Mapping to Move Policy: Iowa Strategies for Using Census Tract Data to Inform State Policy

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Mapping to Move PolicyIowa Strategies for Using
Census Tract Data to Inform State Policy

• Charles Bruner, Child and Family Policy Center
• Michael Crawford, Child and Family Policy Center
• September 13, 2002 Presentation
• Kids Count Annual Meeting

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Iowa Strategies and Current Evidence

• Identifying High Child Risk Census Tracts in
  Iowa, 1990 and 2000
• Identifying Special Concerns
• Concentration of Disinvestment
• Racial Dimensions
• Child Concentration
• Focusing Attention on Community Building

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Census Data to Characterize High Child Risk
Tracts
1) Adults without high school diploma rate 2)
Adult with post-graduate degree rate 3) 16-19
year-old not in school or employed rate 4) Head
of household with earnings rate 5) Head of
household with interest, dividend, or rent income
rate 6) Head of household receiving public
assistance rate 7) Single parent families as
percent of all families with children 8)
Percentage of families with children below
poverty level 9) Percentage of 3-5 year-olds
enrolled in pre-school 10) Home Ownership
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Tracts at Risk in Polk County
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Child Risk in High Risk Polk Census Tracts
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Racial Characteristics of High Child Risk Census
Tracts in Four Iowa Counties
Percentage of State Population
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Racial Characteristics and School Attendance
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Community Development/Employment Needs
All Other Polk County
Inner-City Des Moines
Population
27,300 8,100 29.7 10.7
219,400 17,500 8.0 2.2
Working age population (16-64) TANF, P/P, HR
Youth, Persons w/Disab. As of Working Age
Population Not Employed/Working Age Pop.
TANF families (excluding one person families
and those exempted from work), persons on
probation or parole, youth 16-18 in foster care
and other placements, youth 16-19 not in school
and not working, and persons with disabilities
able to work.
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Who Lives in High Child Risk Neighborhoods
Atlanta
High Risk Census Rest of Montgomery Co.
Child Population 33.1 24.5 18-34
Pop. Male 44.6 51.2 Working
Age/Dep 1.311 2.061 Population
Ratio Young Male/Child Ratio .331
.631
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What We Expect to Find from Full Iowa Analysis
Policy Implications

• Increasing Concentration of High Child Risk
  Census Tracts in Urban Neighborhoods (Need
  specific urban strategy)
• Increasing Segregation of Minority Children in
  High Child Risk Census Tracts (Need to work
  with minority led organizations and leaders to
  address disparities and take place-based
  approach)
• Lower Worker--Dependent Ratios and Young
  Male--Child Ratios (Need workforce strategies,
  including addressing ex-offender population)
• Neighborhood Economies Impact Child Well-being
  and Vice-versa (Need to connect childrens issues
  with economic development issues, not relegate to
  service concerns or family values)