The State of Children and Families in the Greater Hartford Area February 27, 2014 CONNECTICUT VOICES FOR CHILDREN

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1 CONNECTICUT VOICES FOR CHILDREN The State of Children and Families in the Greater Hartford Area February 27, 2014 Orlando Rodriguez Senior Policy Fellow Edie Joseph Policy Fellow

2 Today s Topics Part I: Income, Equity, and Demographics Part II: Targeted Investments Part III: Policy Recommendations 2

3 What Is Connecticut Voices for Children? The mission of Connecticut Voices for Children is to promote the well-being of all Connecticut s young people and their families by advocating for strategic public investments and wise public policies. Connecticut Voices for Children advances its mission through: High quality research and analysis Policy development Strategic communications Establishing a sustainable and and powerful voice for children 3

4 Fund for Greater Hartford Area: 31 Towns in Central CT Hartford 4

5 Fund for Greater Hartford Area: 31 Towns in Central CT Suffield Enfield Somers Canton Granby Simsbury East Granby Bloomfield Windsor Locks Windsor East Windsor South Windsor Ellington Vernon Tolland Avon West Hartford East Hartford Farmington New Britain Rocky Hill Glastonbury Hebron Cromwell 5

6 Part I: Income, Equity, and Demographics 6

7 Highs & Lows in Income 2011 Median Household Income CT = $69,243 Statistics for towns with smaller populations may have a margin of error over 10%. Hartford had the lowest income in the state. Source: American Community Survey, yr table B

8 Most Towns Have Lower Unemployment 2012 Unemployment CT = 8.4% Hartford had the highest unemployment in the state. Sources: Town unemployment from CT State Department of Labor 8

9 Low Poverty in Connecticut? Population Living Below Poverty Threshold in 2012 U.S. CT CT Rank (1 is Highest Poverty) Official Poverty Measure 15.1% 9.8% 49 th The official poverty measure: does not take into account the value of in-kind benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, housing subsidies, and energy assistance does not take into account differences in cost-of-living across the country for 2012, the poverty threshold for a family of four with two children was $23,283 nationwide The supplemental poverty measure: does take into account tax payments, work expenses, and in-kind benefits does adjust for differences in cost-of-living across the country for 2012, the poverty threshold for a family of four with two children (in rental housing) was $25,873 for Hartford metro. Supplemental Poverty Measure 16.0% 12.5% 33 rd Sources: 2012 poverty thresholds at yr average poverty statistics available at: Local SPM from Renwick,Trudi, July

10 Children Living in Poverty Children in Poverty CT = 12.6% Statistics for towns with smaller populations may have a margin of error over 10%. Hartford had the highest rate of child poverty in the state. Source: American Community Survey, year estimates 10

11 Increase in Child Poverty Statewide Increase in Child Poverty In 2007, 11% of children lived in poverty In 2012, 13% of children in lived in poverty 30% increase or 27,000 more children in poverty Sources: ACS, yr and yr estimates table B

12 Demographics: A Slice of America in 2010 Town Household Population Median Age Age 0 to to 2010 Change In Pop Age 0 to Did Not Complete High School Non-Hispanic White Hispanic Non-Hispanic Black Connecticut 3,455, ,015-24,673 11% 71% 13% 9% Andover 3, % 95.0% 0.0% 0.0% Avon 17, , % 87.1% 3.4% 1.4% Bloomfield 19, , % 33.0% 5.5% 56.7% Bolton 4, , % 93.3% 3.0% 0.0% Canton 10, , % 94.0% 2.6% 0.0% Cromwell 13, , % 86.9% 4.4% 3.8% East Granby 5, , % 89.6% 3.3% 2.1% East Hartford 50, , % 41.6% 26.0% 24.3% East Windsor 10, , % 81.2% 5.7% 6.5% Ellington 15, , % 90.5% 2.6% 1.8% Enfield 40, , % 87.9% 4.9% 3.1% Farmington 25, , % 84.3% 3.8% 2.2% Glastonbury 34, , % 85.4% 4.3% 1.8% Granby 11, , % 95.1% 1.7% 1.0% Hartford 115, , % 13.0% 45.3% 36.4% Hebron 9, , % 94.9% 2.3% 0.0% Manchester 57, , % 65.8% 12.1% 11.4% Marlborough 6, , % 92.9% 2.9% 0.0% Middletown 43, , % 71.7% 8.3% 12.3% New Britain 70, , % 46.4% 38.0% 10.9% Newington 30, , % 81.8% 7.6% 3.2% Rocky Hill 18, , % 79.7% 5.4% 3.2% Simsbury 23, , % 89.8% 3.1% 1.6% Somers 9, , % 95.3% 2.0% 0.5% South Windsor 25, , % 82.1% 4.3% 3.6% Suffield 13, , % 93.6% 2.2% 1.4% Tolland 14, , % 93.2% 2.2% 1.0% Vernon 28, , % 81.4% 6.6% 5.3% West Hartford 61, , % 74.7% 9.9% 5.6% Wethersfield 26, , % 84.8% 8.2% 2.7% Windsor 28, , % 50.8% 8.5% 33.4% Windsor Locks 12, , % 83.1% 4.6% 4.6%

