GEORGIA CIVIC HEALTH INDEX ABOUT THE PARTNERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CITIZENSHIP GEORGIA FAMILY CONNECTION PARTNERSHIP At the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC), we believe *HRUJLD)DPLO\&RQQHFWLRQ3DUWQHUVKLS *D)&3 ZRUNVWRDFKLHYH everyone has the power to make a difference in how their community D*HRUJLDZKHUHDOOFKLOGUHQDUHKHDOWK\UHDG\WRVWDUWVFKRRODQG and country thrive. GRZHOOZKHQWKH\JHWWKHUHDQGZKHUHHYHU\IDPLO\LVVWDEOHDQG VHOIVXIÀFLHQW $V D QRQSURÀW SXEOLFSULYDWH LQWHUPHGLDU\ *D)&3 :HDUHDG\QDPLFQRQSDUWLVDQQRQSURÀWZRUNLQJDWWKHIRUHIURQW H[LVWV WR XQLI\ SXEOLF DQG SULYDWH RUJDQL]DWLRQV· FRPPLWPHQW WR of our nation’s civic life. We continuously explore what shapes *HRUJLD·VFKLOGUHQDQGIDPLOLHVPDNHVXUHWKHLUHIIRUWVWRLPSURYH WRGD\·VFLWL]HQU\GHÀQHWKHHYROYLQJUROHRIWKHLQGLYLGXDOLQRXU WKHOLYHVRIFKLOGUHQDQGIDPLOLHVZRUNDQGSURWHFWHYHU\GLPHRI GHPRFUDF\ DQG XQFRYHU ZD\V WR PRWLYDWH JUHDWHU SDUWLFLSDWLRQ WKHLULQYHVWPHQWLQ*HRUJLD·VIXWXUH 7KURXJK RXU HYHQWV UHVHDUFK DQG UHSRUWV 1&R& H[SDQGV RXU QDWLRQ·V FRQWHPSRUDU\ XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI ZKDW LW PHDQV WR EH D *D)&3ZDQWVWRKHOSEXLOGFRPPXQLWLHVZKHUHFKLOGUHQDQGIDPLOLHV FLWL]HQ:HVHHNQHZLGHDVDQGDSSURDFKHVIRUFUHDWLQJJUHDWHU can thrive, and hopes to use the Civic Health Index to spark and FLYLFKHDOWKDQGYLWDOLW\WKURXJKRXWWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV VXVWDLQDFRQYHUVDWLRQDERXW*HRUJLD·VFLYLFHQJDJHPHQW CARL VINSON INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT AT THE GEORGIAFORWARD UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA *HRUJLD)RUZDUGLVDQLQGHSHQGHQWQRQSDUWLVDQ F QRQSURÀW For more than 80 years, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government RUJDQL]DWLRQZRUNLQJWRLPSURYHWKHVWDWHRI*HRUJLDE\HQJDJLQJ DW WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI *HRUJLD KDV ZRUNHG ZLWK SXEOLF RIÀFLDOV EXVLQHVV JRYHUQPHQW DQG FLYLO VRFLHW\ OHDGHUV WR FROODERUDWLYHO\ WKURXJKRXW *HRUJLD DQG DURXQG WKH ZRUOG WR LPSURYH JRYHUQDQFH VKDSHDVWDWHZLGHSROLF\DJHQGD6SHFLÀFDOO\WKURXJKFRQIHUHQFHV DQGSHRSOH·VOLYHV)URP*HRUJLD·VHDUO\GD\VDVDODUJHO\DJUDULDQ UHSRUWV DQG SURJUDPV *HRUJLD)RUZDUG ZRUNV WR HQJDJH OHDGHUV state with a modest population to its modern-day status as a WR ÀQGDFRPPRQYLVLRQIRU*HRUJLD FUHDWHDQHQYLURQPHQW national and international force in business, industry, and politics LQZKLFKYLVLRQDQGSUDJPDWLVPWUXPSVSROLWLFDOGHDGORFNDQG with a population of almost 10 million, the Institute has helped GLVFXVVLQQRYDWLYHVROXWLRQVWRRXUVWDWH·VFKDOOHQJHV JRYHUQPHQWOHDGHUVQDYLJDWHFKDQJHDQGIRUJHVWURQJGLUHFWLRQVIRU *HRUJLD)RUZDUGLVSDUWRIWKLVCivic Health Index because it believes DEHWWHU*HRUJLD WKDW VWURQJ FLYLF KHDOWK FDQ UHGXFH WKH SHUFHLYHG DQG UHDO JDSV ,QFUHDWLQJ*HRUJLD·VÀUVWCivic Health Index, the Vinson Institute between areas of the state and contribute to the articulation of a seeks to reveal a clearer, more complete picture of civic life in common statewide vision. *HRUJLD $V *HRUJLD JURZV UHJLRQV FKDQJH DQG GHPRJUDSKLFV VKLIW WKH 9LQVRQ ,QVWLWXWH·V UHVHDUFK LV NH\ LQ XQGHUVWDQGLQJ WKH 7KLV ÀUVWHYHU Georgia Civic Health Index ZDV SURGXFHG LQ ZD\V*HRUJLDQVLQWHUDFWZLWKHDFKRWKHUDQGZLWKWKHLULQVWLWXWLRQV DQGUHOHDVHGLQ. Photo credits center cover, and this page, center: Georgia Family Connection Partnership TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 This report has been graciously ([HFXWLYH6XPPDU\ ............................................................................................................................................................................. 5 funded by the following: 6RFLDO&RQQHFWHGQHVV ...................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Community Involvement ............................................................................................................................................................. 12 3ROLWLFDO$FWLRQ ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 &RQÀGHQFHLQ,QVWLWXWLRQV ...........................................................................................................................................................17 'HPRJUDSKLF7UHQGVWR&RQVLGHU ....................................................................................................................................... 19 What You Can Do ............................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 23 Technical Notes ................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Endnotes .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 &LYLF+HDOWK,QGH[3DUWQHUV ...................................................................................................................................................... 26 8VH\RXUVPDUWSKRQH to download the Georgia Civic Health Index INTRODUCTION $VWKHÀUVWHYHUGeorgia Civic Health Index, this report asks and seeks to DQVZHUWKHTXHVWLRQ´+RZGR*HRUJLDQVSDUWLFLSDWHLQFLYLFOLIHDQGZKDW GRHVLWPHDQIRU*HRUJLD"µ6SHFLÀFDOO\WKH&LYLF+HDOWK,QGH[H[DPLQHV KRZ*HRUJLDQVHQJDJHFLYLFDOO\³ZLWKRQHDQRWKHUZLWKWKHLUFRPPXQLWLHV ZLWKLQVWLWXWLRQVDQGLQSROLWLFV KRZFLYLFSDUWLFLSDWLRQYDULHVDFURVV NH\ GHPRJUDSKLF YDULDEOHV VXFK DV HGXFDWLRQDO DWWDLQPHQW DJH DQG JHRJUDSKLF ORFDWLRQ DQG KRZ *HRUJLD·V UDWHV RI FLYLF SDUWLFLSDWLRQ compare with other states. This report is intended to launch a statewide FRQYHUVDWLRQ DPRQJ FLWL]HQV DQG SULYDWH QRQSURÀW DQG SXEOLF VHFWRU OHDGHUVDQGGHFLVLRQPDNHUVDERXWKRZWRSURPRWHDQGVWUHQJWKHQFLYLF OLIHLQ*HRUJLD What is Civic Health? &LYLFKHDOWKUHÁHFWVWKHGHJUHHWRZKLFKUHVLGHQWVWDONWRQHLJKERUVVSHQGWLPHZLWKIULHQGVRU IDPLO\SDUWLFLSDWHLQFRPPXQLW\JURXSVYRWHWDONDERXWSROLWLFVDQGDFWWRIXUWKHUDFLYLFLQWHU- HVW&LYLFKHDOWKDOVRUHODWHVWRWKHRYHUDOOZHOOEHLQJRIQHLJKERUKRRGVFRPPXQLWLHVVWDWHVDQG the nation. This report explores four main areas of civic health: ɵ 6RFLDO&RQQHFWHGQHVV ɵ Community Involvement Photo credit: Georgia Family Connection Partnership ɵ 3ROLWLFDO$FWLRQDQG3DUWLFLSDWLRQ ɵ &RQÀGHQFHLQ,QVWLWXWLRQV th 26 ,QHDFKRIWKHVHDUHDVRIFLYLFKHDOWKWKLVUHSRUWH[DPLQHVSDWWHUQVLQFLYLFHQJDJHPHQWWKURXJK Georgia’s national rank in YDULRXVGHPRJUDSKLFFKDUDFWHULVWLFVVXFKDVHGXFDWLRQDODWWDLQPHQWJHRJUDSKLFUHJLRQ UXUDO XUEDQVXEXUEDQ UDFHHWKQLFLW\DQGLQFRPHOHYHO both eating dinner with and seeing or hearing from family and friends frequently Why is Civic Health Important? 