Data Book Bering Strait Community Needs Assessment September 2019 Prepared by Prepared for Bering Strait Community Needs Assessment Data Book PREPARED FOR: Kawerak, Inc. September 2019 McDowell Group Anchorage Office 1400 W. Benson Blvd., Suite 510 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 McDowell Group Juneau Office 9360 Glacier Highway, Suite 201 Juneau, Alaska 99801 Website: www.mcdowellgroup.net Bering Strait Community Needs Assessment Data Book McDowell Group Table of Contents Introduction and Methodology ......................................................................................................... 1 Methodology ................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Report Organization ................................................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 1: Overview of Kawerak, Inc. ............................................................................................... 8 Bering Strait Region .................................................................................................................................................... 8 Overview of Kawerak .................................................................................................................................................. 8 Chapter 2: Demographic and Socio-Economic Profile .................................................................. 13 Population Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 13 Population by Age Group ........................................................................................................................................................ 13 Population by Gender ................................................................................................................................................................ 13 Population by Race ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Language ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 14 Components of Population Change ................................................................................................................... 20 Households and Families ........................................................................................................................................ 23 Extended Families and Subfamilies ...................................................................................................................................... 23 Households with Children ........................................................................................................................................................ 23 Economy and Employment .................................................................................................................................... 26 Employers and Employment ................................................................................................................................................... 26 Employment .................................................................................................................................................................................. 26 Wages and Income ..................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Cost of Living ................................................................................................................................................................................ 27 Poverty and Assistance Programs ......................................................................................................................................... 27 Economic Activities ................................................................................................................................................... 32 Chapter 3: Housing and Infrastructure ........................................................................................... 40 Housing Overview ..................................................................................................................................................... 40 Housing Conditions .................................................................................................................................................................... 41 Affordability ................................................................................................................................................................................... 43 Housing Services.......................................................................................................................................................................... 44 Utilities ........................................................................................................................................................................... 45 Water and Sewer ......................................................................................................................................................................... 45 Heating ............................................................................................................................................................................................46 Electricity ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Transportation ............................................................................................................................................................ 51 Communications ........................................................................................................................................................ 55 Chapter 4: Education and Early Care and Learning ........................................................................ 56 Education Attainment .............................................................................................................................................. 56 Early Care and Learning .......................................................................................................................................... 58 Pre-K to Secondary Education .............................................................................................................................. 59 Pre-K .................................................................................................................................................................................................59 School Enrollment ....................................................................................................................................................................... 59 Children with Disabilities .......................................................................................................................................................... 60 Drop Out and Graduation Rates ........................................................................................................................................... 60 Assessments .................................................................................................................................................................................. 60 Teacher Turnover ......................................................................................................................................................................... 60 K-12 School Infrastructure ....................................................................................................................................................... 63 K-12 School Assessments......................................................................................................................................................... 63 Post-Secondary Education Infrastructure ......................................................................................................... 65 Chapter 5: Kawerak Head Start Program in Focus ......................................................................... 67 Kawerak Head Start Program Overview ............................................................................................................ 67 Bering Strait Community Needs Assessment Data Book McDowell Group Enrollment .................................................................................................................................................................... 67 Attendance ................................................................................................................................................................... 70 Health of Enrollees .................................................................................................................................................... 71 Head Start Staff .........................................................................................................................................................