Merced County
Children’s Action Plan
September 2004
Based on the Merced County Children’s Summit
A journey of a thousand miles
must begin with a single step.
- Lao Tzu
A Word from Our Chairperson
September 2004
These are exciting times!
On April 30th and May 1st of this year, this community confirmed that our
children are worth the expenditure of our time and our money. Six hundred
and seventy-five individuals came together to formulate a plan of clarity,
choice, and commitment.
Merced County recognizes that it faces a number of challenges. Poverty,
unemployment, lack of education, family violence, substance abuse, crime,
and poor health outcomes are some of the issues that need to be addressed.
However, this is a courageous community inspired to change the world for the
better and to move from a place of scarcity to abundance.
This plan identifies concrete and realistic steps that we as a community can
take to address family safety and stability, children's health, success in school,
quality child care, and preparing youth for adulthood.
This plan represents a consensus of vision, which formulates the foundation
for a quiet revolution of hope.
I am grateful for the privilege of sharing this experience.
Ana Pagan
Summit Chair
Commissioner, First 5 Merced County Children and Families Commission
Director, Merced County Human Services Agency
Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements............................................................................................. 7
Executive Summary .......................................................................................... 11
Overview ......................................................................................................................... 11
Next Steps: Implementing the Plan................................................................................. 13
Background: Planning the Children’s Summit ................................................................ 13
Action Steps .................................................................................................................... 14
Goals and Definitions...................................................................................................... 19
Implementation and Accountability................................................................. 20
Demographic Profile of Merced County.......................................................... 23
Goal 1 – All Children and Youth Will Live in a Community That Does Not
Tolerate Abuse or Neglect of Children or Violence in Families.................... 25
Child Abuse and Neglect ................................................................................................ 25
Background....................................................................................................................................................25
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................26
Objective 1.1. There are fewer abused children, both first-time and repeat, as measured by the rate of
substantiated allegations of child abuse and neglect including repeat allegations within one year................26
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................26
Foster Care ..................................................................................................................... 26
Background....................................................................................................................................................26
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................27
Objective 1.2. Children in foster care are safer, and experience fewer disruptions in care as measured by the
number of foster homes, the average number of placements for a child in care, and the rate of abuse in
foster care......................................................................................................................................................27
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................27
Domestic Violence .......................................................................................................... 27
Background....................................................................................................................................................27
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................28
Objective 1.3. Fewer children are exposed to family violence in their homes as measured by the rate of
domestic violence reports to law enforcement countywide and by city. .........................................................29
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................29
Parental Substance Abuse ............................................................................................. 29
Background....................................................................................................................................................29
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................30
Objective 1.4. There is a reduction in parental substance abuse as measured by the rate of drug and alcohol
arrests............................................................................................................................................................30
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................30
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Goal 2 – All Children and Youth Will Be Healthy ........................................... 31
Health Insurance and Other Health Access Issues ........................................................ 31
Background....................................................................................................................................................31
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................32
Objective 2.1. Increased numbers of children and youth have access to health, dental, and mental health
care, as measured by the percentage of children enrolled in insurance programs such as Medi-Cal and/or
who have a medical home. ............................................................................................................................32
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................32
Teen Births...................................................................................................................... 33
Background....................................................................................................................................................33
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................33
Objective 2.2. The teen birth rate continues to decrease with fewer teen pregnancies and repeat
pregnancies, as measured by the teen birth rate ages 13-19. .......................................................................34
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................34
Nutrition/Physical Fitness/Obesity/Diabetes ................................................................... 34
Background....................................................................................................................................................34
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................35
Objective 2.3. There is a slowing of the trend toward an increasing number of overweight and obese children
as measured by the percentage of overweight and obese school children grades K–12 on the California
Fitness Test administered by the schools. .....................................................................................................35
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................35
Teen Drug and Alcohol Use............................................................................................ 36
Background....................................................................................................................................................36
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................36
Objective 2.4. Fewer youth use alcohol and other drugs as measured by juvenile misdemeanor and felony
drug arrests for youth ages 10-17. .................................................................................................................36
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................36
Mental Health .................................................................................................................. 37
Background....................................................................................................................................................37
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................37
Objective 2.5. Children and youth with mental health problems will have access to support and resources as
measured by the number of publicly funded treatment slots for children and youth. .....................................37
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................37
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Goal 3 – Education: All Children Will Be Ready for School and Succeed in
School ................................................................................................................ 39
School Readiness ........................................................................................................... 39
Background....................................................................................................................................................39
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................39
Objective 3.1. Increased numbers of entering kindergarteners of all abilities will be ready for school, and the
schools will be ready for them, as measured by First 5 surveys of school readiness and assessments of
child readiness...............................................................................................................................................40
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................40
Success in School – Ages 6-13 ...................................................................................... 40
Background....................................................................................................................................................40
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................41
Objective 3.2. There will be an increase in student achievement levels throughout elementary and high
school grades and a reduction in the achievement gap for minority students and under-represented groups
as measured by STAR test scores. ...............................................................................................................41
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................41
School and Jobs – Ages 14-22 ....................................................................................... 42
Background....................................................................................................................................................42
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................43
Objective 3.3. Increased numbers of high school students will graduate and be ready for work or higher
education as measured by high school graduation rates, college entrance rates, and the number of youth
employed. ......................................................................................................................................................43
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................43
Goal 4 – All Families Will Have Access to Affordable and High Quality Child
Care, Including Both Early Care and Education and School-Age Care ....... 45
Child Care: Early Care and Education and School-Age Care ........................................ 45
Background....................................................................................................................................................45
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................46
Objective 4.1. The community will have a better understanding of the need for quality child care including
early care and education and school-age care as measured by surveys of callers to the child care resource
and referral line..............................................................................................................................................46
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................46
Objective 4.2. There will be an increase in available quality child care including early care and education and
school-age care for working families as measured by the number of licensed child care spaces and the
number of license-exempt providers who have received training. .................................................................46
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................47
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Goal 5 – The Community Will Develop and Sustain Services Needed to
Support and Strengthen all Children, Youth, and Families .......................... 49
Nonprofit Capacity Building............................................................................................. 49
Background....................................................................................................................................................49
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................49
Objective 5.1. Non-profits and public agencies are more effective and more sustainable as measured by the
number of staff and Board members who have received capacity building training and participant ratings of
training effectiveness. ....................................................................................................................................49
Action steps ...................................................................................................................................................49
Leisure Time and Youth Development Activities ............................................................ 50
Background....................................................................................................................................................50
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................50
Objective 5.2. There will be more leisure time activities for children and youth served by new and expanded
programs........................................................................................................................................................50
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................50
All Youth – One System.................................................................................................. 50
Background....................................................................................................................................................50
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................51
Objective 5.3. Youth serving agencies and organizations increase their coordination and collaboration as
measured by surveys of youth-serving agencies. ..........................................................................................51
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................51
Youth Development ........................................................................................................ 51
Background....................................................................................................................................................51
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................52
Objective 5.4. There will be an increased use of the asset/strength-based approach in working with children
and families as measured by surveys of agencies serving children, youth, and families. ..............................52
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................52
Goal 6 – All Youth Will Have the Opportunity to Become Healthy and
Productive Adults.............................................................................................. 53
Coping Skills and Relationships...................................................................................... 53
Background....................................................................................................................................................53
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................53
Objective 6.1. More youth have coping skills to help them address relationship and growing-up issues as
measured by youth surveys. ..........................................................................................................................53
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................53
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Transition at 18 ............................................................................................................... 53
Background....................................................................................................................................................53
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................54
Objective 6.2. More foster children transitioning at age 18 have stable housing and are working or enrolled in
school as measured by the percentage employed, in school, and in stable housing.....................................54
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................54
Youth Crime and Violence Including Gangs ................................................................... 54
Background....................................................................................................................................................54
What Works ...................................................................................................................................................55
Objective 6.3. There is a reduction in youth crime countywide as measured by juvenile misdemeanor and
felony arrests rates for youth ages 10-17.......................................................................................................55
Action Steps...................................................................................................................................................55
Children’s Summit Recommendations for Future Action ............................. 57
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Acknowledgements
Summit Chair
Ana Pagan, Merced County Human Services Agency
Summit Coordinator
Dennis Haines, Family Resource Council
Summit and Action Plan Facilitator
Nancy Goodban, Ph.D., Nancy Goodban Consulting
Children’s Summit Sponsors
The California Endowment
First 5 Merced County Children and Families Commission
Merced County Human Services Agency
Merced County Office of Education - Family Resource Council
Other Financial Contributors
University of California Merced
Merced Lao Family, Incorporated
Boys & Girls Club of Merced County
Chevys Fresh Mex
Main Street Café
Marie Callenders Restaurant
County Bank
Cingular Wireless
Starbucks Coffee
Sears Roebuck & Co
Rack’em Up Billiards Sport Pub & Video Arcade
Main Place Stadium Cinema
McDonald’s
Wired Internet Coffee Bar
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Keynote Speakers
Ana Pagan, Merced County Human Services Agency
Jerry Friedman, American Public Human Services Association
Laura Hogan, The California Endowment
Tammy Moss, First 5 Merced County Children and Families Commission
Dr. Lee Andersen, Merced County Office of Education
Dr. Kenji Hakuta, University of California Merced
Congressman Dennis Cardoza
Special Thanks to:
Paul Lundberg – Invocation
Merced American Legion Veterans of Foreign War Color Guard and Honor Guard – Colors
Martha Kelley – National Anthem
Reyes (Alicia) Elementary School – Singing God Bless America
Playhouse Merced Conservatory – Skit from “Annie”
Child Abuse Prevention Council and Child Advocates of Merced County – Networking Fair
Soroptimists International of Merced – Decorations
Children’s Services Network of Merced County – Gift bags
METV – Merced County Office of Education – Filming
Earl Henderson – Teen Event Master of Ceremonies and Disc Jockey
Kat Swanson – Teen Event Fire Dancer
Agencies that Participated in Planning
A Woman’s Place, Boys and Girls Club of Merced County, California Health Collaborative – Teen
Pregnancy Prevention Program, California Youth Connection, Child Abuse Prevention Council of Merced
County, Child Advocates of Merced County, Children’s Services Network, Community Action Agency
Head Start, Employment Development Department, Family Resource Council, First 5 Merced County
Children and Families Commission, Girl Scouts Muir Trail Council, Golden Valley Health Clinic, Healthy
House Within a MATCH Coalition, Independent Living Program, Local Child Care Planning Council,
Merced City Council, Merced City School District, Merced County Alcohol and Drug Services, Merced
County Mental Health Department, Merced College, Merced College Child Development Center, Merced
County 4-H Club, Merced County Department of Workforce Investment, Merced County Food Bank,
Merced County Human Services Agency, Merced County Office of Education, Merced County Sheriff’s
Department, Merced Lao Family, Inc., Merced County Public Health Department, Planned Parenthood
Mar Monte, Recovery Assistance for Teens, Rogers & Associates, Total Self Insight, University of
California Merced
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Planning Committee: Friday Event
Valerie Anthony, Andrea Baker, Natalie Baughman, Susan Bubenchik, Lori Buendia, Brenda Bull,
Freddie Chavez, Bea Chavira, Amber Chiang, Claudia Corchado, Natalie Culver, Marcia Dailey, Robin
Davis, Evelyn Eagleton, Troy Fox, Nancy Goodban, Harry Gossett, Kristine Griffin, Joanna Grimes,
Dennis Haines, Kenji Hakuta, Brenda Hicks, Tina Johns, Alice Keiffer, Sally Latorraca, Arlen Lawson,
Rebecca Lincoln, Irma Lira, Deu Lo, Richard Mahacek, Carolyn McCrary, Brian Miller, Marilyn Mochel,
Deborah Morrill, Tammy Moss, Ana Pagan, Jan Paystrup, Loretta Porta, Elaine Post, Mayra Ramirez,
Gaye Riggs, Joan Rodriguez, Bill Ruth, Marilyn Scorby, Kat Swanson, Paul Thao, Cynthia Turner,
Michelle Tuttle, Susan Walsh, Betty Wetters, Ellie Wooten, Ka Xiong, Judi Zoboli
Planning Committee: Teen Event
Ana Andrade, Fred Chavez, Claudia Corchado, Natalie Culver, Robin Davis, Evelyn Eagleton, Angela
Fan, Andre Griggs, Earl Henderson, Taide Hernandez, Brenda Hicks, Rob Jarvis, Rebecca Lincoln,
Richard Mahacek,, Holly Newlon, Elaine Post, Celeste Ramos, Mayra Ramirez, Patricia Rojas, Kathy
Swanson
Planning Committee: Child Care Event
Valerie Anthony, Natalie Baughman, Jenni Freitas, Kristine Griffin, Joanna Grimes, Tina Johns, Debra
Morrill, Tammy Moss, Jan Paystrup, Loretta Porta, Judy Rehling, Susie Rico, Gaye Riggs, Lupe Rios,
Joan Rodriguez, Jennifer Sledge, Marilyn Scorby, Cynthia Turner, John Volanti, Betty Wetters, Ka Xiong
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Executive Summary
Overview
Merced County is a rapidly growing community with a high proportion of children and significant levels
of poverty and unemployment. We have a very diverse county, with many immigrants and a tapestry of
languages, cultures, and ethnicities. The economy is characterized by low wage jobs, many of them
seasonal and agricultural, and the population is relatively less educated compared to the rest of California.
