New State/Local Data for October 2009
In this issue:
- Demographic information
- Health and health insurance issues
- Food and nutrition issues
- Food systems and agricultural policy
- Agricultural & rural issues
1. Demographic information
Pew Hispanic Center Statistical Profiles:Hispanics of Mexican Origin in the United States, 2007
This statistical profile describes the demographic, employment and income characteristics of the Hispanic population of Mexican origin in the United States. The characteristics of Mexicans are contrasted with the characteristics of all Hispanics and the U.S. population overall. The profile uses data from the Census Bureau's 2007 American Community Survey.
Hispanics of Puerto Rican Origin in the United States, 2007
This statistical profile describes the demographic, employment and income characteristics of the Hispanic population of Puerto Rican origin in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The characteristics of Puerto Ricans are contrasted with the characteristics of all Hispanics and the U.S. population overall. The profile uses data from the Census Bureau's 2007 American Community Survey.
Hispanics of Cuban Origin in the United States, 2007
This statistical profile describes the demographic, employment and income characteristics of the Hispanic population of Cuban origin in the United States. The characteristics of Cubans are contrasted with the characteristics of all Hispanics and the U.S. population overall. The profile uses data from the Census Bureau's 2007 American Community Survey.
Hispanics of Salvadoran Origin in the United States, 2007
This statistical profile describes the demographic, employment and income characteristics of the Hispanic population of Salvadoran origin in the United States. The characteristics of Salvadorans are contrasted with the characteristics of all Hispanics and the U.S. population overall. The profile uses data from the Census Bureau's 2007 American Community Survey.
Hispanics of Dominican Origin in the United States, 2007
This statistical profile describes the demographic, employment and income characteristics of the Hispanic population of Dominican origin in the United States. The characteristics of Dominicans are contrasted with the characteristics of all Hispanics and the U.S. population overall. The profile uses data from the Census Bureau's 2007 American Community Survey.
Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.: 2008
The U.S. Census Bureau announced that real median household income in the United States fell 3.6% between 2007 and 2008, from $52,163 to $50,303. This breaks a string of three years of annual income increases and coincides with the recession that started in December 2007. Furthermore, the nation’s official poverty rate in 2008 was 13.2 percent, up from 12.5% in 2007. There were 39.8 million people in poverty in 2008, up from 37.3 million in 2007. Meanwhile, the number of people without health insurance coverage rose from 45.7 million in 2007 to 46.3 million in 2008, while the percentage remained unchanged at 15.4 percent.
These findings are derived from information collected in the 2009 Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC). Other report findings include:
- Between 2007 and 2008, the real median income of non-Hispanic white households declined 2.6% (to $55,530); for blacks, it declined 2.8% (to $34,218); for Asians, it declined 4.4% (to $65,637); and for Hispanics, it declined 5.6% (to $37,913). Except for the difference between the declines for non-Hispanic white and Hispanic households, all other differences between the declines were not statistically significant.
- In 2008, the earnings of women who worked full time, year-round was 77% of that for corresponding men, down from 78% in 2007. The real median earnings of men who worked full time, year-round declined by 1.0% between 2007 and 2008, from $46,846 to $46,367. For women, the corresponding drop was 1.9 percent, from $36,451 to $35,745.
- In 2008, the poverty rate increased for non-Hispanic whites (8.6% in 2008, up from 8.2% in 2007), Asians (11.8% in 2008, up from 10.2% in 2007) and Hispanics (23.2% in 2008, up from 21.5% in 2007). The poverty rate in 2008 was statistically unchanged for blacks (24.7 percent).
- The poverty rate increased for children younger than 18 (19.0% in 2008, up from 18.0% in 2007) and people 18 to 64 (11.7% in 2008, up from 10.9% in 2007), while it remained statistically unchanged for people 65 and older (9.7 percent).
- Between 2007 and 2008, the number of people covered by private health insurance decreased from 202.0 million to 201.0 million, while the number covered by government health insurance climbed from 83.0 million to 87.4 million. The number covered by employment-based health insurance declined from 177.4 million to 176.3 million.
- The number of uninsured children declined from 8.1 million (11.0 percent) in 2007 to 7.3 million (9.9 percent) in 2008. Both the uninsured rate and number of uninsured children are the lowest since 1987, the first year that comparable health insurance data were collected.
American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates
The US Census Bureau released the final set of 1-year estimates for the following Colorado counties: Adams , Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Mesa, Pueblo, and Weld (all have populations over 65,000). Also included in this releases are 15 Colorado places, and several other geographic areas including metropolitan statistical areas, congressional districts, and school districts. This release included estimates of poverty, family income, and food stamp receipts for those geographies listed above. Please refer to the Census Bureau ACS guidelines in making comparisons between previous years’ ACS data, as well as with the 2000 Decennial Census.
