Portrait of Valley Youth
The good news: More pregnant women in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys are receiving adequate prenatal care, the infant death rate is down and in the last two years, fewer people have died at the hands of gang members. The bad news: More children are living below the poverty level, child abuse cases have increased significantly and SAT scores are slipping.
These trends are reflected countywide in a recently released study by the Los Angeles County Children’s Planning Council, a 35- member board that includes, the private sector, service providers, charities and ethnic groups.
One of the most surprising findings was the degree to which county services are used, said Jacquelyn McCroskey, planning council member and USC professor of social work. Countywide, about 50% of children and 60% of families received some form of help from county government in 1993, such as free immunizations, child abuse investigations or probation services. In the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, nearly 36% of children and 44% of families received county government services.
To better analyze the culturally diverse county, the council divided it into eight sections and in doing so, grouped the San Fernando Valley with the Santa Clarita Valley. While the data is aimed at enlightening those who develop and oversee social programs, it helps paint a picture of youth in the county.
*
Adequate Prenatal Care*
1990:
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 76.6%
Los Angeles County: 70.6%
1992
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 79.1%
Los Angeles County: 73.5%
1994
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: n/a
Los Angeles County: n/a
*
Infant Death Rate (per 1,000 live births)
1990:
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 5.9
Los Angeles County: 8.0
1992
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 5.2
Los Angeles County: 7.2
1994
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: n/a
Los Angeles County: n/a
*
Children Below Poverty Level
1990:
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 14.3%
Los Angeles County: 21.2%
1992
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 18.5%
Los Angeles County: 27.1%
1994
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 19.6%
Los Angeles County: 28%
*
Total AFDC Recipients
1990:
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: n/a
Los Angeles County: n/a
1992
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 87,058
Los Angeles County: 740,433
1994
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 109,682
Los Angeles County: 883,433
*
Children in School Lunch Program
1990:
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 44%
Los Angeles County: 48.2%
1992
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 48.2%
Los Angeles County: 54%
1994
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 50.2%
Los Angeles County: 57.9%
*
Child Abuse Cases Investigated**
1990:
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: n/a
Los Angeles County: n/a
1992
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 1,473
Los Angeles County: 9,518
1994
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 2,147
Los Angeles County: 12,103
*
Children in Foster Care**
1990:
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: n/a
Los Angeles County: n/a
1992
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 2,727
Los Angeles County: 32,312
1994
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 2,998
Los Angeles County: 35,631
*
Gang- Related Deaths***
1990:
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 31
Los Angeles County: 690
1992
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 52
Los Angeles County: 800
1994
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 34
Los Angeles County: 779
*
Juvenile Arrests for Violent Crime
1990:
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 1,096
Los Angeles County: 9,543
1992
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 1,105
Los Angeles County: 8,360
1994
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: n/a
Los Angeles County: n/a
*
High School Graduation Rate
1990:
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 54.9%
Los Angeles County: 58.5%
1992
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 58.9%
Los Angeles County: 60%
1994
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 57.5%
Los Angeles County: 59.6%
*
Public High School Average SAT Scores
1990:
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 899
Los Angeles County: 861
1992
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 909
Los Angeles County: 852
1994
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 891
Los Angeles County: 850
*
Students Fluent in English / Billingual
1990:
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 73.1%
Los Angeles County: 72.7%
1992
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 67.7%
Los Angeles County: 67.8%
1994
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 63.7%
Los Angeles County: 65.1%
*
Total Youth Population
1990:
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 419,725
Los Angeles County: 3,346,634
1992
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 445,140
Los Angeles County: 2,478,073
1994
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 463,330
Los Angeles County: 2,577,819
*
Total Population
1990:
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: n/a
Los Angeles County: n/a
1992
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: n/a
Los Angeles County: n/a
1994
San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys: 1,770,535
Los Angeles County: 9,230,923
*
* Precent of births in which care began in first trimeter of pregnancy.
** October caseload.
*** Gang- related deaths as determined by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles Police Department, including non gang-related individuals killed in gang incidents.
Source: Los Angeles County Children’s Planning Council; Researched by STEPHANIE STASSEL / Los Angeles Times
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