Merced County fares poorly on many indicators of social well-being including educational achievement,
family violence, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and juvenile crime.
In the face of these challenges, a cross-section of 675 community residents including professionals and
parents, teens and youth, and child care providers came together on April 30 and May 1, 2004 for the first
ever Merced County Children’s Summit to identify solutions and to improve outcomes for children and
youth. Summit participants took part in small group discussions to identify and prioritize action steps that
address the needs of children and youth in Merced County. The Summit included three separate events.
Friday during the day the summit was geared towards professionals and community members; Friday
evening was the teen summit; and Saturday morning the summit focused on child care providers.
The Merced County Children’s Action Plan is a direct result of the Children’s Summit. The purpose of the
Children’s Action Plan is to provide a road map for short and medium term actions that will yield
measurable improvements in children’s health and well-being. The Children’s Action Plan recognizes the
richness of our diverse population and the importance of affirming the unique contributions of children and
families from all cultures and backgrounds, including different countries of origin, ethnic groups, and
languages.
This is a three-year plan built on the foundation of previous reports, assessments, and plans that have
identified the key issues facing children and youth in Merced County. These previous reports and plans
have identified the problems and oftentimes the solutions. This Plan weaves together targeted actions that
are realistic, concrete, and achievable and will have the most impact in the shortest amount of time.
The goals, objectives, and action steps identified in the Children’s Action Plan are in alignment with the
First 5 Merced County Strategic Plan, the Merced County Human Services Agency (Child Welfare
Services redesign including the self-assessment and the self-improvement plan), the Merced County P-16
Council, the Merced County Public Health response to the findings of the Health in the Heartland report,
and the findings from the 2004 child care assessment undertaken by the Merced County local Child Care
and Planning Development Council.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
The Children’s Action Plan identifies measurable objectives and concrete, realistic action steps to meet six
community goals:
Goal 1
All children and youth will live in a community that does not tolerate abuse or neglect of
children or violence in families.
Goal 2
All children and youth will be healthy.
Goal 3
All children will be ready for school and succeed in school.
Goal 4
All families will have access to affordable and high quality child care, including both early
care and education and school-age care.
Goal 5
The community will develop and sustain services needed to support and strengthen all
children, youth, and families.
Goal 6
All youth will have the opportunity to become healthy and productive adults.
For each goal, a series of measurable objectives has been developed. There are 21 objectives in all. One
of the first steps in implementation will be to develop current data for each objective to use as a baseline.
These data will be updated regularly to measure improvement.
For each objective, there are concrete action steps designed to be achievable within the three-year
timeframe of this report. A total of 74 action steps will be implemented, monitored, and tracked as part of
the plan.
The action steps recognize the interrelationships between the challenges facing our children and families.
For example, parental substance abuse is a key risk factor for both child abuse and domestic violence.
Similarly, families where there is child abuse and neglect often have co-occurring domestic violence
between the adult partners. Perhaps most fundamentally, high poverty rates are linked to many of the
identified problems, and summit participants recognize the importance of addressing poverty through job
training and skills development as well as building the economic base of the County.
One key action step found throughout the goals and objectives in the plan is to increase public awareness
about both the problems and the solutions. Other key steps include launching a Children’s Health Initiative
to provide health insurance for all children, developing a family drug court, increasing substance abuse
treatment for parents as well as teens, looking into the feasibility of developing a children’s shelter,
establishing transitional housing for foster youth, providing mentoring and peer support for foster families
and youth, and phasing in preschool for all 4-year-olds in Merced County. Accomplishing each of these
will require broad based community support. Many of the action steps will require new resources, and it is
hoped that the Children’s Action Plan will provide support to grant requests to obtain the needed resources.
We recognize that it is essential to develop capacity within the public and private agencies that will be
responsible for carrying out the action steps. Many of the action steps cannot be carried out until the
infrastructure is developed. The Children’s Action Plan helps us to focus on actions steps we can take, and
put the infrastructure in place to make sure we succeed.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Next Steps: Implementing the Plan
The Children’s Action Plan will be carried out by a broad-based community wide collaborative team that
includes all groups participating in implementing the Action Steps. The Family Resource Council will
convene a small working group called the Children’s Action Mobilization Team to build capacity, facilitate
action, facilitate funding, and serve as a clearinghouse for communication. The Mobilization Team will set
out a work plan for each action step and convene an Action Step Team including a facilitating agency for the
action step. The Action Step Team will be accountable for completing the action step and reporting back to
the Mobilization Team and other stakeholders. The Mobilization Team will review progress on a quarterly
basis. In 2005, as the plan is being implemented, an educational forum and teen event will be held to
highlight best practices. A follow-up summit to review progress will be held in 2006.
Background: Planning the Children’s Summit
Planning for the first Merced County Children’s Summit began in fall of 2003 through the collaborative
efforts of First 5 Merced County, the Merced County Human Services Agency, and the Family Resource
Council (FRC). The FRC convened a broad based planning committee which met monthly for 6 months
to plan and implement the Children’s Summit.
Early in the process, the planning committee recognized the importance of holding a separate event for
teens in order to better obtain input, and a teen event planning committee was established. The teen event
planning committee met regularly and developed a youth-oriented agenda including a dinner, prizes, and a
dance as well as 20 small group discussions on 10 topics. A third event was planned for child care
providers in order to show appreciation for their contributions and provide information and education as
well as obtain feedback for the Children’s Action Plan.
The Children’s Summit was held at the Boys & Girls Club in Merced. During each of the summit events,
a networking fair organized by the Child Abuse Prevention Council and Child Advocates of Merced
County offered booths, brochures, and information from approximately 40 local organizations and
agencies.
The format of the Children’s Summit was small group discussions to brainstorm and prioritize action steps.
Over 80 volunteers were trained as facilitators and/or scribes for the small group discussions. Discussion
groups were established for a number of topics related to children and youth, including after school
activities, child abuse prevention, child care, domestic violence, economic self-sufficiency, foster care,
health, mental health and coping skills, nutrition, substance abuse, success in school, teen pregnancy
prevention, teen relationships, youth crime, and youth development. During these breakout sessions,
participants brainstormed and prioritized action steps that were concrete, realistic, and measurable.
A total of 68 small group discussions yielded over 200 action steps, which were disseminated in draft form
and prioritized and revised by stakeholders and volunteers to result in this finished plan. Action steps
identified during the Summit but not included here as steps to carry out and track are included in the final
section of the plan as recommendations for future action.
Implementing the Children’s Summit was only possible because of the dedicated efforts of staff and
volunteers from throughout the County, including public agencies, education, community-based
organizations, the faith community, and business. In planning and putting on the Children’s Summit, 125
individuals from throughout the County logged a total of 3,000 hours.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Action Steps
Objective 1.1: Child Abuse and Neglect Action Steps
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign – multilingual and multicultural – on child
abuse, child abuse prevention, and mandated reporting.
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign on the role and responsibilities of Child Welfare
Services.
9 Expand culturally appropriate and behaviorally measurable parent education model for abusive
parents.
Objective 1.2: Foster Care Action Steps
9 Undertake a campaign to recruit more foster parents.
9 Conduct a feasibility study for a children’s shelter/receiving home for intake and complete assessment
(medical, mental health, and social) for up to 30 days.
9 Develop and implement mentoring and peer support for foster parents.
9 Establish a task force to improve communication with foster parents and incorporate them into
decision-making.
Objective 1.3: Domestic Violence Action Steps
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign – multilingual and multicultural – on domestic
violence, its effects on child witnesses, and the link with child abuse.
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign – multilingual and multicultural – on the link
between animal abuse, family violence, and other violence in the community.
9 Develop and implement domestic violence curriculum and outreach preschool through high school.
9 Develop intervention continuum for all parties in family violence including adult victims, children, and
perpetrators including identification, screening, assessment, and referral for children and their families.
9 Establish task force to coordinate training and services for families with co-occurring child abuse and
domestic violence and develop evidence-based policies, protocols, and procedures for responding to
the needs of children.
Objective 1.4: Parental Substance Abuse Action Steps
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign on the effects of parental substance abuse on
children and the link with child abuse and domestic violence.
9 Develop a treatment facility (residential and outpatient) for substance abusing parents that includes
medical evaluation, mental health and psychosocial assessment, and intensive treatment that addresses
all identified issues.
9 Develop a one-stop resource center for information and referral and outreach for drug and alcohol
problems.
9 Establish a family drug court/dependency court, which requires that parents be assessed for substance
abuse when their child is involved in the criminal justice system, and requires that parents participate
in treatment as appropriate as a component of the youth's adjudication.
9 Ensure that all community agencies that work with children screen for parental substance abuse and
provide information about treatment resources.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Objective 2.1: Health Insurance and Health Access Action Steps
9 Develop and implement a Children’s Health Initiative, promoting health insurance and access to health
care for all children in Merced County.
9 Increase outreach for hard to reach populations, such as families in migrant camps and those living in
extreme poverty, to improve access to health resources and services.
9 Develop culturally competent and appropriate “Promotores” system (cultural mediators), which would
assist health care providers with the intensive case management and/or wrap around services.
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign - multilingual and multicultural - about health
and wellness.
Objective 2.2: Teen Births Action Steps
9 Set up a forum to increase collaboration around teen pregnancy prevention between schools, the
Merced County Human Services Agency, pregnancy prevention programs, and Merced County Public
Health Department.
9 Increase school-based clinics.
Objective 2.3: Nutrition and Physical Fitness Action Steps
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign – multilingual and multicultural – on healthy
eating and regular physical activity using TV, radio, Internet, community centers, town meetings, and
road shows.
9 Participate in and utilize the resources of the regional planning and implementation of the Central
California Public Health Partnership’s Diabetes prevention program.
Objective 2.4: Teen Drug and Alcohol Use Action Steps
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign – multilingual and multicultural – about the
dangers of youth drug and alcohol use.