13 If You Had to Pick 1 Group? Town Single-Parent Families of All Families with Children Husband-Wife Families of All Families with Children Census 2010 Census 2000 Census 2010 Census 2000 Connecticut 29% 32% 72% 68% Andover 17.7% 20.1% 82.3% 79.9% Avon 11.1% 13.1% 88.9% 86.9% Bloomfield 39.0% 44.5% 61.0% 55.5% Bolton 16.0% 20.1% 84.0% 79.9% Canton 20.1% 19.0% 79.9% 81.0% Cromwell 20.2% 23.2% 79.8% 76.8% East Granby 17.2% 18.3% 82.8% 81.7% East Hartford 45.8% 52.0% 54.2% 48.0% East Windsor 26.7% 35.3% 73.3% 64.7% Ellington 17.1% 17.9% 82.9% 82.1% Enfield 25.0% 32.1% 75.0% 67.9% Farmington 16.0% 19.0% 84.0% 81.0% Glastonbury 15.3% 18.1% 84.7% 81.9% Granby 12.0% 16.2% 88.0% 83.8% Hartford 66.9% 69.1% 33.1% 30.9% Hebron 11.2% 16.9% 88.8% 83.1% Manchester 36.5% 41.6% 63.5% 58.4% Marlborough 13.5% 17.0% 86.5% 83.0% Middletown 35.2% 40.7% 64.8% 59.3% New Britain 48.9% 55.0% 51.1% 45.0% Newington 23.3% 27.2% 76.7% 72.8% Rocky Hill 20.7% 22.1% 79.3% 77.9% Simsbury 12.2% 15.8% 87.8% 84.2% Somers 14.8% 18.4% 85.2% 81.6% South Windsor 14.9% 18.8% 85.1% 81.2% Suffield 15.0% 19.9% 85.0% 80.1% Tolland 11.4% 12.1% 88.6% 87.9% Vernon 33.6% 39.7% 66.4% 60.3% West Hartford 21.8% 24.6% 78.2% 75.4% Wethersfield 21.0% 24.2% 79.0% 75.8% Windsor 28.0% 35.7% 72.0% 64.3% Windsor Locks 30.5% 34.9% 69.5% 65.1% 13 Single-Parent Families! Single-Parent Families Living in Poverty CT = 28% Statistics for towns with smaller populations may have a margin of error over 10%. Source: American Community Survey, yr table B17010

14 High Demand for Affordable Housing Population in Rental Housing Renter Households (Income <$50,000) CT = 28% Paying 30% on Rent CT = 75.4% Source: American Community Survey, yr table B25106 Statistics for towns with smaller populations may have a margin of error over 10%. 14

15 Population Transiency Population Having Moved within Past Year CT = 12% Statistics for towns with smaller populations may have a margin of error over 10%. Source: American Community Survey yr table B

16 Residential Segregation: Non-Hispanic Whites & Minorities Enfield LMA 0.27 Torrington LMA 0.28 Willimantic- Danielson LMA 0.50 Hartford LMA 0.55 Either 56% of minority residents or 56% of non-hispanic white residents would have to move to obtain a local racial mix that is similar to the overall racial mix in the Bridgeport-Stamford Labor Market Area. Bridgeport-Stamford LMA 0.56 Bridgeport-Stamford LMA 0.56 New Haven LMA 0.56 Dissimilarity Index (DI) Norwich- New London- Westerly LMA 0.42 High Segregation (DI >= 0.55) Moderate Segregation (DI 0.41 to 0.54) Low Segregation (DI <= 0.40) 16

