Action Center, the Department for Community Based Services, and Carroll County Big Brother and Big Sisters. Summary Major of Significant Issues
Change occurs slowly in this county. The major issues that confronted the area still exist since they tend to be structural in nature. These issues are the need for employment, the need to more effectively recruit and enroll more eligible children, and the need for services in Spanish. As indicated in the Needs, Strategies and Conclusion section, our program is working on all three topics. On the employment front, we are providing quality early childhood services that are aligned with the school readiness requirements. This means children will have a better chance of success in education as they progress through of school district. The aim is that children will be favorably inclined toward education and as a result gain more of it which will improve their employment prospects.
The second item of the need to more effectively recruit and enroll more eligible families should be both a district and community effort. The large number of children living in poverty indicates there are still many children that would be eligible for services if parents would apply for services. Program should research ways to better recruit these families and partner with community resources to assist with these recruitment efforts. Another factor to consider is the limited facility space which would pose a new district problem to solve if enrollment were to increase significantly.
The third item of providing services in Spanish is an issue that confronts not just our program but also the district as a whole. To this end we work closely with our District’s program in providing services to Spanish speaking families. We also work collaboratively with the county’s adult education/bilingual program and connect our families to this resource. Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 21
Description of Proposed Changes
Short of addition funds becoming available for the provision of EHS services there are no plans for major changes within the organization at this time. However, increased enrollment would warrant the district’s researching of available facility space to house these students. Given that no structural or even few large scale changes have taken place, we propose to continue the provision of quality services to the children and families we are charged with serving. This will be accomplished by focusing inward utilizing the child development framework and exploring the options and intricacies of the Family Engagement Framework. We will also continue to support and utilize the services provided by our grantee specifically the services to Spanish speaking families. Needs, Strategies and Conclusion
Need: Programs that address the low income population, including assessable child care.
Despite the fact that the families in the Carroll County Child Development program area are very self-reliant, often employed and have a strong sense of community; structural poverty still exists because of their lack of options for employment in relatively high paying jobs.
Strategies
Carroll County Child Development Program should continue to provide services to the low income community. Research ways to more effective recruit and enroll all eligible families to provide services to all eligible children living in the community. Carroll County Child Development Program staff will continue to remind and encourage families to have their children attend school regularly. Collaboration with other community organizations, both public and private, will ensure that the provision of services is comprehensive, non-duplicated and community based.
Need: Opportunities for employment
The moderate number of clients who are working, yet still eligible for services that are targeted for the low income population, point to the need for employment opportunities in jobs that pay well. The educational achievement data show that though education level has improved considerably in the past ten years there is still a need for skill-based education programs.
Strategies
By creating expanded linkages with the local technical college, Carroll County Child Development center will be able to employ the graduates of the CDA program.
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 22
Carroll County Child Development Center will actively explore opportunities to expand the educational opportunities it currently provides. The program’s family literacy activities, Adult Basic Education, ESL and GED preparation classes will be evaluated to see if they need to be revised and/or expanded to serve more clients. Carroll County Child Development program will maximize the use of existing job training programs and advocate for the new programs to be developed as part of the welfare reform movement.
Need: Available, accessible health care services for the entire family
Despite Medicaid coverage and children’s health coverage, there is a serious lack of doctors and dentists who participate in the programs. Health services for adults are a particular problem for Carroll County Child Development program families.
Strategies
Health services staff will make every effort to identify physicians and dentists who accept Medicaid in the service area and make this information available to families. Carroll County Child Development staff will use the Health Advisory Committee to advocate for physicians and dentists to accept Medicaid. Carroll County Child Development will identify sources of health care that are low cost or no-cost in the communities (free clinics, health fairs, etc.) and publicize this information to the Carroll County Child Development families.
Conclusions
The national political climate and more locally, the state budget concerns are impacting the funding and focus of programs throughout the Commonwealth. . Changes in social programs, state budget reduction strategies and continued welfare reform will impact directly the population Carroll County Child Development program serves.
Like many in the human service sector, Carroll County Child Development program will be faced with declining resources and expanding needs. Only by continuous improvement of services and coordination of efforts with other service providers in the area to identify its market niche will Carroll County Child Development program be able to provide high quality services to its target population. In turn, Carroll County Child Development program must encourage other service providers to also identify their niches to ensure that duplication of services does not occur and that scarce resources are most efficiently allocated.
Partnership opportunities with others in the service area exist in the following areas:
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 23
• support of and from local business and industry to identify labor requirements and provide job readiness and training to develop an employable work force; • further cooperation with secondary, vocational, and post-secondary education institutions to continue the support for dropout prevention and educational readiness for workforce entry members of the low income community; and • work with area community agencies in developing capacity to serve the expanding non- English speaking population.
Carroll County Child Development program Community Assessment p. 24