9 Expand adolescent drug court to tie it in with the new family drug court to be developed.
9 Train recovered teens and teens overcoming addictions to mentor other teens to prevent drug use.
9 Explore feasibility of a treatment and recovery program at the Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional
Complex.
Objective 2.5: Mental Health Action Steps
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign – multilingual and multicultural – on mental
health to target family involvement, familiarize the public with the signs and symptoms of mental
illness, and educate families and the general public about resources available in community.
9 Ensure that all children and youth who enter the foster care or juvenile justice system are provided a
thorough mental health screening and assessment.
9 Set up task force to explore feasibility of a “Sanctuary House” for 3-7 day respite for youth in crisis.
9 Set up task force to explore the feasibility of developing mental health/acute psychiatric inpatient beds
for adolescents.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Objective 3.1: School Readiness Action Steps
9 Establish Early Literacy Coalition to enhance community collaboration, increase public awareness and
to leverage resources in support of early literacy development.
9 Develop/compile core list of school readiness strategies (“how to's”) for families and early care and
education providers to support the five dimensions of school readiness.
9 Develop a phase-in plan for Preschool for All in Merced County that meets the needs of children of all
abilities, languages, and special needs, supports workforce development, and builds on quality
components of the existing early care and education system.
9 Develop and network community-based resource centers to address the needs of families and children
of all abilities including advocacy, access to services, and school readiness.
Objective 3.2: Success in School Ages 6-13 Action Steps
9 School districts will collect and analyze data to monitor student achievement.
9 Schools will promote standards-based instruction.
9 School districts will work towards enhancing articulation within and among Merced County districts
as well as the early care and education community.
9 The work of high school counselors will be reframed through training sponsored through the P-16
Council on how to make decisions based on data and how to advocate for academics.
Objective 3.3: School and Jobs Ages 14-22 Action Steps
9 Look at creative models of outreach to educate students about choices – higher education, vocational
training, and career choices.
9 Expand career training and advocacy including at middle schools.
Objective 4.1: Child Care Action Steps
9 Develop a local definition of quality and develop indicators at the individual provider level to help
parents understand what to look for in making choices about care for their children.
9 As a reference for parents, develop a matrix of local providers using quality indicators.
9 Educate the community through public service announcements, public forums, and other media about
the need for quality, accessible and affordable early care and education and school-age care.
Objective 4.2: Child Care Action Steps
9 Provide education and training to exempt providers to help them better understand best practices in
early care and education and school-age care, as well as assist them with business training and
licensing opportunities.
9 Develop strategic partnerships with nontraditional partners including business, government, and
nonprofit entities to expand financial resources and financing strategies that grow child care
infrastructure, such as establishing developer fees and child care facilities development.
9 Provide educational opportunities, additional training and incentives to licensed child care providers
who are working to increase their level of higher education while continuing to work in the early care
and education field.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Objective 5.1: Nonprofit Capacity Building Action Steps
9 Develop a capacity building program for community based and faith based organizations including
board development, fiscal, and technology capacity.
9 Train staff at all levels in all agencies that serve children and families on cultural diversity, cultural
appreciation, and how to provide culturally responsive services.
9 Develop baseline data on the objectives in the Children’s Action Plan
9 Create a central database with demographic and statistical data as a resource for program planning and
grant writing.
Objective 5.2: Leisure Time and Youth Development Activities Action Steps
9 Increase the availability of after school and leisure time programs for school aged children.
9 Establish teen programs designed and run by teens.
Objective 5.3: All Youth – One System Action Steps
9 Develop cross-training for social services, health, education, law enforcement, and community based
organizations to better understand each other’s roles and responsibilities.
9 Develop a youth plan team to oversee activities regarding youth ages 14-22.
9 Develop a one-stop youth resource center with links to jobs, schools, peer support, counseling,
mentoring, and social/recreational opportunities.
9 Hold a follow-up teen event in 2005 to look at the implementation of the Children’s Action Plan.
Objective 5.4: Youth Development Action Steps
9 Educate schools and service providers, including after school programs, about the youth asset
approach to promote youth assets in homes, schools, and communities.
9 Community awareness campaign using television, radio, Internet, and print media to understand the
asset approach and support and build on youth assets in home, school, and community.
9 Develop a program to train mentors, both adults and youth.
9 Expand incentives for youth community service.
9 Develop intergenerational opportunities where seniors work with children and youth.
Objective 6.1: Coping Skills and Relationships Action Steps
9 Develop peer presentations on relationship issues and peer counseling for developmental issues faced
by teens.
9 Develop bilingual radio/television talk show to talk about issues facing youth.
Objective 6.2: Transition at 18 Action Steps
9 Develop a transitional home for foster youth transitioning at age 18.
9 Develop a system to ensure that emancipating youth have important documents such as birth
certificates and medical information when they leave foster care.
9 Provide foster youth with help budgeting, paying bills, savings accounts, employment assistance,
living skills, and how to take care of the home.
9 Develop capacity for a mentoring program for and by foster youth.
9 Develop transitional housing for homeless teens.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Objective 6.3: Youth Crime and Violence Action Steps
9 Establish a countywide task force on prevention and early intervention for youth crime.
9 Expand first offender programs to include parents.
9 Increase access to drug and alcohol treatment services for youth.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Goals and Definitions
The Children’s Action Plan is designed to achieve six (6) goals.
Goal 1 – All children and youth will live in a community that does not tolerate abuse or neglect of children
or violence in families.
Goal 2 – All children and youth will be healthy.
Goal 3 – All children will be ready for school and succeed in school.
Goal 4 – All families will have access to affordable and high quality child care, including both early care
and education and school-age care.
Goal 5 – The community will develop and sustain services needed to support and strengthen all children,
youth, and families.
Goal 6 – All youth will have the opportunity to become healthy and productive adults.
The action steps are the foundation of the plan, providing the basis for achieving each objective. Taken
together, the set of objectives will help the community realize its goals for children and youth.
Definitions Used in Children’s Action Plan:
Goal
Objectives
Š Goal: General statement of community’s
desired state of well being for children.
Š Objective: Measurable statement of desired
progress in a specific topic area that is part of
the larger goal. Each goal has several
objectives.
Š Action Step: Concrete action that will be
taken to help achieve the objective. Each
objective has several action steps.
Action Steps
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Implementation and Accountability
This is an ambitious action plan. It is the intention of key stakeholders to implement 90% of the action
steps by December 2007. In order to achieve this, it will be necessary to mobilize the community as well
as to garner outside resources including funding.
The Children’s Action Plan will be implemented by a broad-based collaborative of community agencies,
including public agencies, education, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, business,
the media, and community volunteers.
In order to reach the goals and objectives of this plan, it is necessary to develop capacity within the public
and private agencies that will be responsible for carrying out the action steps. In fact, many of the action
steps cannot be carried out until the infrastructure is developed. The Children’s Action Plan focuses on
realistic action steps that can be taken while putting the infrastructure in place to ensure success.
The first step is that in September 2004, the Family Resource Council will convene a small working group
called the Children’s Action Mobilization Team. The Mobilization Team will build capacity, facilitate
action, facilitate funding, and serve as a clearinghouse for communication.
Between October and December 2004, the Mobilization Team will convene Action Step Teams and
suggest work plans for the action steps. The Action Step Teams will be accountable for completing the
action steps and reporting back to the Mobilization Team and other stakeholders on a quarterly basis.
Action steps within the purview of an existing group may not require a separate Action Step Team, but the
existing group would be asked to share information on progress with the Mobilization Team.
One of the action steps is to develop a group to oversee the implementation of action steps related to youth
and young adults. It is expected that this group will hold a follow-up teen event for youth in Spring 2005
to involve more youth, helping them to find out and participate in the action steps that impact them.
In Spring 2005, there will also be an educational forum to share best practices in selected areas based on
action steps that are underway, to help build capacity among service providers as well as to provide public
education and information.
In Spring 2006, the Mobilization Team will hold a follow-up Children’s Summit to review progress on
each of the action steps and objectives.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Merced County Children's Action Plan Process
Step 1
Step 10
Step 2
Step 9
Step 3
Step 8
Step 7
Step 4
Step 6
Step 5
Steps in the Children’s Action Plan:
Š
Step 1: Children’s Summit, April 30 to May 1, 2004
Š
Step 2: Publish Children’s Action Plan, September 2004
Š
Step 3: Establish Children’s Action Mobilization Team, September 2004
Š
Š
Step 4: Set-up Action Step Teams, October to December 2004
Step 5: Implement Action Steps, December 2004 - ongoing
Š
Step 6: Quarterly Review of Progress, December 2004 - ongoing
Š
Step 7: Teen Event, Educational Forum, Spring 2005
Š
Step 8: Follow-up Children’s Summit, Spring 2006
Š
Step 9: Achieve 90% of Action Steps by December 2007
Š
Step 10: Ongoing Review of Outcomes Data
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Children's Action Plan Implementation Structure
Action Step
Team
Action Step
Team
Action Step
Team
Children’s Action
Mobilization Team
Š
Š
Š
Š
Build Capacity
Facilitate Action
Facilitate Funding
Clearinghouse
Action Step
Team
Action Step
Team
Action Step
Team
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Demographic Profile of Merced County
Merced County has a large proportion of children and youth and is one of the fastest growing
counties in the state.
•
In Merced County, the child population ages 0-17 increased from 44,242 in 1980 to 61,724 in 1990,
and 72,846 in 2000.
•
Children ages 0-17 made up 34% of the population in 2002, compared to 29% statewide.
•
We have the highest “youth dependency ratio” in the state – there are 51 children ages 0-15 for every
100 people of working age (16-69) who can support them, compared to 38 children per 100 statewide.
A high youth dependency ratio means there is a greater demand on public services such as schools and
child welfare, as well as child care and health care. In 2000, 50% of households in Merced had
children under 18 compared to 40% statewide. There were 9.2% headed by single mothers compared
to 7.3% statewide.
•
The county population is expected to increase 26% in the next ten years, with the fastest growth in
Hilmar-Delhi and Los Banos areas.
Merced County is also a very diverse county with a high number of immigrants. This makes for a
rich tapestry of cultures. However, families from different backgrounds have a variety of cultural beliefs
regarding health, education, and child-rearing. Health providers, schools, and other agencies must be
culturally responsive to all groups. Program staff and boards of directors should be reflective of the
community being served to help make sure that the perspectives of different cultures are represented in
planning and service delivery. In addition, it is important to address and reduce language barriers, which
can prevent children and families from receiving the services they need.
•
As of 2000, 55% of the child population ages 0-17 was Latino, compared to 22% in 1970. White
children made up 30% of the child population compared to 71% in 1970. Asian children constituted
9% of the population compared to 2% in 1970. African American children made up 4% of the
population compared to 6% in 1970.
•
Although there is no accurate count of undocumented immigrants, research shows that they are more
likely to live in poverty and social isolation. As a result, their children have less access to health,
education, and other resources.
•
Between June and December 2004, 600-1,000 new Hmong refugees including pregnant women,
young children, families, and seniors, will move to Merced from an isolated area in Thailand where
they have been living for approximately 20 years. The newcomers do not speak English and have little
or no experience with western medicine, education, or culture.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Merced County is disproportionately poor. The high proportion of seasonal agricultural work – low
wage and not year round – contributes to the high poverty levels. At the same time, population growth is
putting pressure on housing costs, which are increasing rapidly, pricing out many low-income families. As
a result, more families are having trouble paying the rent in addition to covering the basic costs of food,
health, and child care.
•
The Merced Statistical Metro Service Area (SMSA) is the third poorest in the country. In 2000, the
median household income in Merced County was $35,532 compared to $47,493 statewide.
