FINANCIAL METRICS V. HUMAN METRICS
Kern County is California’s second-highest grossing
agricultural county and a leading producer of oil, natural gas,
milk, vegetables. And yet. . .
 about 150,000 residents rely on CalFresh
 nearly 1 in 3 children live in food insecure households
 the typical worker earns under $24k, poverty line for family
of 4
MEASURE OF AMERICA
Measure of America, a nonpartisan project of the nonprofit Social Science Research
Council, provides easy-to-use yet methodologically sound tools for understanding
well-being and opportunity in America.
Through reports, online tools, and evidence-based research, Measure of America
breathes life into numbers, using data to identify areas of need, pinpoint levers for
change, and track progress over time.
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A Portrait of California 2014–2015
FUNDING CONSORTIUM
Blue Shield of California Foundation
The James Irvine Foundation
California Community Foundation
The Ralph M. Parsons
Foundation
The California Endowment
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
United Ways of California
Weingart Foundation
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Human development is the process of enlarging people’s freedoms and
opportunities and improving their well-being. It:
• Puts people at the center of analysis;
• Encompasses the economic, social, cultural, environmental, and
political processes that shape the range of options available to us;
• Is expanded or constrained by the things we do ourselves and by
conditions and institutions around us.
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Debuted in 1990 at the UN; rooted in Amartya Sen's capabilities
framework.
Seen as the global gold standard for measuring well-being in human
development reports in over 150 countries.
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HOW IS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT MEASURED?
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WHAT DOES THE
INDEX REVEAL?
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX
BY RACE AND ETHNICITY
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN CALIFORNIA
BY RACE/ETHNICITY AND NATIVITY
Foreign-born
Latinos outlive
native-born by
over 3 years.
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Graduation and
enrollment rates of
U.S-born Latino
adults are above CA
average.
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PROGRESS IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SINCE 2000
LATINOS MADE FASTEST PROGRESS
Among Latinas,
well-being
increased 7
times faster
than for white
men.
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN CALIFORNIA
BY METRO AREA
Top 10
captures 84%
of total
population
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX CHANGE
WELL-BEING CHANGE PRE- TO POST-RECESSION
Only 4 metro
areas saw
progress.
(Ventura
Cty)$5,000
wage decline
SAN FRANCISCO METRO AREA
BY NEIGHBORHOOD CLUSTER
A resident of San Ramon or
Danville. . .
 lives 8.4 years longer
 is about 5 times as likely to
have a bachelor’s degree
 earns nearly $52,000 more. .
.
than a resident of South
Central Oakland
SAN FRANCISCO METRO AREA
BY RACE AND ETHNICITY
HD
Index
California
5.39
SAN FRANCISCO METRO
AREA
6.72
SF Whites
7.65
SF Asian Americans
7.61
SF Latinos
4.90
SF African Americans
4.58
CALIFORNIA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
BY NEIGHBORHOOD CLUSTER
There are 265 Census Bureau-defined
neighborhoods in California.
Population size: around 100,000–200,000 so
allows for “apples to apples” comparisons
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THE FIVE CALIFORNIAS
THE FIVE CALIFORNIAS
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A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE
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LIFE EXPECTANCY IN CALIFORNIA
BY RACE AND ETHNICITY
• Latinos outlive whites, on average, by 3.6
years.
• For Latinos, acculturation to American habits
harms health. Foreign-born Latinos outlive
native-born by 3.2 years.
• More research is needed but fewer health
risk behaviors (smoking, binge drinking) and
some aspects of Latino culture seem to
bolster health.
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PROGRESS ON HEALTH WILL REQUIRE. . .
paying attention to the conditions of daily life.
ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE
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EDUCATIONAL DISPARITIES
BY NEIGHBORHOOD
HS: Range
from 97%
to 39%
Enrollment:
Range from
92% to 57%
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HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE
RACE/ETHNICITY, GENDER, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
PRESCHOOL ENROLLMENT (3- AND 4-YEAR-OLDS)
BY RACE AND ETHNICITY
PROGRESS ON EDUCATION WILL REQUIRE. . . earlier
interventions before a child even steps into the classroom (parenting
skills, high quality preschool for all 3- and 4-year olds) and more
support for youth as they transition to adulthood.
Huge
Range
Secondhighest
rates
WHAT FUELS THE GAPS IN EDUCATION?
High school graduation
 Early childhood development and education
 Differences in educational spending and quality
 Challenges facing English-language learners

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DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING
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MEDIAN PERSONAL EARNINGS
BY RACE AND ETHNICITY
Racial/Ethnic Group
Median Personal
Earnings
CALIFORNIA
$30K
Whites
$41K
Asian Americans
$39K
African Americans
$31K
Native Americans
$24K
Latinos
$21K
EARNINGS CHANGES SINCE 2000
BY RACE/ETHNCITY AND GENDER
PROGRESS ON EARNINGS. . .depends on who benefits from
growth.
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