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Information, Research and Studies

The Center for Community Solutions: Income Trends Analysis
The Center for Community Solutions has released a new analysis of income trends in all 612 Ohio school districts since the mid 1980s. The new report finds that over time, income inequality has increased in Ohio, with incomes increasing in affluent districts and with incomes falling in low income districts. But, during the 2000s recession, this pattern temporarily changed. There were virtually universal income declines all across Ohio during the recession, both in low income districts and in high income districts. The median income of a taxpayer fell in 97% of all Ohio school districts since 2000. The mean income of a taxpayer fell in 96% of all Ohio school districts. During the 2000s recession, both the mean and the median income of an Ohio taxpayer fell by 8%.

Individual charts for local metropolitan areas and other regions are available on request from The Center for Community Solutions. The full detailed analysis of these trends is available for download on the web site of The Center for Community Solutions: communitysolutions.com/images/upload/resources/income062706.pdf

Policy Matters Ohio: Making Ends Meet
The cost of securing a safe and decent yet modest standard of living is close to twice the official poverty line for working families in Ohio’s rural areas, and between two and three times the poverty thresholds in urban areas. Using 2004 data, the Economic Policy Institute’s Sylvia Allegretto calculated the cost of seven basic budget items in 439 communities for working families with small children. She found that in Ohio, 22.3 percent of the families studied did not earn enough to cover the cost of their basic family budget. Current poverty measures do not begin to address the economic challenges facing working parents struggling to make ends meet; unexpected events like illness or job loss can expose such families to serious or critical economic hardships.

“Making Ends Meet: Basic Family Budgets in Ohio” is a new report by Policy Matters Ohio which provides the details of Allegretto’s study for Ohio. The report, and the spreadsheets for basic family budgets, by family size, configuration, and residence in Ohio in 2004, may be found at www.policymattersohio.org/making_ends_meet_2006.htm

Annie E. Casey Foundation Releases 2006 KIDS COUNT Data Book
The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT initiative has released its 2006 Data Book. This national and state-by-state study reports on the well-being of America’s children and promotes discussion on ways to secure better futures for all kids. The Data Book ranks states on 10 key indicators and provides information on child health, education, and family economic conditions. In addition, to the indicators used in the past, this year, the Data Book also explores how early childhood development prepares children for success in life, and how to support family, friend, and neighbor child care settings.

The 2006 Data Book may be found at www.aecf.org/publications/browse.php?filter=15

New WestEd Paper Highlights Need for Reforms in Order to Narrow the Achievement Gap
WestEd has recently released a Policy Perspectives paper, Reforms That Could Help Narrow the Achievement Gap. The brief addresses the issues which must be addressed in addition to school reforms, in order to help narrow the achievement gap. The paper focuses on the need for investments in early childhood education, health care, housing, after-school and summer programs, and other social and economic supports.

This paper may be found at www.wested.org/online_pubs/pp-06-02.pdf

New Chapin Hall Study Focuses on Mental Health Needs of Grandparent Caregivers
Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago has recently released a study-- Caring for Their Children’s Children: Assessing the Mental Health Needs and Service Experiences of Grandparent Caregiver Families. The report combines information compiled during interviews with grandparents, and a survey of social service providers to explore the need for and barriers to the use of mental health services among grandparent-caregiver families in Illinois. The working paper outlines the unmet mental health needs of both grandparents and their grandchildren while also discussing the implications of these findings for practitioners and advocates.

This study may be found at www.chapinhall.org/article_abstract.aspx?ar=1427&L2=61&L3=13