•
The unemployment rate is historically higher in Merced County. In December 2003, the
unemployment rate in Merced County was 14.3% compared to 6.1% statewide. We were ranked 53
out of 58 counties.
•
In 2000, 29% of children in Merced County were poor compared to 18% statewide (federal poverty
guidelines define poverty as $18,400 for a family of four in 2003).
•
In 2002, 10% of Merced County residents received Food Stamps compared to 4% statewide.
•
In 2002, 65% of children received free or reduced price school meals compared to 44% statewide.
Together with the high unemployment rate, the high proportion of children relative to working age adults,
and low levels of education, child poverty imposes an enormous burden on the safety net services provided
by the public and private sectors. The Children’s Action Plan recognizes the importance of addressing
poverty in order to overcome the challenges facing children and families.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Goal 1 – All Children and Youth Will Live in a Community That
Does Not Tolerate Abuse or Neglect of Children or Violence in
Families
The context for this goal is the statewide Child Welfare Services (CWS) reform effort, based on
self-assessments and self-improvement plans undertaken by each California County. Under this CWS
redesign initiative, the state and federal government have identified a series of child outcomes in the areas
of child abuse and neglect, foster care, placement stability, and family and community connections. The
thrust of the CWS systems redesign effort is that CWS needs to partner with the community to provide
information and to garner support for preventing and addressing child abuse and neglect. This goal, and
the corresponding objectives and action steps, are consistent with the findings of the CWS SelfAssessment and Self-Improvement Plan undertaken as a part of CWS Redesign.
Child Abuse and Neglect
Background
Child abuse and neglect is under-reported, and is found in families of all socioeconomic levels and ethnic
groups. Abused children experience emotional, cognitive, and behavioral problems, which may lead to
suicide, substance abuse, depression, and academic problems. Children who are abused or neglected are
more likely to repeat the cycle of violence into the next generation, through entering into violent
relationships or abusing their own children. Domestic violence is present in up to 60% of child
maltreatment cases. A primary risk factor is parental substance abuse; other risk factors include family
stresses such as poverty and social isolation. Factors that reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect
include a community commitment to support all families, emotional and social support systems, and stable
housing and financial resources for families. There is less child abuse in families that are well organized
and connected to the community, faith-based organizations, and a support system with other adults.
Parenting skills including an understanding of child development are also important in preventing child
abuse and neglect.
•
With a substantiated child abuse and neglect rate of 21.6 per 1,000 children ages 0-17, Merced County
had more child maltreatment than the state overall (11.5) in 2003. Child abuse or neglect was reported
for 6,049 children in 2002-2003.
•
In 2002-2003, Latino children made up 54% of child abuse reports, while whites were 33%, AfricanAmericans 10%, and Asians 3. Ten percent were infants under a year old; 30% were ages 1-5; 26%
were ages 6-10; 26% were ages 11-15; and 8% were ages 16-17.
•
In 2002-2003, 44% of substantiated referrals were due to neglect and another 16% were due to
caretaker absence or incapacity. Thirteen percent were a result of emotional abuse, 10% physical
abuse, and 6% sexual abuse.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
What Works
Effective child abuse prevention strategies include drug and alcohol treatment for parents and family
support through programs such as family resource centers and home visitation with multidisciplinary
teams. Economic self-sufficiency resources including job training, English language classes, and other
workforce services are important in helping the family strengthen its internal capacity. Approaches need to
take into account cultural background and values and to identify and build on family strengths. Both
formal and informal family centered and parent education activities should be available in the
neighborhood, school, and faith communities. School-based and school-linked services are an effective
way of reaching parents where they are. It is also important to coordinate drug courts, domestic violence
interventions, and child welfare.
Objective 1.1. There are fewer abused children, both first-time and repeat, as measured
by the rate of substantiated allegations of child abuse and neglect including repeat
allegations within one year.
Action Steps
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign – multilingual and multicultural – on child
abuse, child abuse prevention, and mandated reporting.
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign on the role and responsibilities of Child Welfare
Services.
9 Expand culturally appropriate and behaviorally measurable parent education model for abusive
parents.
Foster Care
Background
When children are removed from their parents, child welfare tries to find a safe environment with relatives.
When that is not possible the child is placed in a non-kin foster home or group home. The goal is
reunification with the parents or another permanent plan for the child; especially for those not placed with
relatives; it is hoped that a permanent resolution will be found quickly. Unfortunately, foster children often
enter the system with medical or behavioral problems due to their maltreatment. Children who are
removed from their home may feel socially isolated and depressed. In addition, many children are moved
from one foster setting to another. Foster children are more likely to have health and mental health
problems, and to do poorly in school. They are at risk for behavioral problems, drug and alcohol use, and
delinquency. Those who remain in foster care until they “age out” at 18 often end up homeless.
•
In July 2003, Merced County had 619 children in foster care due to child abuse and neglect, 28% of
whom were ages 0 to 5.
•
In January 2003, 72% of the county’s foster children were placed in Merced County; most of the
remaining 29% were placed in adjoining counties. Eighty-two percent of children who were placed
with relatives were placed within the county, but only 20% of those placed in group homes.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
•
With 4.4 out of 1,000 children ages 0-17 entering foster care for the first time in 2003, the foster care
rate is substantially higher in Merced County than the rate of 3.4 per 1,000 in the state as a whole.
•
Length of stay in foster care is an indication of how quickly child welfare is able to resolve the
problem that led to the child’s removal. In Merced County, 39% of children in relative placements and
15% in non-kin placements are still there after two years; which is better than the statewide rate of
44% of kin placements and 37% of non-kin.
What Works
Research in the field of foster care indicates effective strategies to prevent children from entering care as
well as to assist children once they are in foster care. Family conferencing has been effective in
developing a plan for the child based on discussion and consensus by the caseworker, attorney, and family.
The family-to-family model works to identify neighborhood and local resources, including relatives, to
help the child and provide placement options if needed. Well-trained foster parents are an important
component of an effective strategy. Because it is difficult to recruit foster parents, extensive outreach is
often necessary to identify potential foster homes including homes from diverse cultures, ethnic groups,
and languages. Foster parents also benefit from ongoing support and training, including peer support.
Objective 1.2. Children in foster care are safer, and experience fewer disruptions in care
as measured by the number of foster homes, the average number of placements for a
child in care, and the rate of abuse in foster care.
Action Steps
9 Undertake a campaign to recruit more foster parents.
9 Conduct a feasibility study for a children’s shelter/receiving home for intake and complete assessment
(medical, mental health, and social) for up to 30 days.
9 Develop and implement mentoring and peer support for foster parents.
9 Establish a task force to improve communication with foster parents and incorporate them into
decision-making.
Domestic Violence
Background
Domestic violence occurs in all socioeconomic groups and cuts across lines of ethnicity, culture, and
education. However, there are a number of factors that put individuals more at risk, chief among them
parental substance abuse. Other key factors are social isolation created by the perpetrator, victim’s fear –
of retribution, losing their children, or deportation – and the perpetrator’s or victim’s history of
experiencing child abuse or witnessing domestic violence as a child. Contributing factors include social
and financial dependence on the partner, lack of self-esteem, and a pattern of battered women’s syndrome.
Partner dynamics include the desire for power and control, a disregard for women or their intimate partner,
denial, lack of empathy and lack of conflict resolution skills. Research shows that the greatest danger
arises when the victim leaves. Important macro factors include lack of community awareness and
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
involvement, a need for more stringent laws and the socialization of men and women regarding roles of
power versus subservience as well as the social desensitization of violence.
There is a growing cadre of research demonstrating the negative effects on children who witness family
violence. Child witnesses to violence are also victims. These children are at risk of social and emotional
delays in development. Children raised in violent family environments can also become victims of
physical and sexual abuse, and have a greater risk of becoming abusers or victims themselves in their teen
years or adulthood. Research also shows the link between abuse of animals and family violence, animal
abuse if often a marker of child maltreatment.
The most important protective factors to prevent domestic violence are social and financial independence
and the availability of effective support systems, such as family services, child care and other resources.
Other protective factors include community education and awareness through churches, schools, the
medical profession, and social service agencies regarding social norms of respect and non-violence and the
accountability of perpetrators.
•
The number of domestic violence reports in Merced County rose from 1,379 in 1999 to 1,570 in 2002.
•
In 2002, 75% of domestic violence incidents involved weapons, down from 89% in 1999.
•
Domestic violence was identified as a contributing factor in 26% of open Child Protective Services
(CPS) cases in December 2003.
•
Eighty percent of domestic violence cases involve alcohol or drug abuse.
•
3,783 domestic violence victims received services from A Woman’s Place from October 2002 to
September 2003.
•
335 children and 171 adults were provided shelter by A Woman’s Place from October 2002 to
September 2003.
What Works
Community education and awareness is essential, including information for all languages and cultures. It
is important to coordinate services between law enforcement, advocacy groups and child welfare, fostering
collaboration in developing, implementing, and evaluating and strategies that reduce harmful effects of
children’s exposure to violence. This includes increasing the identification of developmentally appropriate
services for children and their families, improving access to these services, and enhancing the quality and
delivery of those services. Effective intervention strategies build on a comprehensive coordinated system
of services including support for victims, particularly to foster empowerment and financial independence;
services for batterers; culturally responsive services in multiple languages; and ensuring consequences for
perpetrators. Specialized domestic violence courts are effective, as well as domestic violence agencies and
shelters for victims and their children. Culturally and language appropriate counseling services need to be
available for victims, child witnesses, and perpetrators. Service providers need to recognize domestic
violence as it relates to the entire population, including teens and immigrants.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Objective 1.3. Fewer children are exposed to family violence in their homes as measured
by the rate of domestic violence reports to law enforcement countywide and by city.
Action Steps
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign – multilingual and multicultural – on domestic
violence, its effects on child witnesses, and the link with child abuse.
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign – multilingual and multicultural – on the link
between animal abuse, family violence, and other violence in the community.
9 Develop and implement domestic violence curriculum and outreach for preschool through high school.
9 Develop intervention continuum for all parties in family violence including adult victims, children, and
perpetrators including identification, screening, assessment, and referral for children and their
families.
9 Establish task force to coordinate training and services for families with co-occurring child abuse and
domestic violence and develop evidence-based policies, protocols, and procedures for responding to
the needs of children.
Parental Substance Abuse
Background
One of the greatest risk factors for both child maltreatment and domestic violence is parental drug and
alcohol abuse. Parents who abuse drugs also tend to provide a chaotic and unstable home environment,
lack of structure, and inconsistent discipline. Babies born to substance-abusing mothers are at risk of
cognitive and behavioral problems including Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The Central Valley, including
Merced County, has an enormous methamphetamine problem. Methamphetamine labs are dangerous for
children because drug-making chemicals are highly toxic and explosive.
•
In 1999 in Merced County, there were 14.9 DUI arrests per 1,000 residents ages 18-69 compared to
8.9 statewide. There were 9.9 per 1,000 non-DUI arrests involving alcohol compared to 6.3 statewide.
•
In 1999, there were 11.4 drug arrests per 1,000 residents ages 18-69 compared to 10.6 statewide.
•
In 1999, there were only 7.9 admissions to publicly funded drug and alcohol treatment per 1,000
residents ages 18-69 compared to 9.1 statewide, reflecting lack of capacity rather than lack of need.
•
Methamphetamine use was the most common problem, accounting for 44% of adult admissions in
1999.
•
Of the 920 open CPS cases in December 2003, parental drug abuse was identified as a contributing
factor in 49%.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
What Works
It is essential to provide a continuum of services to address parental drug abuse. Prevention programs,
drug treatment for pregnant women, inpatient as well as day treatment for substance abusers, residential
facilities including transitional housing, and good aftercare are all important. Involvement with 12-step
and recovery programs provide users with a clean and sober support group and a sponsor when extra
support is needed.
