UNTY O community C 7 CRUZ assessment COMPREHENSIVE SANTA project REPORT 2011 Santa Cruz County Community Assessment Project, Year 17, 2011 2011 Highlights © 2011 Applied Survey Research 1 Community Assessment Project Products The Community Assessment Project Report is available online and also as a book for $30.00 at the United Way of Santa Cruz County office: 4450 Capitola Road, Suite 106, Capitola, CA 95010 | Tel: 831‐479‐5466 Fax: 831‐479‐5477. Customized reports detailing specific topic areas, geographic regions, and demographic profiles, are available by contacting Applied Survey Research. Also available at no charge is the color magazine (Summary Report) of the Year 17, Community Assessment Project findings. To learn more about the Santa Cruz County Community Assessment Project or to get involved, please visit our website at www.santacruzcountycap.org. About the Researcher Applied Survey Research (ASR) is a nonprofit, social research firm dedicated to helping people build better communities by collecting meaningful data, facilitating information‐based planning, and developing custom strategies. The firm was founded on the principle that community improvement, initiative sustainability, and program success are closely tied to assessment of needs, evaluation of community goals and development of appropriate responses. The Community Assessment Project is a prime example of a comprehensive evaluation of the needs of the community. Its goal is to stimulate dialogue about trends and to encourage informed strategies for shaping future policies and effective actions. Watsonville: 55 Brennan Street Watsonville, CA 95076 Tel: 831‐728‐1356 ‐ Fax: 831‐728‐3374 San Jose: 1871 The Alameda, Suite 180 San Jose, CA 95126 Tel: 408‐247‐8319 ‐ Fax: 408‐260‐7749 Claremont: P.O. Box 1845 Claremont, CA 91711 Tel: 909‐267‐9332 www.appliedsurveyresearch.org Cover Photographs Front Cover: (L&R) – Michelle Luedtke; Back Cover: (L) – Shmuel Thaler, Santa Cruz Sentinel, (R) – Abbie Stevens Report Design Applied Survey Research Graphic Design (Cover & Report) Michelle Luedtke, Applied Survey Research Production Business with Pleasure 2 © 2011 Applied Survey Research Santa Cruz County Community Assessment Project, Year 17, 2011 Table of Contents English Learner Students ........................................... 55 TABLE OF CONTENTS High School Dropout Rates ................................... 56 2011 Highlights ................................................................. 5 Satisfaction with Local Educational System .. 56 Community Assessment Project Overview..........11 Youth Assets ..................................................................... 58 Acknowledgments ..........................................................12 Safe School Environment ............................................ 59 2011 Community Heroes & Goals ............................14 Child Care .......................................................................... 60 Demographics 17 College Preparation Courses ................................ 61 Cabrillo College Attendance ...................................... 62 Santa Cruz County Demographic Profile ..............18 UC Santa Cruz Attendance .......................................... 63 County Residency and Mobility ................................20 Educational Attainment .............................................. 64 Library Use ........................................................................ 66 Economy 21 Health 67 Economic Snapshot of Santa Cruz County ...........22 Economy Community Goals .......................................22 Health Snapshot of Santa Cruz County ................. 68 Economic Well‐Being ...............................................23 Health Community Goals ............................................ 68 Taxable Sales ................................................................25 Access to Health Care .............................................. 69 Agricultural Production ...............................................26 Low Income Health Care ............................................. 71 Tourism ...............................................................................27 Health Insurance ....................................................... 73 Job Opportunities ............................................................28 End of Life Wishes Unemployment Rates ...............................................29 (Living Will or Advance Directive) ......................... 75 Net Job Growth .................................................................30 Births ................................................................................... 76 Household Income .....................................................32 Teen Births ........................................................................ 76 Poverty Level ....................................................................33 Adequate Prenatal Care ............................................... 77 Self‐Sufficiency Income Standards ..........................34 Birth Weight ..................................................................... 79 Affordable Housing ...................................................35 Breastfeeding ................................................................... 79 Housing Occupancy and Tenure ...............................39 Immunization Levels .................................................... 81 Foreclosures ......................................................................40 Dental Care........................................................................ 82 Assistance for Needy Families ..................................40 Mental Health................................................................... 83 Education 43 Physical Health ................................................................ 84 Physical Activity ............................................................. 84 Education Snapshot of Santa Cruz County ...........44 Fruit and Vegetable Consumption .......................... 85 Education Community Goals ......................................44 Obesity ........................................................................... 86 Student Enrollment ........................................................45 Diabetes .............................................................................. 87 Test Scores – STAR (California Alcohol Use ....................................................................... 89 Standards Test) ................................................................46 Availability of Alcohol .................................................. 89 Test Scores – Academic Performance Index Acceptance of Adult Alcohol Provision ................. 90 (API) .....................................................................................48 Community Acceptance of Marijuana Use ........... 90 Test Scores – California High School Exit Exam Tobacco Use ...................................................................... 92 (CAHSEE) ............................................................................52 Methamphetamine Admissions ............................... 92 Test Scores – SAT .......................................................53 Prescription Drug Use .................................................. 93 © 2011 Applied Survey Research 3 Table of Contents Santa Cruz County Community Assessment Project, Year 17, 2011 Substance Use by Students ........................................ 93 Hate Crimes .................................................................... 133 Unintentional Injuries .................................................. 95 Quality of Life ................................................................ 134 Intentional Injuries ........................................................ 95 Youth Activities ............................................................ 136 Reported Communicable Diseases ......................... 96 People with Disabilities ....................................... 137 AIDS ...................................................................................... 96 Community Support ................................................... 142 Suicides ............................................................................... 97 Volunteerism/Charitable Giving ...................... 143 Leading Causes of Death ............................................. 98 Knowledge about Local Government .................. 145 Voting and Political Engagement ..................... 145 Public Safety 101 Natural Environment 147 Public Safety Snapshot of Santa Cruz County .............................................................................. 102 Natural Environment Snapshot Public Safety Community Goals ............................ 102 of Santa Cruz County .................................................. 148 Crime Rate ................................................................. 103 Natural Environment Community Goals ........... 148 Jail Population Characteristics .............................. 106 Concern for the Environment ................................ 149 Juvenile Arrests ....................................................... 107 Protected Land ........................................................ 150 Concern About Crime/ Miles of Recreation Trails ........................................ 153 Neighborhood Safety ............................................ 109 Farmers Market and Local Produce .................... 153 Police