CONNECTICUT

VOICES FOR CHILDRENOrlando Rodriguez | Senior Policy Fellow

www.ctvoices.org

The State of Children and Families in Darien, Norwalk, and StamfordMarch 12, 2014

• Part I: Income, Equity, and Demographics

• Part II: Demographics, Not Destiny• Part III: Policy Recommendations

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Today’s Topics

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

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What Is Connecticut Voices for Children?

www.ctvoices.org

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Darien Community Fund: Stamford, Darien, & Norwalk

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Hartford

Stamford

Darien

NorwalkTown

Total Populatio

n

Household

Population

Bridgeport 146,434 (1) 141,985 (1)

New Haven 130,749 (2) 121,419 (3)

Stamford 125,102 (3) 123,908 (2)

Hartford 124,887 (4) 116,343 (4)Source: American Community Survey, 2012 1-yr tables B01003 & B25008.

Part I: Income, Equity, and Demographics

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CT = $69,243

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Above Average Income

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2011 Median Household Income

Source: American Community Survey, 2007-2011 5-yr table B19013

Darien had the 2nd highest income in the state.

Statistics for towns with smaller populations may have a margin of error over 10%.

Stamford

Darien

Norwalk

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Lower Unemployment

www.ctvoices.orgSources: Town unemployment from CT State Department of Labor; Age 20-24 unemployment from ACS 2007-2011 5-yr table S2301.

2012 UnemploymentCT = 8.4%

2011 Unemployment: Age 20-24CT = 16.5%

Statistics for towns with smaller populations may have a margin of error over 10%.

Stamford StamfordNorwalk Norwalk

DarienDarien

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Poverty Measure

Regional Cost-of-Living

Adjustment

In-Kind Benefits(SNAP, TANF,

Housing, etc…)

Population Living Below Poverty Threshold in 2012

U.S. CTCT Rank

(1 is Highest Poverty)

Official Poverty Measure No No 15.1% 9.8% 49th Supplemental Poverty

Measure Yes Yes 16.0% 12.5% 33rd

Sources: 2012 poverty thresholds at http://www.bls.gov/pir/spm/spm_thresholds_2012.htm; 2010-2012 3-yr average poverty statistics available at: http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p60-247.pdf?eml=gd&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery; Local SPM from Renwick,Trudi, July 2011.

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Low Poverty in Connecticut?

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Children Living in Poverty

www.ctvoices.orgSource: American Community Survey, 2007-2011 5-year estimates

CT = 12.6%

Children in Poverty

Statistics for towns with smaller populations may have a margin of error over 10%.

Stamford Norwalk

Darien

• 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

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Increase in Child Poverty

www.ctvoices.orgSources: ACS, 2012 1-yr and 2007-2011 5-yr estimates table B17001.

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Demographics: A Slice of America in 2010

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TownHousehold

Population in 2010

Median Age

Age 0 to 17

2000 to 2010 Change

Population Age 0 to 17

Did Not Complete High

School

Non-Hispanic White Hispanic Non-Hispanic

Black

Single-Parent Families of All Families with Children

Census 2000 Census 2010

Connecticut 3,455,945 39.8 817,015 -24,673 11% 71% 13% 9% 29% 32%

Darien 20,688 38.7 7,381 1,017 2.5% 91.3% 3.5% 0.0% 7.8% 10.1%

Norwalk 84,806 40.9 18,874 564 11.3% 55.7% 24.4% 13.3% 29.6% 30.6%Stamford 121,363 36.2 26,461 565 14.3% 53.2% 23.9% 13.1% 27.1% 28.8%

Source: CT State Data Center, Population Projections from November 2012

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Single-Parent Families

Single-Parent Families Living in Poverty (among SPF)

CT = 28%

Source: American Community Survey, 2007-2011 5-yr table B17010

Statistics for towns with smaller populations may have a margin of error over 10%.

Stamford Norwalk

Darien

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Foreign-Born Population

Foreign-Born PopulationCT = 13%

Source: American Community Survey, 2007-2011 5-yr table B05002

Statistics for towns with smaller populations may have a margin of error over 10%.

Stamford Norwalk

Darien

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Workers, Retirees, and Children

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Darien had the highest Dependency Ratio in CT in 2010.

Dependency Ratio in 2010CT = 66

Darien will have the 7th lowest Dependency Ratio in CT in 2025.

Dependency Ratio in 2025CT = 75

Source: CT State Data Center, Population Projections from November 2012

The dependency ratio measures the number of non-workers (children + elderly) per 100 workers.

Stamford Norwalk Stamford

Norwalk

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High Demand for Affordable Housing

Source: American Community Survey, 2007-2011 5-yr tables B25008, B07003, B25106.