Objective 1.4. There is a reduction in parental substance abuse as measured by the rate
of drug and alcohol arrests.
Action Steps
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign on the effects of parental substance abuse on
children and the link with child abuse and domestic violence.
9 Develop a treatment facility (residential and outpatient) for substance abusing parents that includes
medical evaluation, mental health and psychosocial assessment, and intensive treatment that addresses
all identified issues.
9 Develop a one-stop resource center for information and referral and outreach for drug and alcohol
problems.
9 Establish a family drug court/dependency court, which requires that parents be assessed for substance
abuse when their child is involved in the criminal justice system, and requires that parents participate
in treatment as appropriate as a component of the youth's adjudication.
9 Ensure that all community agencies that work with children screen for parental substance abuse and
provide information about treatment resources.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Goal 2 – All Children and Youth Will Be Healthy
The context for this goal is the crisis in health outcomes for residents in the San Joaquin Valley, which are
linked to poverty, poor air quality, and a lack of health providers among other factors. These health issues
have been documented in Health in the Heartland: The Crisis Continues (Central Valley Health Policy
Institute, CSU Fresno, February 2004). Merced County Public Health hopes to establish a communitywide task force to prioritize and address these health concerns. The objectives and action steps for the goal
of children’s health are intended to be consistent with the findings from that report.
Health Insurance and Other Health Access Issues
Background
Health insurance is one of the most important prerequisites for accessing health care today, helping ensure
that children stay healthy by providing access to early identification and treatment of problems. Other
important prerequisites include adequate providers of care (primary, specialty, dental, and mental health),
available transportation, and the availability of culturally and linguistically appropriate care.
Children who do not have health insurance are three times less likely to have a regular source of medical
care, and as a result less likely to receive routine preventive and specialist care. The uninsured are more
likely to be treated by the emergency room rather than their regular doctor, and by the time care is sought,
the problem is often more serious. Dental insurance increases the likelihood that a child will receive
preventive care such as regular teeth cleaning with a dental hygienist, as well as assessment and treatment
for dental problems.
Beyond insurance, there are also language and cultural barriers to health care access when the provider
does not speak the patient’s language or does not understand the family’s cultural beliefs and values
regarding health and illness. For example, Hmong families often go to both western and traditional
practitioners. Many non-English speaking families are forced to use children, other family members,
neighbors or friends to interpret at the doctor’s office. It is essential that health care providers are
committed to reducing language barriers that can prevent effective care and respect the individual culture
of each patient.
Rural and low-income families face access problems due to an inadequate number and type of providers,
transportation difficulties, and/or problems leaving work for medical appointments.
Dental problems are a serious concern especially among low-income children. Children who see a dentist
are more likely to be educated on the importance and proper method of caring for teeth and gums. Regular
visits to a dentist help parents to learn how to avoid dental problems such as early caries or baby bottle
tooth decay.
•
In 2001, there were 29,000 uninsured children in Merced County, with an estimated 3,000 eligible for
Medi-Cal or Healthy Families.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
•
Immigration status is linked to health insurance. Although there are no statistics specific to Merced
County, there is research on the San Joaquin Valley area, which probably applies here as well. This
research indicates that fully 48% of undocumented children are uninsured, as are 23% of immigrant
children of documented parents. This is compared to only 6% of uninsured children of parents born in
the United States.
•
Research on the San Joaquin Valley shows that undocumented and immigrant children are much less
likely to be in very good or excellent health and much more likely to be in fair or poor health compared
to children of U.S. born parents.
•
In 2002, there were twice as few primary care and dental providers than the average in the State. The
numbers are worse for specialists and mental health providers.
•
Only 4% of low-income children who received a CHDP screening in 2002 were referred for dental
care, compared to 8% in 2001, perhaps reflecting that there is nowhere to send children locally once
dental problems have been identified.
What Works
Intensive enrollment outreach is important for assisting families to access Medi-Cal and Healthy Families
programs for their uninsured children. Enrollment sites can be located in neighborhoods using bilingual
and bicultural staff to educate parents about what is available and to address their concerns that enrollment
may have a negative impact on their immigration status. It is important to have multiple access points for
preventive routine care for low-income children and families, and to offer services in the evening and on
weekends for families who cannot get off work to take their child to the doctor. School nurses and
school-based or school-linked clinics are helpful in identifying and addressing problems early. It is
sometimes necessary to provide transportation. Services must be linguistically appropriate and culturally
sensitive. Interpretation by trained interpreters is effective in helping the patient and doctor understand
each other. It is also essential to build communication and understanding between western medical
providers and traditional practitioners.
Objective 2.1. Increased numbers of children and youth have access to health, dental,
and mental health care, as measured by the percentage of children enrolled in insurance
programs such as Medi-Cal and/or who have a medical home.
Action Steps
9 Develop and implement a Children’s Health Initiative, promoting health insurance and access to health
care for all children in Merced County.
9 Increase outreach for hard to reach populations, such as families in migrant camps and those living in
extreme poverty, to improve access to health resources and services.
9 Develop a culturally competent and appropriate “Promotores” system (cultural mediators), which
would assist health care providers with case management and/or wrap around services.
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign – multilingual and multicultural – about health
and wellness.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Teen Births
Background
Teens who are doing poorly in school are at greater risk of teen pregnancy, while young women connected
to school or community, including faith-based organizations, are less likely to become pregnant. Children
born to teen mothers are typically born into a disadvantaged life, where fathers are often absent, or not
supportive to the mother in raising the child. This compounds the effect of teen mothers being poorly
prepared for motherhood including having limited income, education, work experience, and emotional
maturity. Teen mothers are more likely to drop out of school and less likely to marry. It takes many years
for them to begin to earn income and have education comparable to others their age. Children of teen
mothers are more likely to have behavioral problems and academic difficulty throughout their school
years. Latina teens account for the largest proportion of teen births and most are from low-income
families.
•
In 2002, Merced County’s birth rate for teens ages 15-19 was 61.2 per 1,000 (compared to 41.6
statewide) and the rate for teens ages 15-17 was 35.0 (compared with 22.9 statewide).
•
Repeat births among Merced County teens ages 15-19 are also a serious issue, with approximately
23% of teen births being repeat births within 24 months of the previous birth.
•
In 2002, 68% of births to teens ages 15-19 in Merced County were to Latinas, although Latinas make
up only 39% of women ages 15-19.
•
Merced County is the 58th of 58 counties regarding late prenatal care; teens who have babies are
proportionately just as at risk as their adult counterparts.
What Works
Teen pregnancy prevention: Successful teen pregnancy prevention requires a community approach, with
efforts beginning before puberty. Family life education should provide basic and accurate information. It
should address social pressures as well as different cultural perspectives, involve young men as well as
young women, and incorporate peers for modeling and role-playing. Effective male involvement activities
are tailored to young men’s age and culture and provide male role models and mentors. Intensive, longterm programs that target at-risk teens and provide comprehensive education, employment, and life options
can be effective. Health care including contraceptives also needs to be available for sexually active teens.
Services for teen parents: School-based and school-linked programs for teen mothers that provide
classroom support as well as child care help reduce dropout rates. Mentoring programs can help young
mothers understand and take advantage of job opportunities. Programs to educate young fathers about
parenting and to engage them are important. Services must be sensitive to different cultural backgrounds
and values regarding single parenting.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Objective 2.2. The teen birth rate continues to decrease with fewer teen pregnancies and
repeat pregnancies, as measured by the teen birth rate ages 13-19.
Action Steps
9 Set up a forum to increase collaboration around teen pregnancy prevention including education to
teens between schools, the Merced County Human Services Agency, pregnancy prevention programs,
and Merced County Public Health Department.
9 Increase school based clinics.
Nutrition/Physical Fitness/Obesity/Diabetes
Background
Nutrition: Breastfeeding has advantages for both infant and mother, decreasing the severity of many
childhood illnesses and resulting in fewer postpartum problems and reduced rates of osteoporosis, ovarian
cancer, and breast cancer. In the preschool and school years, good nutrition is essential to healthy growth
and development. Even mild malnutrition can interfere with concentration and learning in the classroom.
Obesity: Nationwide, the number of overweight and obese children is increasing along with a growing
number of Type 2 diabetes cases in children. Children who are overweight are also at risk of developing
high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and asthma. They are more likely to be overweight in adulthood and
to develop stroke, heart disease, or arthritis. Physical Fitness: Physically fit children have better memory,
concentration, and energy levels, are healthier physically and emotionally, and are less prone to obesity and
Type 2 diabetes. These children are likely to carry their learned, healthy lifestyle over into adulthood,
translating into reduced incidence of obesity, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes,
cancer, fractures, and depression. Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes results when the body’s insulin is no longer
effective in processing glucose in the blood. In the past this was commonly referred to as “adult onset
diabetes” to distinguish it from Type 1 diabetes, which often strikes in childhood when the pancreas stops
being able to make insulin at all. Type 2 diabetes is being found in children for the first time and at
increasing rates. This is attributed to the increase in childhood obesity and the increasingly sedentary
lifestyle of children, who are more likely to stay inside watching TV or playing video games rather than
playing physically after school. Type 2 diabetes is often completely preventable through lifestyle changes
such as an improved diet and exercise.
•
The breast-feeding rate in Merced County was 74% in 1998, compared to 80% statewide. Based on
three-year averages 1996-1998, Merced County ranked 57th out of 58 counties in terms of exclusive
breast-feeding. Whites and Latinos have the highest breast-feeding rates, Asian/Pacific Islanders the
lowest.
•
In 1999, there were 9,606 children ages 0-4 in WIC, representing only 75% of those eligible.
•
Among low-income children who received CHDP screening in 2001, 25% of children ages 0-2 and
16% of children ages 3-5 had iron-deficiency anemia.
•
In 2001, 20.6% of children ages 5-20 years receiving CHDP services were overweight (> 95th
percentile for weight). Caucasian, Latino, and African-American children had the highest rates,
22.5%, 20.5%, and 20.5% respectively.
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•
In 2001, 18.1% of children ages 2-4 receiving CHDP services were overweight (> 95th percentile for
weight). Asian and Latino children had the highest rates, 22.5% and 20.5% respectively.
•
According to the body composition component of the California Physical Fitness Test administered to
children through the school in 5th, 7th, and 9th grades, 38% of Merced County school children are
overweight or obese compared to 35% statewide.
•
According to the California Physical Fitness Test administered through the schools, only 17% of 9th
graders were physically fit in all six standards compared to 23% statewide.
•
The rate of diabetes in California is highest for African Americans (10% of those over 18, and fully
23% of those over 50 compared to 10% of whites over 50). Latinos also have a high rate (6% of those
over 18, and 19% of those over 50).
•
Merced County Public Health is seeing a huge increase in obesity in Hmong and Caucasian children.
What Works
Effective nutrition support is provided by programs such as Women, Infants and Children (WIC) that
provides nutrition services to low-income young children and mothers. School breakfast and lunch
programs for older children also support nutrition and may provide the only meals of the day for some
youngsters. In terms of fitness and obesity, the American Heart Association recommends that children
ages five and older get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day, and 30 minutes of vigorous
exercise 3-4 times a week. School-based interventions can promote healthy food choices and exercise as
well as behavioral change and parent education. It is important for schools to ensure that students
participate regularly in physical education classes. In addition, with fewer students walking or biking to
school and playing outside after school, families need to focus on helping their children stay fit. Family
activities can include hiking, walking, bicycling, or playing in the park so that children and parents can
build a healthy lifestyle together.
