TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1: GENERAL AREA DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................4 History ......................................................................................................................................................4 Geography and Demographics ............................................................................................................5 Economy ...................................................................................................................................................7 SECTION 2: ASSESSMENT PROCESS ...................................................................................................9 SECTION 3: RACE, CULTURE, AND LANGUAGE ...........................................................................12 SECTION 4: HEAD START NEEDS ASSESSMENT ............................................................................14 Unmet Need for Head Start .................................................................................................................17 Head Start Profile ...................................................................................................................................17 Head Start Options 2011........................................................................................................................18 Opinions of Parents ................................................................................................................................19 Achievements ..........................................................................................................................................19 SECTION 5: TRANSPORTATION ..........................................................................................................22 Increases in Service During 2010 .........................................................................................................22 Capitol Improvements to Increase Capacity ....................................................................................23 Gaps in Transportation Services .........................................................................................................23 Means of Transportation to Work .....................................................................................................24 What Is Currently Available ................................................................................................................24 Transportation Obstacles .....................................................................................................................25 SECTION 6: CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES ....................................................................................26 Social and Economic Status .................................................................................................................26 Early Care and Education .....................................................................................................................26 Children with Disabilities ....................................................................................................................26 Waldo County Youth Risk Factors ....................................................................................................28 SECTION 7: HEALTH AND NUTRITION ............................................................................................32 Cancer .......................................................................................................................................................32 Heart Disease and Stroke ......................................................................................................................32 Diabetes ....................................................................................................................................................33 Respiratory Disease ................................................................................................................................33 Reproductive Health .............................................................................................................................33 Mental Health and Suicide ...................................................................................................................34 Substance Abuse .....................................................................................................................................35 Oral Health ...............................................................................................................................................35 Food, Nutrition, and Obesity ...............................................................................................................37 Health Insurance and Clinical Care ...................................................................................................42 County Health Rankings Summary ...................................................................................................43 SECTION 8: RECREATION ......................................................................................................................46 Parks ..........................................................................................................................................................46 Events .......................................................................................................................................................46 Clubs, Groups, and Organizations .....................................................................................................46 SECTION 9: EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME ......................................................................................48 Employment Opportunities .................................................................................................................48 Labor Force and Unemployment ........................................................................................................48 Livable Wage ...........................................................................................................................................49 Employment Income ..............................................................................................................................52 Occupations and Industries .................................................................................................................52 1 | P a g e Waldo County vs. Maine ......................................................................................................................53 Employment Barriers .............................................................................................................................54 Working Poor ..........................................................................................................................................55 Predatory Lending ..................................................................................................................................56 SECTION 10: MUNICIPAL SERVICES...................................................................................................57 SECTION 11: HOUSING .............................................................................................................................58 Age and Quality of Waldo County Housing Units .........................................................................60 Affordability Index .................................................................................................................................60 Subsidized Housing ...............................................................................................................................61 Homelessness ..........................................................................................................................................63 SECTION 12: SOCIAL SERVICES ............................................................................................................65 SECTION 13: AGING AND THE ELDERLY ..........................................................................................66 SECTION 14: CONSUMER OPTIONS ....................................................................................................68 SECTION 15: EDUCATION .......................................................................................................................69 Kindergarten Through 12th Grade .......................................................................................................70 Private Schools ........................................................................................................................................72 Alternative Education ............................................................................................................................72 Post-Secondary Education ...................................................................................................................72 SECTION 16: POVERTY AND THE WALDO COUNTY FAMILY .................................................72 Key Facts ..................................................................................................................................................74 SECTION 17: SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT RESULTS ......................................76 SECTION 18: LOCAL FOCUS GROUP SUMMARY (FALL 2010) ..................................................82