The Measure of America: American Human Development Report 2008-2009

The Measure of America: American Human Development Report 2008-2009 has been published by the American Human Development Project.

This report provides an index known as the American Human Development Index. This index seeks to provide an alternative measure of well-being that doesn't just focus on economic output, but rather is designed to be inclusive as to what constitutes a measure of good life. This index captures 3 important aspects of well-being: health and longevity; access to knowledge (educational attainment and enrollment); and standards of living (median earnings).  With these three aspects of well-being in mind, the 50 states and the 436 Congressional Districts are ranked on the Human Development Index from 1 to 10 (with 10 being best). Data are also disaggregated by race/ethnicity and gender. 

Selected Findings:

• LA County contains a Congressional District ranked in the top ten -the 30th congressional district (Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Malibu).
• LA County is also home to one of the bottom 30 congressional districts-the 31st Congressional District (located in Downtown, Los Angeles).
• California ranks 11th on the Human Development Index (5.62 out of 10)-slightly higher than the average for the U.S. (5..06).
• California ranks 4th highest in the rate of high school dropouts-1 in 5 persons 25 and older do not have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
• The 30th congressional district (Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Malibu) ranked the highest on the Education Index with the highest percent of adults over 25 with at least a B.A. degree.

Health Snapshots: Young Children's Health in California

Health Snapshots: Young Children's Health in California has been published by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research with support from First 5 California.

This web information resource provides data and information on young children's health (up to age 5).  Topics and information are taken from the California Health Interview Survey.  Some of these topics include: access to medical care, consumption of fast food, consumption of daily servings of fruits and vegetables, frequency of parents reading books to children, attendance of pre-school/nursery school, Head Start, and more.  Data and information are also provided for the state, across all 58 counties as well as regions (Southern California, Central California, Northwest, Northeast, Bay Area, and Greater Sacramento).

Selected Findings:

• Parents in L.A. County reported 72.3% of their children (aged 0-5) in "excellent to very good health"; compared to the county with the highest rate in California (Nevada) at 97% and California as a whole at 74.6%.
• 38.6% of children (ages 4-5) in L.A. County attend a childcare program (such as a nursery school, head start, or preschool) for 10 or more hours a week compared to 37% for the state of California as a whole, and 67% for the county with the highest rate of early childcare attendance (Humboldt).
• 81.9% of children up to age 5 in L.A. County have some form of dental coverage compared to 63% for the county (Monterey) with the lowest rate of dental coverage in California.