Objective 2.3. There is a slowing of the trend toward an increasing number of overweight
and obese children as measured by the percentage of overweight and obese school
children grades K–12 on the California Fitness Test administered by the schools.
Action Steps
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign – multilingual and multicultural – on healthy
eating and regular physical activity using TV, radio, Internet, community centers, town meetings, and
road shows.
9 Participate in and utilize the resources of the regional planning and implementation of the Central
California Public Health Partnership’s Diabetes prevention program.
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Teen Drug and Alcohol Use
Background
Drug and alcohol use can lead to poor health, academic failure, and other problems. Alcohol is the most
commonly used drug among youth. It is correlated with other risky behaviors such as truancy, fighting,
drunk driving, and sexual activity. There are a variety of drugs including methamphetamines, but
marijuana is the drug of choice for teens with serious drug problems.
•
Adding felony and misdemeanor arrests in 2001, the rate of 15.7 drug/alcohol arrests per 1,000 youth
ages 10-17 was much higher than the state rate of 9.7. The felony arrest rate locally is 3.9 per 1,000
compared to the state’s 2.5, and the misdemeanor rate is 11.2 per 1,000 compared to the state’s 7.2.
Juvenile drug and alcohol arrests are the tip of the iceberg; the vast majority of teen drug and alcohol
use does not conclude in arrest.
•
In Merced County, juvenile drug and alcohol felony arrests tend to be for drug offenses (56% of
juvenile felony arrests in the Valley), dangerous drugs (26% of felony arrests), and marijuana (16%).
Misdemeanor arrests are typically for marijuana (which accounts for 39% of juvenile misdemeanor
drug and alcohol arrests), drunk and disorderly conduct (27% of misdemeanor arrests), and violating
liquor laws (20%).
What Works
The best approach is prevention. Youth, family, and community need to agree that youth substance abuse
is not acceptable, and take responsibility for providing leadership to reduce its prevalence. It is important
to enforce existing laws as well as to bring together schools, law enforcement, the media, and merchants to
build awareness and make alcohol and other drugs for youth less available and less acceptable. Youth
development activities that build youth leadership skills and provide a way for youth to feel productive and
to give back to the community are effective prevention strategies. It is also essential to provide treatment at
different levels of intensity including outpatient and residential, and to utilize drug courts in coordination
with treatment approaches.
Objective 2.4. Fewer youth use alcohol and other drugs as measured by juvenile
misdemeanor and felony drug arrests for youth ages 10-17.
Action Steps
9 Develop and implement a multilingual and multicultural public awareness campaign for students and
the larger community about the dangers of youth drug and alcohol use.
9 Expand adolescent drug court to tie it in with the new family drug court to be developed.
9 Train recovered teens and teens overcoming addictions to mentor other teens to prevent drug use.
9 Explore feasibility of a treatment and recovery program at the Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional
Complex.
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Mental Health
Background
An estimated one in five children and adolescents have a diagnosable mental health disorder, including
depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety, conduct, and eating disorders. At least
one in 10 have a serious emotional disturbance disrupting daily functioning in home, school, or
community. Mental health problems can result from biological causes including genetics, chemical
imbalances in the body, and head injuries. Environmental factors also contribute to mental health
disorders, including child abuse and neglect, exposure to domestic violence, exposure to environmental
toxins, chronic stress, or loss or disrupted relationships.
What Works
Early assessment, identification, and treatment are essential to address mental health problems in children
and youth. A range of treatment modalities needs to be available, including inpatient psychiatric
hospitalization, outpatient and day treatment, and aftercare. Training health care providers, teachers,
recreation leaders, and others who regularly work with children and youth to recognize the signs and
symptoms of mental illness can help to ensure that mental health issues are identified and addressed.
Objective 2.5. Children and youth with mental health problems will have access to
support and resources as measured by the number of publicly funded treatment slots for
children and youth.
Action Steps
9 Develop and implement a public awareness campaign – multilingual and multicultural – on mental
health to target family involvement, familiarize the public with the signs and symptoms of mental
illness, and educate families and the general public about resources available in the community.
9 Ensure that all children and youth who enter the foster care or juvenile justice system are provided a
thorough mental health screening and assessment.
9 Set up a task force to explore feasibility of a “Sanctuary House” for 3-7 day respite for youth in crisis.
9 Set up a task force to explore the feasibility of developing mental health/acute psychiatric inpatient
beds for adolescents.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Goal 3 – Education: All Children Will Be Ready for School and
Succeed in School
The education goal and corresponding objectives and action steps are in alignment with the framework of
the Merced County P-16 Educational Community Council. The P-16 Council, established in 2003, is
leading a reform effort to develop coordinated education for all students from preschool through college. It
aims to transform schools and colleges to set high standards, adopt rigorous curriculum, support good
teaching practices, and implement assessment and accountability to the greater community. Bringing
together leaders of local schools, colleges, and the community, the P-16 goal is to raise academic
achievement and to close the achievement gap for underrepresented students preschool though college.
P-16 Council members include organizations representing preschool and early care and education
providers, elementary school districts, high school districts, unified school districts, the County Office of
Education, institutions of higher education, economic development organizations, business representatives,
and workforce development organizations.
School Readiness
Background
The foundation for success in school is established during the first years of life as the brain undergoes
enormous growth and rapid change. The National Education Goals Panel identifies five dimensions of
school readiness: physical well-being and motor development, social and emotional well-being,
approaches toward learning, communication and language use, and cognition and general knowledge.
School readiness also requires that schools be ready to educate children of all abilities, and that families
and communities help prepare children to be ready to learn. Ensuring that young children are ready for
school depends on support and resources from family, neighborhood, school, and community.
•
While up to 90% of kindergartners in the city of Merced have had some preschool experience, there
are other areas in the county where fewer than 25% of incoming kindergartners have had any formal
preschool experience.
•
In 1999, 971 of 3,229 children ages 3-4 living in poverty (30%) were enrolled in Head Start. Although
others were enrolled in state preschools or child development centers, the majority of low-income
children did not have access to a preschool experience.
What Works
Research clearly indicates that high quality preschool experiences for children lead to better school
achievement, less likelihood of enrollment in special education, higher high school graduation rates, and
less likelihood of reliance on public assistance as an adult. High quality preschool programs are
developmentally appropriate, support early literacy and numeracy, and prepare children socially,
cognitively, and behaviorally for success in the K-12 system. In a comprehensive early care and education
system, quality preschool experiences for children are accompanied by other effective strategies and
programs including quality accessible child care in homes and centers, family literacy programs, book bag
programs, literacy programs with libraries, and home visitation models for families with young children.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Objective 3.1. Increased numbers of entering kindergarteners of all abilities will be ready
for school, and the schools will be ready for them, as measured by First 5 surveys of
school readiness and assessments of child readiness.
Action Steps
9 Establish Early Literacy Coalition to enhance community collaboration, increase public awareness and
to leverage resources in support of early literacy development.
9 Develop/compile core list of school readiness strategies (“how to’s”) for families and early care and
education providers to support the five dimensions of school readiness.
9 Develop a phase-in plan for Preschool for All in Merced County that meets the needs of children of all
abilities, languages, and special needs, supports workforce development, and builds on quality
components of the existing early care and education system.
9 Develop and network school-linked resource centers to address the needs of families and children of
all abilities including advocacy, access to services, and school readiness.
Success in School – Ages 6-13
Background
Begun in 1998, California’s Student Testing and Reporting (STAR) program requires that nearly all
students in grades 2 through 11 be tested annually using national norm-referenced tests. Test scores
include English Language Learners (ELL) who are designated by the schools as not fluent in English.
When interpreting test scores and their implications, it is important to remember that socioeconomic status
is the best predictor of test scores, with low-income children faring more poorly on standardized tests.
Results from two of the STAR tests used in 2003 are reported below:
California Standards Tests (CST) are being phased in as the core component of the STAR program,
representing 80-88% of the testing system, varying by grade. Students are rated as “advanced,”
“proficient,” “basic,” “below basic,” or “far below basic.” The CST was developed specifically to assess
student performance on California’s Academic Content Standards. These standards were adopted by the
State Board of Education and reflect what all California children are expected to know and be able to do in
each grade.
California Achievement Test (CAT/6), which was designated in 2002 by the State Board of Education as a
national norm-referenced achievement test to be taken by K-12 students. The test questions and scoring
system are the same from year to year. CAT-6 represents about 12-20% of the tests taken.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
By the end of the third grade, children should demonstrate reading comprehension and be able to read
unfamiliar words through various strategies such as roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Third grade reading
scores are highly correlated with later academic success. Another key year is ninth grade, when algebra is
offered as part of the college-going track.
•
In 2003, 5% of Merced County third graders scored “advanced” on the CST in English/Language Arts,
compared to 10% statewide. Another 15% were “proficient,” compared to 23% statewide. Fully 50%
of Merced County third graders were “below basic” or “far below basic,” compared to 39% statewide.
•
In 2003, only 31% of Merced County third graders scored above the 50th national percentile on the
CAT/6 reading test, compared to 47% statewide.
•
In 2003, only 13% of Merced County eighth graders tested on the CST for Algebra I scored
“advanced” or proficient,” compared to 19% statewide. Fifty percent were “below basic” or “far
below basic,” compared to 49% statewide.
What Works
Early identification and intervention are critical for children who are struggling with reading and other
academic subjects. Schools are instituting summer school and academies to help students in the lower
grades increase their achievement. Schools are being held accountable for test scores, and as a result test
scores are increasing statewide. Although these test score increases are widely hailed as a positive
outcome of education reform, many education professionals have been concerned that schools are
“teaching to the test” at the expense of helping students learn critical thinking and in-depth understanding.
The CST represents an improvement in the overall system – classroom instruction is aligned to standards,
and with CST for the first time assessment is aligned to instruction. Students are tested on what is being
taught.
Objective 3.2. There will be an increase in student achievement levels throughout
elementary and high school grades and a reduction in the achievement gap for minority
students and under-represented groups as measured by STAR test scores.
Action Steps
9 School districts will collect and analyze data to monitor student achievement.
9 Schools will promote standards-based instruction.
9 School districts will work towards enhancing articulation within and among Merced County districts
as well as the early care and education community.
9 The work of high school counselors will be reframed through training sponsored through the P-16
Council on how to make decisions based on data and how to advocate for academics.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
School and Jobs – Ages 14-22
Background
A high school diploma or GED is a basic requirement for many jobs and entrance into post-secondary
education. High school graduation rates in Merced County have increased during the past eight years, as
they have statewide. However, the percentage of high school graduates in Merced County has consistently
been lower than the statewide percentage. Other measures of high school success are the percentage of
high school seniors taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the percentage who complete all the
courses required for the University of California (UC) and/or California State University (CSU) entrance
with a grade of “C” or better.
Teens and young adults who are not working, in school, or in the military are disconnected from the social
institutions that help them navigate late adolescence and young adulthood. It is important to provide
engaging school activities as well as vocational education, job training, and career counseling for the noncollege bound. In terms of college, community colleges have more open admissions and are more
affordable than the University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU). For many
students, especially those who are low-income and may be first-generation college students, the
community college offers the only realistic chance to enroll in college and is often the first step towards a
university degree. Four-year colleges and universities result in increased earning potential and provide
more flexibility in career options.
•
In 2003, only 8.4% of Merced County high school students dropped out compared to 12.8% statewide,
using the 4-year derived dropout rate which extrapolates the number of dropouts over four years from
the single year’s data. The highest dropout rates were for Latinos (10%) and African-Americans
(9.6%). The State of California uses the National Center for Educational Statistics definition that
categorizes as dropouts students who were enrolled in grades 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 and left school
without returning, excluding students such as those who transfer to another school, graduate early, or
are temporarily absent.