17 Racially Concentrated Areas of Poverty (RCAP) Statewide, RCAP includes: 8% of population 10% of children 30% of Hispanics 25% of non-hispanic Blacks Fund for Greater Hartford area, RCAP includes: 11% of population 13% of children 37% of Hispanics 20% of non-hispanic Blacks Racially Concentrated Area of Poverty > 50% minority population 3x regional poverty rate Source: Census 2010 SF2 PCT5; RCAP criteria from HUD 17

18 Part II: Targeted Investments 18

19 To reverse increasing child poverty, we need to make strategic investments in programs that are effective. 19

20 Targeted Investment: Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Percent of CT Income Tax Returns Claiming EITC CT = 11.7% Almost 30% of all EITC returns statewide were filed in these 31 towns. Town Number of EITC Returns Average Credit Amount Average Income of Filer Connecticut 181,620 $601 $17,957 Hartford 16,121 $695 $17,672 East Hartford 4,905 $637 $18,748 Manchester 3,546 $592 $18,336 West Hartford 2,010 $541 $17,733 Enfield 1,855 $537 $18,445 Source: CT Dept. of Revenue Services 20

21 Targeted Investment: SNAP Families with Children Receiving SNAP CT = 11.7% Statistics for towns with smaller populations may have a margin of error over 10%. Hartford had the highest rate of families with children receiving SNAP. Source: American Community Survey, year estimates 21

22 K-12 Educational Achievement 3 rd Grade Reading Goal ( ) CT = 56.9% Source: CT State Department of Education 22

23 Early Care and Education Kindergarteners with Pre-K Experience ( ) CT = 80% Source: CT State Department of Education 23

24 School Discipline Student Arrests per 1,000 Enrolled ( ) CT = 5.7 Source: CT State Department of Education. Form ED

25 Healthcare for Low-Income Children & Families In Connecticut, the Medicaid program for children and families (HUSKY A) covers: Children under the age of 19 in families with income up to 201% of the Federal Poverty Level Parents or relative care givers in families with income up to 201% FPL Pregnant women in families with income under 263% FPL Youth who leave foster care at age 18 or later (eligible until age 26 without an income test) Children WithOUT Health Insurance CT = 3.2% Statistics for towns with smaller populations may have a margin of error over 10%. Source: American Community Survey, yr estimates Table C

26 Pre-Natal Care Late or No Pre-Natal Care CT = 12.8% Source: CT Department of Public Health 26

27 Childbirth Births to Mothers in HUSKY or FFS Medicaid CT = 39.4% Hartford had the highest rate of births covered by HUSKY/Medicaid statewide. Source: CT Department of Public Health 27

28 Teenage Pregnancies Births to Teenage Mothers CT = 6.1% Hartford had the highest rate of teenage births statewide. Source: CT Department of Public Health 28

29 Children with Lead in Blood Children with High Level of Lead in Blood ( 5 micrograms/deciliter) Source: CT Department of Public Health 29

30 Part III: Policy Recommendations 30

31 Promote full restoration of the state earned income tax credit (EITC) to 30 percent of the federal tax credit by See Voices Publication: Connecticut s Earned Income Tax Credit: A Boost to Working Families in Every Town (Jan 2013) 31

32 Promote legislation to create a new Connecticut child tax credit. See Voices Publication: Making Children Visible in Connecticut s Tax Code (forthcoming) 32

33 Promote legislation to improve the state Rainy Day Fund in order to facilitate larger deposits and raise the savings limit. 33

34 Promote legislation to expand access to high quality early childhood programs, including but not limited to preschool, and to create the Office of Early Childhood. (Senate Bills 25 and 26) See Voices Publications: Connecticut Early Care and Education Progress Report (Jan 2014) 34

35 Support legislation that promotes school and police collaboration to de-escalate student conflict in school and reduce unnecessary involvement of youth in the juvenile justice system. (Senate Bill 54) See Voices Publication: Arresting Development: Student Arrests in Connecticut (Sep 2013) 35

36 Support measures that connect children in State care to high quality educational opportunities. See Voices Publication: Raise the Grade: Improve Educational Opportunities for Youth in State Care (Jan 2014) 36

37 Promote legislation that would permit children in HUSKY A and B to remain on HUSKY for a full 12 months regardless of changes in income and household composition under continuous eligibility rules promoted and approved by the federal government. (House Bill 5137) See Voices Publication: Continuous Eligibility issue brief (forthcoming) 37

38 Questions? Orlando Rodriguez Senior Policy Fellow x107 Edie Joseph Policy Fellow x114 38