Children & Families Data Hub

The Children’s Initiative engages a diverse array of stakeholders, including subject matter and data experts specializing in juvenile justice, education, and health, alongside government executives, community-based organizations, parents, and youth. Guiding the development of this new Data Hub is a robust and influential Leadership Advisory Oversight Committee comprising national experts and local leaders in health, education, childcare, child welfare, juvenile justice, and injury and violence prevention. Furthermore, research and analysis are overseen by the Scientific Advisory Review Committee, which includes statisticians, epidemiologists, and program-data managers from these fields, ensuring the validity, reliability, and quality of all indicator data utilized.

For more than 15 years, The Children’s Initiative has produced a Live Well San Diego Report Card on Children, Families, and Community that measured 25 child and youth health and well-being indicators – ranging from before birth (Early Prenatal Care) to Child Mortality. Transitioning to a more advanced platform, the Children & Families Data Hub (formerly known as the Live Well San Diego Report Card on Children, Families, and Community) now offers a robust web-based data platform. This tool enables community members, stakeholders, and government entities to analyze data to pinpoint both strengths and areas of improvement in child, youth, and family health and well-being.

Children & Families Data Hub Indicators

Birth to Age 3 (Infants & Toddlers)

Early Prenatal Care

This indicator—the percentage of mothers receiving early prenatal care—reflects the proportion of women who receive prenatal care beginning in the first three months (referred to as the first trimester) of pregnancy. These data are recorded on the birth certificate and reported as part of local, state, and federal vital statistics.

Breastfeeding

This indicator—the percentage of mothers who initiate breastfeeding of newborn in hospital—estimates what proportion of infants receive any breast milk. Recommendations call for 6 to 12 months of breastfeeding, but data on continuation rates are not available. These data are collected on newborn screening forms and reported by the California Department of Public Health, including virtually all births in California (military hospitals and home births are excluded).

Birth to Teens

This indicator—the birth rate per 1,000 females ages 15-17 years—monitors trends in births to teens ages 15-17. These data are recorded on birth certificates and reported as part of local, state, and federal vital statistics. It is not possible to get reliable data on the number of teens who become pregnant or are sexually active.

Low Birthweight

This indicator—the percentage of infants born at low birthweight—is defined as weighing less than 2500 grams (5.5 lbs.), and very low birthweight is defined as weighing less than 1500 grams (3.3 lbs.) at birth. Both are included in this measure. These data are recorded on birth certificates and reported as part of local, state, and federal vital statistics.

Ages 3 to 6 (Preschool)

Immunization

This indicator—the percentage of young children ages 19–35 months who have completed the recommended 4:3:1:3:3:1:4 childhood immunization series—tracks vaccine coverage during the early years of life. Although the full series is recommended by age 24 months, available data capture completion within a broader age range. In addition, adolescent immunization coverage rates—such as those for Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), HPV (human papillomavirus), Varicella (chickenpox) and MenACWY (Meningitis) vaccines—are also monitored to assess protection among older youth. These data are collected every three years through the Immunization Survey conducted by the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency.

Early Care & Education

This indicator—the percentage of children ages 3-4 enrolled in early care and education—shows trends in early childhood care and education for San Diego County’s preschool age children who are regularly attending an out-of-home and non-relative early care and education setting. Parents’ reports may reflect the use of a childcare center, preschool, Head Start program, or family childcare setting. The data are collected in the US Census Bureau American Community Survey.

Ages 6 to 12 (School Age)

Oral Health Children

This indicator – the percentage of children under age 12 who had not visited a dentist in more than one year or ever – represents the proportion of children who did not have the recommended annual visit during the most important years to prevent and treat dental disease and decay. National recommendations from dentists and pediatricians call for children to start dental care at age 12 months and make at least annual visits. These data are routinely reported in the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

School Attendance – Grades K-5

This indicator—the percentage of elementary school (grades K–5) students who attended less than 95% of school days—reflects chronic absence based on attendance reported at the Second Principal Apportionment (P2) date of each district’s school year. It includes students missing approximately nine or more days for any reason.

School Achievement Grade 3

This indicator – the percentage of students in grade 3 who have met or exceeded the state standards for English–Language Arts/Literacy—reflects reporting of Common Core Smarter Balanced test results. These data are reported annually by the California Department of Education.

Ages 13 to 18 (Adolescence)

School Attendance – Grades 6-12

This indicator—the percentage of middle and high school students who attended less than 90% of school days—measures chronic absence using attendance data from the Second Principal Apportionment (P2) reporting date of each district’s school year. It includes students who missed approximately 18 or more days for any reason.

School Achievement Grade 8 & 11

This indicator – the percentage of students in grades 8 and 11 who have met or exceeded the state standard for English–Language Arts/Literacy—reflects the Common Core, Smarter Balanced test results. These data are reported annually by the California Department of Education.