6WURQJFLYLFKHDOWKLVYLWDOWRDKHDOWK\GHPRFUDF\$FWLYHFLWL]HQHQJDJHPHQWEXLOGVFRQVHQVXV IRUSROLF\WKDWUHÁHFWVWKHQHHGVRIDFRPPXQLW\DQG´SURPRWHVHIIHFWLYHJRYHUQDQFHE\IRVWHU- LQJWUDQVSDUHQF\DQGDFFRXQWDELOLW\RISXEOLFLQVWLWXWLRQVµ10RUHRYHUVWURQJVRFLDOFRKHVLRQ² GHÀQHGDVWDONLQJWRQHLJKERUVGRLQJIDYRUVIRUQHLJKERUVWUXVWLQJQHLJKERUVDQGVHHLQJDQG KHDULQJ IURP IDPLO\ DQG IULHQGV ² DQG FLYLF KHDOWK KDYH EHHQ OLQNHG WR EHWWHU SXEOLF KHDOWK RXWFRPHV LQFOXGLQJ LPSURYHG FKLOG GHYHORSPHQW DQG DGROHVFHQW ZHOOEHLQJ LPSURYHG PHQWDO health, lower violent crime rates and youth delinquency, and reduced mortality. 5HFHQWUHVHDUFKSURGXFHGE\1&R&WKH&HQWHUIRU,QIRUPDWLRQDQG5HVHDUFKRQ&LYLF/HDUQLQJ DQG(QJDJHPHQW &,5&/( DW7XIWV8QLYHUVLW\DQGSDUWQHUVKDVDOVRGHPRQVWUDWHGWKDWDFRPPX- QLW\·VFLYLFKHDOWKLVVWURQJO\OLQNHGWRLWVHFRQRPLFUHVLOLHQFH$PRQJRWKHUÀQGLQJVWKHUHVHDUFK VKRZVWKDWVWDWHVZLWKKLJKVRFLDOFRKHVLRQKDGXQHPSOR\PHQWUDWHVWZRSHUFHQWDJHSRLQWVORZHU WKDQWKHLUOHVVFRQQHFWHGDQGWUXVWLQJFRXQWHUSDUWVHYHQZKHQFRQWUROOLQJIRUGHPRJUDSKLFVDQG economic factors.,QVKRUWFLYLFKHDOWKLVFRQQHFWHGWRDZLGHUDQJHRIRXWFRPHVWKDWUHÁHFWWKH RYHUDOOZHOOEHLQJRIRXUFRPPXQLWLHV 4 GEORGI A C I V IC HE ALTH INDE X Georgia and Civic Health )URPLWVLQFHSWLRQDVRQHRI$PHULFD·VRULJLQDOFRORQLHVWRLWVLQWHJUDOUROHLQWKH&LYLO5LJKWV 0RYHPHQW*HRUJLDKDVEHHQKRPHWRLQVWDQFHVRIWUDQVIRUPDWLYHFLWL]HQHQJDJHPHQW,QGHHG *HRUJLD·VODVWLQJPDUNRQFLYLFHQJDJHPHQWRFFXUUHGEHWZHHQDQG$VWKHQDWLRQVDZ VZHHSLQJFKDQJHVLQFLYLOULJKWVODZV*HRUJLDZDVDFHQWHURIDFWLRQDQGFKDQJHLQWKH6RXWK YDOXLQJFROODERUDWLRQRYHUFRQIURQWDWLRQDWNH\PRPHQWV <HWDFFRUGLQJWRFXUUHQWQDWLRQDOGDWDWKDWLQIRUPWKLVUHSRUW*HRUJLDUDQNVDPRQJWKHERWWRP half of states on almost all measures of civic health. While worrisome, these data can serve as a QHFHVVDU\FDWDO\VWIRUDFWLRQ:LWKDVWURQJQHWZRUNRIIXQGHUVDQGRUJDQL]DWLRQVIRFXVHGRQLP- SURYLQJFLYLFKHDOWK*HRUJLDKDVWKHRSSRUWXQLW\WROHYHUDJHLWVKLVWRULFDOUHJLRQDOUDFLDODQGHWK- QLFDQGHFRQRPLFGLYHUVLW\DVVWUHQJWKVUDWKHUWKDQSRLQWVRIVHSDUDWLRQ7KHJRDORIWKLVUHSRUWLV WRVSDUNWKLVGLDORJXHDQGDFWLRQ³PRWLYDWLQJIRXQGDWLRQVQRQSURÀWRUJDQL]DWLRQVFRUSRUDWLRQV BACKGROUND ON THE DQGHOHFWHGRIÀFLDOVWRDFNQRZOHGJHDQGDGGUHVV*HRUJLD·VFLYLFKHDOWKFKDOOHQJHV7KLVUHSRUWLV CIVIC HEALTH INDEX DVWDUWLQJSRLQWIRUDVWDWHZLGHFRQYHUVDWLRQRQFLYLFKHDOWKDVWKHEHJLQQLQJRIDPRUHFRQQHFWHG HQJDJHGDQGSURVSHURXV*HRUJLD The findings of this report are based on analysis of the 2011 Current Population Survey (CPS), conducted by the U.S. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Census Bureau, provided by the Center for Information and Research on Civic 7KLV*HRUJLD&LYLF+HDOWK,QGH[ORRNVDWNH\LQGLFDWRUVRIFLYLFOLIHLQWKH Learning