•
In 2003, only 22% of high school seniors took the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) (down from 25% in
1999), compared to 37% statewide. Seventeen percent of white students took the SAT, as did 35% of
Asians, 21% of African-Americans, and 13% of Latinos.
•
In 2003, only 25% of high school seniors completed all the courses required for University of
California (UC) and/or California State University (CSU) entrance with a grade of “C” or better (down
from 27% in 1998), compared to 35% statewide.
•
In the 10-county area of the San Joaquin Valley (from Kern County north through San Joaquin and
Tuolumne Counties), only 3% of high school graduates attend UC, compared to 7% statewide;
however, 10%, they are equally likely to attend CSU and more likely to attend community college
(35% compared to 32%).
•
Eleven percent of 16-19 year olds in Merced County are unemployed and not in school, compared to
10% statewide.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
What Works
Effective schools engage all students by providing a range of opportunities for learning and participation
within the classroom and school, including job training programs and support for non college-bound youth.
Students need role models including teachers and administrators who are culturally and linguistically
representative of the student population, and those who are skilled in working with diverse youth. Classes
with linked, accessible child care help teen parents stay in school. It is also important to provide outreach
to low-income and immigrant parents to familiarize them with the expectations of the school system and
higher education opportunities.
Outreach programs and high school guidance counselors help under-represented groups understand higher
education including the specific mission of community colleges, four-year colleges and universities. Help
with the application processes and financial aid access is a critical part of outreach efforts. Once at school,
mentoring programs, affinity groups including ethnic identity groups, and peer support opportunities help
students stay in school.
Objective 3.3. Increased numbers of high school students will graduate and be ready for
work or higher education as measured by high school graduation rates, college entrance
rates, and the number of youth employed.
Action Steps
9 Look at creative models of outreach to educate students about choices – higher education, vocational
training, and career choices.
9 Expand career training and advocacy including at middle schools.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Goal 4 – All Families Will Have Access to Affordable and High
Quality Child Care, Including Both Early Care and Education
and School-Age Care
The goal, objectives and action steps are consistent with the mission of the Merced County Local Child
Care Planning and Development Council (LCCPC) and other early care and education/school–age care
stakeholders including First 5 Merced County and Children’s Services Network. They also reflect the data
and recommendations emerging from the 2004 assessment of child care needs in Merced County
completed by the LCCPC.
Child Care: Early Care and Education and School-Age Care
Background
Currently in Merced County, over 30,000 children ages 0-13 need some form of child care because their
parents are in the labor force. Over 11,000 children ages 0-5 have two working parents or a single parent
who is working.
The child care field identifies two components of child care – early care and education for children ages 05 and school-age care for children ages 6-12. The term “early care and education” is increasingly being
used by the field in recognition that quality child care is not simply “safekeeping” of children, but must
include developmentally appropriate experiences that help children meet their full physical, social,
emotional, and cognitive potential.
Quality early care and education is an important component of the school readiness effort, often
complementing formal preschool experiences to help children prepare for kindergarten. Quality
after-school child care for elementary and middle school children can provide a safe, supervised place for
activities with peers, homework assistance, and leadership skill development.
Child care may be licensed or licensed-exempt. Licensed child care meets minimum health and safety
standards and staff-child ratios set by the state legislature and regulated by the Community Care Licensing
Division of the California Department of Social Services. License-exempt child care (for example, care for
the children of only one other family) generally is not regulated by the state and is not governed by any
specific child care standards. However, license-exempt providers who accept state or federal subsidies and
are not a family member must be registered with Trustline, California’s background check for in-home
child care. Safety and quality are important concerns in license-exempt care.
For a variety of reasons including those related to cultural preference and economics, many families
choose care that is exempt from licensing including care by relatives. However, there is not enough
quality, licensed, and affordable child care in Merced County to meet the needs of all families, especially
the working poor and middle income families.
•
In Merced County, there are licensed child care spaces for only 21% of children ages 0-13 who need
child care because their parents work, and only 25% for children ages 0-5. This includes spaces in
child care centers as well as licensed family child care homes.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
•
In 2000, there were only 116 licensed child care spaces for infants and toddlers ages 0-2.
•
In Merced County in July 2004, 60% of the 3,316 children receiving subsidized child care through
Children’s Services Network were cared for by license-exempt providers.
•
Early care and education is expensive, costing a family approximately $6,300 (53% of the state
minimum wage) to place an infant up to 24 months old in a licensed child care center during 2000.
•
Quality early care and education can cost as much as twice the yearly tuition of a CSU education.
What Works
Accessibility, affordability, and quality are the important issues in child care. Effective strategies to
increase the accessibility of early care and education and school-age care include public policies and
incentives that support the development of child care facilities close to the workplace and near
transportation corridors. Public and private employers can support child care through offering flexible
work hours, dependent care reimbursement, and child care benefits. Providing assistance to unlicensed
providers to become licensed, especially those who speak languages other than English and/or are located
in under-capacity areas, promotes both accessibility and quality. Resource and referral services are
important for families, including providing information about availability and quality indicators when
choosing child care. A way to support affordability is to increase the amount of subsidized child care for
eligible low-income families, provided through individual subsidies through CalWORKs and the
California Department of Education, State funded Preschools, State funded Child Development Centers
and federally funded Head Start sites. Employer child care benefits can also assist families who are not
eligible for subsidized care. Strategies to improve quality include assisting licensed providers to become
accredited, offering training and incentive programs to increase both education and retention in the field,
and developing innovative outreach programs to license-exempt providers to encourage licensing and
ongoing training and education.
Objective 4.1. The community will have a better understanding of the need for quality
child care including early care and education and school-age care as measured by
surveys of callers to the child care resource and referral line.
Action Steps
9 Develop a local definition of quality and develop indicators at the individual provider level to help
parents understand what to look for in making choices about care for their children.
9 As a reference for parents, develop a matrix of local providers using quality indicators.
9 Educate the community through public service announcements, public forums, and other media about
the need for quality, accessible and affordable early care and education and school-age care.
Objective 4.2. There will be an increase in available quality child care including early care
and education and school-age care for working families as measured by the number of
licensed child care spaces and the number of license-exempt providers who have
received training.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Action Steps
9 Provide education and training to exempt providers to help them better understand best practices in
early care and education and school-age care, as well as assist them with business training and
licensing opportunities.
9 Develop strategic partnerships with nontraditional partners including business, government, and
nonprofit entities to expand financial resources and financing strategies that grow child care
infrastructure, such as establishing developer fees and child care facilities development.
9 Provide educational opportunities, additional training and incentives to licensed child care providers
who are working to increase their level of higher education while continuing to work in the early care
and education field.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Goal 5 – The Community Will Develop and Sustain Services
Needed to Support and Strengthen all Children, Youth, and
Families
Nonprofit Capacity Building
Background
Nonprofits in Merced County as elsewhere are struggling with declining funding due to federal, state, and
local budget cuts coupled with reduced philanthropic dollars due to the weak economy. In addition,
accountability requirements have increased as funders are asking grantees to report client outcomes as well
as process measures. Nonprofit and public agencies in Merced County and elsewhere are seeking to
develop more culturally responsive services for an increasingly diverse population. In Merced County,
low levels of educational attainment overall provide an additional challenge, as it is more difficult for
public and private agencies alike to hire a qualified workforce.
What Works
For nonprofits, it is important to provide training to Board members and staff. The Family Resource
Council has sponsored trainings on fund-raising, evaluation, roles of nonprofit organizations, and fiscal
issues. Technical assistance in fund-raising and evaluation, and executive coaching to help agency
directors, is also helpful. It is important that the staff and Board members represent the diversity
(geographic, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural) of the community they serve. Annual cultural training for all
Board members and employees provides a better understanding of other cultures as well. Tuition
reimbursement programs, flex time, and other incentives for education help build the capacity of the
workforce as a whole.
Objective 5.1. Non-profits and public agencies are more effective and more sustainable
as measured by the number of staff and Board members who have received capacity
building training and participant ratings of training effectiveness.
Action steps
9 Develop a capacity building program for community based and faith based organizations including
board development, fiscal, and technology capacity.
9 Train staff at all levels in all agencies that serve children and families on cultural diversity, cultural
appreciation, and how to provide culturally responsive services.
9 Develop baseline data on the objectives in the Children’s Action Plan
9 Create a central database with demographic and statistical data as a resource for program planning and
grant writing.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Leisure Time and Youth Development Activities
Background
State and national research has increasingly shown that youth involvement in organized leisure time
activities has a positive impact on youth development. This involvement can result in learning life and
interpersonal skills including time management, teamwork, and leadership. It also results in better school
attendance and performance, as well as lower school dropout rates, less use of drugs and alcohol, and less
juvenile crime. Organized after school activities can often be found at the school site through sports and
homework clubs, as well as through parks and recreation departments, community based agencies such as
the Boys & Girls Club, and faith-based organizations. However, there is no centralized data source to track
youth after school activities and there is no way to know how many young people are involved in after
school activities.
What Works
Well-run and well-organized activities with trained adult and youth staff in a safe setting are key. These
programs promote skills development and help children and youth build on their strengths and develop into
healthy, productive young adults. Effective program characteristics include clear program goals, good staff
training and supervision, and youth involvement in decision-making and program planning.
Objective 5.2. There will be more leisure time activities for children and youth served by
new and expanded programs.
Action Steps
9 Increase the availability of after school and leisure time programs for school aged children.
9 Establish teen programs designed and run by teens.
All Youth – One System
Background
There are a wide variety of public and private programs and interventions that touch the lives of children
and youth. Aside from the schools, children may be in contact with public agencies such as health care,
social services, career and job training, law enforcement, the courts, and probation. Private and nonprofit
individuals and agencies include private health care providers and counselors, sports leagues, church youth
groups, community-based organizations, and others. These are all important resources but there are few
mechanisms to share information or collaborate on planning and program development. Benefits of better
collaboration and coordination include reduced duplication of services, better program planning,
identifying and addressing gaps in services, and jointly addressing common challenges and opportunities.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
What Works
Effective integration of services is often nested in community collaboratives with formal structures and
clear expectations, and agreed upon goals and targets. A lead agency ensures continuity. Blended funding
allows more flexibility of services and can permit revenue enhancement through leveraging of outside
funding.
Objective 5.3. Youth serving agencies and organizations increase their coordination and
collaboration as measured by surveys of youth-serving agencies.
Action Steps
9 Develop cross-training for social services, health, education, law enforcement, and community based
organizations to better understand each other’s roles and responsibilities for children ages 0-22.
9 Develop a youth planning team to oversee activities regarding youth ages 14-22.
9 Develop a one-stop youth resource center with links to jobs, schools, peer support, counseling,
mentoring, and social/recreational opportunities.
9 Hold a follow-up teen event in 2005 to look at the implementation of the Children’s Action Plan,
particularly in relation to youth ages 14-22.
Youth Development
Background
It is important to provide positive and supportive opportunities for young people to develop physical,
emotional, social, cognitive, spiritual and moral health and well-being. These opportunities must respect
and challenge them, make them feel loved and safe, and provide a sense of belonging and mastery. This is
the premise of “positive youth development” or “youth asset development” in which the community helps
to foster the strengths – “developmental assets” – of young people. Developmental assets can be provided
externally by family, school and community, and also include internal characteristics such as commitment
to learning, positive values, social competencies and positive identity. Research shows that young people
with more assets are more likely to engage in healthy and productive activities and less likely to get in
trouble. These developmental assets help shape adolescents into healthy, caring and responsible adults.