2. Health and health insurance issues
Hispanics, Health Insurance and Health Care Access
The Pew Hispanic Center released a report on health insurance coverage and access to health care among Hispanics, by immigration status. Six-in-ten Hispanic adults in the U.S. who are neither citizens nor legal permanent residents lack health insurance (the Center estimates that 98% of Hispanic immigrants who are neither citizens nor legal permanent residents are undocumented). In contrast, 28% of Hispanic adults who are citizens or legal permanent residents and 17% of the overall U.S. adult population lack health insurance.
Hispanics who are neither citizens nor legal permanent residents are also more likely than other Hispanics to lack a usual health care provider and seek services at a clinic or health center. About one-in-three of those without a usual provider report finances are a factor, but the majority say they do not need one. Hispanics who are neither citizens nor legal permanent residents are relatively young and less likely than other adults to report being sick. The estimates are based on a new analysis of a survey of 4,013 Latino adults conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation from July 16, 2007 to September 23, 2007.
3. Food and nutrition issues
Food Insecurity in Households with Children: Prevalence, Severity, and Household Characteristics
Eighty-four percent of U.S. households with children were food secure throughout 2007, meaning that they had consistent access to adequate food for active, healthy lives for all household members. Nearly 16% of households with children were food insecure sometime during the year, including 8.3% in which children were food insecure and 0.8% in which one or more children experienced very low food security—the most severe food-insecure condition measured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Numerous studies suggest that children in food-insecure households have higher risks of health and development problems than children in otherwise similar food-secure households. This study found that about 85% of households with food-insecure children had a working adult, including 70% with a full-time worker. Fewer than half of households with food-insecure children included an adult educated past high school. Thus, job opportunities and wage rates for less educated workers are important factors affecting the food security of children. In 2007, Federal food and nutrition assistance programs provided benefits to four out of five low-income, food-insecure households with children.
Low-Income Women's Experiences with Food Programs, Food Spending, and Food-Related Hardships: Evidence from Qualitative Data
This study examines the economic coping strategies of low-income families, using data collected through qualitative interviews conducted in 2006-08 with 35 low-income women residing in the Detroit metropolitan area. Three rounds of interviews found that the majority of the sample were employed at least some of the time, and most had children living with them. Despite careful shopping practices, rising food prices forced cutbacks in purchase of certain foods, including milk, cereal, fruits, and meat. Just under half reported running out of food at some point during the year. As for government assistance, the then named Food Stamp Program, and now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), was their mainstay. Even when eligible for benefits, many of the families did not receive cash assistance, unemployment benefits, or workers’ compensation due to perceived access barriers.
4. Food systems and agricultural policy
Food Systems and Agricultural Policy Resources
Resources listed on CSU Extension Web site include:
- Consumer Resources
- Producer Resources
- Linking Producers to Restaurants, Workplaces and Other Institutions
- Linking Producers to Schools - Networks, Directories and Guides
- Community Assessments and Toolkits
- Calculators and Databases
- Policy Articles, Resources and Case Studies
- Research and Other Resources
Effects of Economic Conditions and Program Policy on State Food Stamp Program Caseloads, 2000-2006
This USDA ERS study uses a unique combination of State panel data and qualitative interviews to examine the economic and policy factors associated with the sharp increase in the number of Food Stamp Program (FSP) participants between 2000 and 2006. This period is particularly interesting because the rise in participation between 2003 and 2006 occurred while the national economy was improving. Higher numbers of participants were associated with higher State unemployment rates and lower State labor force participation rates and minimum wages. The introduction of FSP policies designed to expand eligibility and ease reporting also increased the number of participants. In addition, program outreach efforts were associated with higher caseloads in times of low unemployment. Interviews with State FSP administrators and staff at community-based organizations reinforce the quantitative findings and point to declining local economic conditions and high-quality program outreach as the main sources of caseload growth. The Food Stamp Program was renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in October 2008.
5. Agricultural & rural issues
Agricultural Land Tenure and Carbon Offsets
This USDA ERS report examines the potential role that land ownership might play in determining the agricultural sector’s involvement in carbon sequestration programs. By estimating the carbon sequestration potential of agricultural producers who own most of the land they operate, this report finds that land ownership should not be a constraining factor in agriculture’s ability to provide carbon offsets.
Rural American at a Glance: 2009 Edition
This 2009 edition deals with effects of the major recession on rural America. Initially, effects of the recession were mitigated in nonmetro areas by high commodity prices throughout much of 2008, but as the recession deepened, prices fell. Both nonmetro and metro areas experienced rising unemployment as manufacturing and other major employment sectors contracted, and they were similarly affected by the mortgage foreclosure crisis. However, even before the current recession, nonmetro poverty rates had risen in the growth years after the 2001 recession, against the usual trend during a time of economic expansion; the nonmetro poverty rate has exceeded the national poverty rate since 2001. The nonmetro population continued to grow in 2007 and 2008, but at less than half the rate of the metro population. Nonmetro growth is largely due to a rise in births, offsetting a decline in net migration from metro to nonmetro areas.