Obesity Children

This indicator – the percentage of adolescents ages 12-17 who are overweight or obese – measures those adolescents at higher risk for health conditions related to their weight and body mass index (BMI). These data are routinely reported in the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

Substance Use

This indicator – the percentage of students in grades 7, 9, and 11 who reported use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes or other vaping device, alcohol, or marijuana in the prior 30 days—monitors a portion of substance use. These data are collected with the California Healthy Kids Survey, administered biennially to students in grades 7, 9, and 11.

Youth Suicide

This indicator – the percentage of students in grades 7, 9, and 11 who reported they had considered attempting suicide in the prior 12 months—reflects trends among a subset of youth who are students. These data are collected and reported from California Healthy Kids Survey. The survey monitors well-being and health-risk behaviors among students in San Diego County schools.

Juvenile Crime

This indicator—the rate of arrests for felony and misdemeanor crimes per 10,000 youth ages 0-17—reports on trends in juvenile crime in San Diego County. Arrests for status offenses such as curfew violations or truancy are not included. Data are collected by law enforcement and available on the State of California Department of Justice- OpenJustice data portal.

Juvenile Probation

This indicator—the number of sustained petitions (true finds) in juvenile court among youth ages 10-17—reports on the juvenile equivalent of being found guilty in adult court. This indicator includes only sustained petitions for misdemeanor or felony offenses. Status offenses such as curfew or truancy violations are not included here. These data are routinely reported by the San Diego County Probation Department.

Youth DUI

This indicator—the number of DUI arrests among youth under age 18 and 18-20—measures one aspect of the problem of alcohol- and drug-related collisions. This is a subset of a larger number of youth who engage in DUI but are not caught. These data are routinely reported by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Adult

Oral Health adults

This indicator – the percentage of adults ages 18 to 65 who had not visited a dentist within more than one year or ever – represents the proportion of adults who did not have the recommended annual visit to prevent and treat dental disease and decay. These data are routinely reported in the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

Obesity adults

This indicator – the percentage of adults ages 18 and older who are obese – measures those adults at higher risk for health conditions related to their weight and body mass index (BMI). These data are routinely reported in the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

Substance Use adults

This indicator – the percentage of adults ages 18 and older who reported smoking (tobacco)—reflects one type of substance use. These data show current but not former smokers. The data are routinely collected in the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

Community & Family (Cross Age)

Poverty

The indicator—the percentage of children ages 0-17 living in poverty—reflects the proportion of children living in households with annual income below federal guidelines for “poverty.” The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) was set at $30,000 for a family of four in 2023. These data are routinely reported by the US Census Bureau.

Poverty adults

The indicator—the percentage of adults ages 18-64 living in poverty—reflects the proportion of non-elderly adults living in households with annual income below federal guidelines for “poverty.” The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) was set at $30,000 for a family of four in 2023. These data are routinely reported by the US Census Bureau.

Nutrition Assistance

This indicator—the number of CalFresh (SNAP) recipients who are children ages 0-18 and adults age 19 and older—tracks how many eligible San Diego County residents are participating in CalFresh. This information is collected through the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency.

Health Coverage

This indicator – Statistically stable data are not available to monitor the trend on the percentage of children ages 0-17 without health coverage in San Diego County. Instead, the graph shows children’s health coverage by type. These data are routinely reported through the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

Health Coverage adults

The indicator—the percentage of adults ages 18-64 without health coverage—monitors public and private health coverage. These data are routinely reported through the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

Domestic Violence

This indicator—the rate of domestic violence reports per 1,000 households—measures reports of domestic and intimate partner violence made to San Diego County law enforcement agencies. The number of reports is considered to be an under-estimate, as many incidents go unreported. However, police reports are closer to the actual rate of occurrence than arrest rates. These data are routinely reported by ARJIS and the California Department of Justice.

Child Abuse & Neglect

This indicator—the rate of substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect per 1,000 children ages 0-17—shows the trend in reports of child abuse and neglect that are found through investigation to have sufficient evidence to warrant a child welfare services case being opened or having the family referred for services. These data come from reports filed by the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency to a statewide database managed by the University of California Berkeley.

Unintentional Injury

This indicator—the rate of non-fatal unintentional injuries per 100,000 children ages 0-14—shows trends in how many children are injured severely enough to require hospitalization. These data are routinely reported on hospital discharge reports; and collected by the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency.

Childhood Mortality

This indicator – the mortality rates for infants (deaths before age one, per 1,000 live births) and for children and youth ages 1–4, 5–14, and 15–19 (deaths per 100,000 population). These data are derived from death certificates and reported through local, state, and federal vital statistics systems.