Positive youth development allows the entire community – family, schools, businesses, places of worship,
and service-providing agencies – to participate in creating a strong foundation for healthy youth. This
represents a change in focus – too often, we have looked at problems and tried to fix them, rather than first
looking at strengths and trying to build on them.
•
Although there is increasing interest in youth development, there are no centralized statistics. The
California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) Resiliency Module, which is administered to high school
students every two years, will provide this information once it is fully implemented.
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What Works
Schools can provide leadership and service learning opportunities. Structured after-school and leisure time
activities also build interpersonal and life skills including leadership, teamwork, conflict resolution, and
time management. These opportunities are most effective when they take into account the diverse cultural
backgrounds of youth being served. Providing youth opportunities for involvement in decision-making
and program planning through membership on boards and commissions is effective when the youth are
welcomed and truly listened to. In particular, youth serving agencies and youth councils can designate
youth seats on their boards.
Objective 5.4. There will be an increased use of the asset/strength-based approach in
working with children and families as measured by surveys of agencies serving children,
youth, and families.
Action Steps
9 Educate schools and service providers, including after school programs, about the youth asset
approach to promote youth assets in homes, schools, and communities.
9 Community awareness campaign using television, radio, Internet, and print media to understand the
asset approach and support and build on youth assets in home, school, and community.
9 Develop a program to train mentors, both adults and youth.
9 Expand incentives for youth community service.
9 Develop intergenerational opportunities where seniors work with children and youth.
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Goal 6 – All Youth Will Have the Opportunity to Become
Healthy and Productive Adults
Coping Skills and Relationships
Background
The teen years are a time of learning and exploring relationships. It is important for young people to learn
how to develop and maintain healthy friendships as well as intimate relationships; these skills will last a
lifetime. Young people who cannot cope with the enormous changes of the teenage years, including
knowing how to get along with others, are at greater risk for mental health problems as well as getting into
trouble with peers and adults.
What Works
Young people benefit from peer support as well as professional assistance in understanding the new world
of intimate relationships and the shifting rules of friendship. In particular, teens who have been exposed to
family violence including child abuse and neglect as well as domestic violence may not have seen healthy
relationships and often need outside support to model and experiment with a new understanding of
relationships. All teens need conflict resolution skills, and need to develop healthy ways to cope with the
stresses of growing up.
Objective 6.1. More youth have coping skills to help them address relationship and
growing-up issues as measured by youth surveys.
Action Steps
9 Develop peer presentations on relationship issues and peer counseling for developmental issues faced
by teens.
9 Develop bilingual radio/television talk show to talk about issues facing youth.
Transition at 18
Background
All teens are going through the process of individuation and developing an identity separate from their
families. After high school, they are expected to take on a job or go away to college. The challenge is
especially acute for foster children, who “age out” of the system at age 18. Because of their history of
abuse and neglect as well as having spent years in foster care, these teens often have mental health
problems including depression. They may have a history of sexual behavior or substance abuse. Many of
them end up homeless, out of school and without a job. Unlike their peers, they often do not have family
to fall back on for help.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
What Works
Independent Living Programs offer skills in money management and budgeting and practical information
on finding a job or a place to live. Young people need a chance to put these skills into practice in a safe
setting. For foster youth, especially those with mental health problems, transitional housing after
graduating from the foster care systems can help pave the way to independent living.
•
In July 2003, 96 foster youth in Merced County were age 16 or older, making up 16% of the foster
care population.
•
In 2001, 78% of the foster youth in the 12-county region (from Kern and San Luis Obispo north
through San Joaquin County) who graduated from the foster care system were in need of safe and
affordable housing.
Objective 6.2. More foster children transitioning at age 18 have stable housing and are
working or enrolled in school as measured by the percentage employed, in school, and in
stable housing.
Action Steps
9 Develop a transitional home for foster youth transitioning at age 18.
9 Develop a system to ensure that emancipating youth have important documents such as birth
certificates and medical information when they leave foster care.
9 Provide foster youth with help budgeting, paying bills, savings accounts, employment assistance,
living skills, and how to take care of the home.
9 Develop capacity for a mentoring program for and by foster youth.
9 Develop transitional housing for homeless teens.
Youth Crime and Violence Including Gangs
Background
Although juvenile crime is decreasing, to the public at large it remains one of the most salient indicators of
social breakdown. The statewide and national trend is to crack down on youthful offenders. For this
reason it is all the more important to look at what these data actually show about the prevalence of serious
juvenile crime. It is also important to look at the correlates of juvenile crime, and what the community can
do to reduce it. Lack of parental involvement together with poor parenting skills is the strongest correlate
of juvenile crime. Negative peer influence and involvement in gangs by youth is a by-product of poor
parental supervision. A major contributing factor is drug and alcohol use. A history of having been
abused or neglected, mental health problems, and family disorganization are also associated with juvenile
crime. Boys are more likely to be arrested. Nationally, young people of color are statistically overrepresented as victims of crimes, as well as among those arrested.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
•
In 2002, the felony arrest rate in Merced County was 24 youth per 1,000 ages 10-17 compared to 14.1
per 1,000 statewide. The local rate decreased from 29.6 in 1995 (when the statewide rate was 24.3).
•
In 2002, the misdemeanor arrest rate in Merced County was 49.6 youth per 1,000 ages 10-17
compared to 30.3 per 1,000 statewide. The local rate decreased from 54.8 in 1995 (the statewide rate
was 39.1).
What Works
Prevention is the best approach, and it starts in the preschool years with support for families and
neighborhoods, including family resource centers, community and cultural activities, and quality
preschools. Youth development programs develop assets and build resiliency through providing safe
places to go after school, fostering relationships with caring adults, and helping young people make good
choices. Skateboard parks and recreational and sports activities as well as summer jobs provide an
alternative to antisocial activity. In schools, effective strategies include anti-bullying programs, anger
management and conflict resolution training, values education, schools within schools, and school resource
officers. Early identification and treatment for mental health, substance abuse, behavior problems, and
learning disabilities is an important factor in preventing later crime. Once a youth is in the criminal justice
system, there is no “one size fits all” program. Crime suppression and restorative justice programs are
effective and it is important to have coordination between the courts, probation, and child welfare.
Effective interventions include family preservation services, intensive supervision, and aftercare of juvenile
offenders including home-based, family focused therapy and multidimensional treatment foster care.
Intensive, long-lasting, and highly structured community programs with multiple interventions are more
effective than large custodial institutions such as boot camps.
Objective 6.3. There is a reduction in youth crime countywide as measured by juvenile
misdemeanor and felony arrests rates for youth ages 10-17.
Action Steps
9 Establish a countywide task force on prevention and early intervention for youth crime.
9 Expand first offender programs to include parents.
9 Increase access to drug and alcohol treatment services for youth.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Children’s Summit Recommendations for Future Action
Sixty-eight breakout groups developed over 200 recommended action steps during the Children’s Summit.
It is impossible to complete them all. The Children’s Action Mobilization Team has prioritized a total of
21 objectives and 74 Action Steps in the previous pages. These have been reviewed and adopted as part of
the Children’s Action Plan, with a commitment to implement at least 90% of them by December 2007.
However, the full range of exciting recommendations developed by the Children’s Summit participants
offer an ambitious blueprint for action. Although it may not be feasible to complete all of them during the
next three years, it is important to identify them to be considered for future implementation.
Recommended action steps that will be reviewed by the Children’s Action Mobilization Team, and
implemented as feasible during the coming three years, are presented below. In 2006, a follow-up
Children’s Summit will be convened to review progress and to identify other action steps that can be
undertaken. It is hoped that some of these action steps can be implemented prior to that time, even if they
are not formally tracked as part of the Children’s Action Plan.
Recommendation for Future Action Steps for Goal 1: All children and youth
will live in a community that does not tolerate abuse or neglect of children
or violence in families
9 Interagency task force including Merced County Human Services Agency, Merced County Mental
Health Department, Merced County Probation Department, Merced County Public Health
Department, and schools to improve communication about CWS laws, requirements, confidentiality,
and other issues.
9 Diagnostic centers to identify underlying issues and provide support to families.
9 Task force to improve interagency communication regarding foster youth between Merced County
Human Services Agency, schools, Merced County Public Health Department, Merced County Mental
Health Department, and ILP (HSA).
9 Domestic violence awareness training targeting medical profession, law enforcement, educators, and
community-based organizations.
9 Drama/skits for children whose parents are substance abusers.
9 Child advocates in schools to help children whose parents are substance abusers.
9 Mentors for parents who are substance abusers.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Recommendations for Future Action Steps for Goal 2: All children and
youth will be healthy
9 Public information campaign about perinatal and postnatal transmission of oral bacteria causing dental
caries, which is transmitted from mother to child.
9 Early education (K-3) curriculum about preventive health care.
9 Teen hotline with guidance and info on pregnancy prevention.
9 Mobile and school-based family planning clinics, with free condom distribution.
9 Expanded pregnancy prevention education and services to group homes and those on independent
study.
9 Mandatory sex education including life skills in middle and high schools.
9 Breastfeeding promotion campaign.
9 Campaign to remove junk food and soda from schools.
9 Mobile dietitian/nutritionist at schools.
9 Regular daily PE at all area schools in all grades.
9 Nutrition workshops for child care providers and parents.
9 Safe and affordable physical activities for families and children in the parks.
Recommendations for Future Action Steps for Goal 3: All children will be
ready for school and succeed in school
9 Recruit and hire educators who are culturally and linguistically reflective of the community and who
are trained to work with children of all abilities, languages, and special needs.
9 Increase availability, flexibility, and coordination of training and education for educators and
volunteers working with children ages 0-13 so that they are culturally and linguistically reflective of
the community and trained to work with children with special needs.
9 Job fairs targeted to teens; opportunities to job shadow, mentor, tour businesses, one month of training
in area of business.
9 Teen business and entrepreneurial program.
9 Marketing campaign – targeting youth to let them know job – related resources and services.
9 Marketing of child care services that are available to teen parents.
9 Re-institution of “Kids Around the University.”
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
9 Countywide college fair.
9 Outreach tours of college campuses.
9 Comprehensive info on CC, CSU, and UC at all high schools.
9 Comprehensive academic and career counseling beginning in middle school.
9 Peer advisory structure to work with freshman and sophomores regarding careers and grades.
9 “College Corner” segments on METV.
Recommendations for Future Action Step for Goal 4: All families will have
access to affordable and high quality child care, including both early care
and education and school-age care
9 Form a co-op of small businesses to set up center-based child care.
Recommendations for Future Action Step for Goal 5: The community will
develop and sustain services needed to support and strengthen all
children, youth, and families
9 No Children’s Summit recommendations for future action steps were received.
Recommendation for Future Action Steps for Goal 6: All youths will have
the opportunity to become healthy and productive adults
9 Call for court-ordered family counseling and hold families responsible for youth offenders.
9 Provide training for law enforcement and school staff to have a better understanding of each other.
9 Establish a transitional center for youth in the criminal justice system.
9 Develop curriculum and guidelines for universal anti-bullying and conflict resolution programs in all
schools.
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Merced County Children’s Action Plan
Page 60
Do not go
Where the path may lead
Go instead
Where there is no path
And leave a trail.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
For more information, contact:
Merced County Human Services Agency
(http://www.co.merced.ca.us/countyweb/pages/departments/humanservicesagency/aspx)
Telephone Number: (209) 385-3000, Extension 5300
First 5 Merced County Children and Families Commission
(http://prop10.merced.ca.us/)
Telephone Number: (209) 381-5981
Family Resource Council of Merced County
(http://www.frc.merced.k12.ca.us/frcweb/)
Telephone Number: (209) 725-3776