Population in Rental Housing

Renter Households (Income <$50,000)

Paying ≥ 30% on RentCT = 75.4%

CT = 28%

Statistics for towns with smaller populations may have a margin of error over 10%.

Population Having Moved within Past

YearCT = 12%

43%29%

9%

14%

11%

9%

Stamford Norwalk

Darien

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Residential Segregation: Non-Hispanic Whites & Minorities

Moderate Segregation (DI 0.41 to 0.54)

Dissimilarity Index (DI)

Low Segregation (DI <= 0.40)

High Segregation (DI >= 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.

Torrington LMA0.28

Enfield LMA0.27

Willimantic-Danielson LMA

0.50

Norwich-New London-Westerly LMA

0.42

Danbury LMA

0.43

Waterbury LMA

0.51

New Haven LMA0.56

Hartford LMA0.55

Bridgeport-Stamford LMA0.56

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Racially Concentrated Areas of Poverty (RCAP)

Statewide, RCAP includes:• 8% of population• 10% of children• 30% of Hispanics• 25% of non-Hispanic Blacks

Racially Concentrated Area of Poverty• > 50% minority population• 3x regional poverty rate

Darien, Norwalk, Stamford: RCAP includes:

• 11% of population• 11% of children• 22% of Hispanics• 23% of non-Hispanic Blacks

Source: Census 2010 SF2 PCT5; RCAP criteria from HUD

Part II: Demographics, Not Destiny

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To reverse increasing child poverty, we need to make strategic investments in

programs that are effective.

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Targeted Investment: Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

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Percent of CT Income Tax Returns Claiming EITC

Source: CT Dept. of Revenue Services

CT = 11.7%

Town Number of EITC Returns

Average Credit

Amount

Average Income of

Filer Connecticut 181,620 $601 $17,957

Darien 180 $367 $13,060Norwalk 4,338 $582 $17,454Stamford 5,842 $574 $17,501

Stamford Norwalk

Darien

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K-12 Educational Achievement

Source: CT State Department of Education https://solutions1.emetric.net/CMTPublic/Index.aspx

3rd Grade Reading ≥

Goal (2012-13)CT = 56.9%

10th Grade Math ≥ Goal

(2012-13)CT = 52.6%

Stamford Norwalk

Darien

Stamford Norwalk

Darien

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Early Care and Education

CT = 80%

Kindergarteners with Pre-K Experience (2011-12)

Source: CT State Department of Education

CT = 3.4%

Kindergarteners Retained(2011-12)

Darien

Stamford Norwalk

Darien

NorwalkStamford

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Healthcare for Low-Income Children & FamiliesIn Connecticut, the Medicaid program for children and families (HUSKY A) covers:

• Children under the age of 19 in families with income up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level

• Pregnant women in families with income under 250% FPL

• Parents or relative care givers in families with income up to 185% FPL

• Youth in foster care up to age 26

Children WithOUT Health Insurance

CT = 3.2%

Source: American Community Survey, 2009-11 3-yr estimates Table C27001.

Statistics for towns with smaller populations may have a margin of error over 10%.

Darien

NorwalkStamford

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Pre-Natal Care

Source: CT Department of Public Health

Late or No Pre-Natal Care

CT = 12.8%

Darien

NorwalkStamford

25www.ctvoices.orgSource: CT Department of Public Health

Children with Lead in Blood

Children with High Level of Lead in Blood(≥ 5 micrograms/deciliter)

Darien

NorwalkStamford

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Part III: Policy Recommendations

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Promote full restoration of the state earned income tax credit (EITC) to 30 percent of the federal tax credit by 2015.

See Voices’ Publication: Connecticut’s Earned Income Tax Credit: A Boost to Working Families in Every Town (Jan 2013)

Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit

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Promote legislation to create a new Connecticut child tax credit.

See Voices’ Publication: Making Children Visible in Connecticut’s Tax Code (forthcoming)

Connecticut Child Tax Credit

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

Government Fiscal Responsibility

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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)

Early Childhood Education

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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)

Reduce Student Arrests

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Support measures that connect children in State care to high quality educational opportunities.

Voices’ Publication: Raise the Grade: Improve Educational Opportunities for Youth in State Care (Jan 2014)

Educational Achievement

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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)

Voices’ Publication: Continuous Eligibility (forthcoming)

Children’s Health

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Increase access and usage of prenatal and HUSKY care.

Voices’ Publications: HUSKY Eligibility Manual (Feb 14); Fewer Children Experience Gaps or Loss of Coverage in the HUSKY Program (Jan 2014)

Children’s Health

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Orlando Rodriguez Senior Policy Fellow

orodriguez@ctvoices.org203-498-4240 x107

Questions?