Lubbock Area United Way has released its 17th annual Community Status Report. This report is compiled each year to track the correlations among demographics, education, economics, health, and safety in the community.
United Way uses the report to keep up-to-date on the issues facing the community and to ensure funds are being directed to the most relevant needs. The report also helps numerous organizations make better funding decisions by providing a clearer picture of overall community needs. It has also become the authority for accurate data that nonprofits throughout the region rely upon when developing grant proposals.
New in this year’s Community Status Report are statewide results from the Texas Education Agency for Early Childhood Assessments. In 2014-2015, there were 6,634 students enrolled in Kindergarten in the 54 school districts in Region 17. Of those enrolled, 63% were considered “school ready” by the Texas Student Data System Early Childhood Assessment, meaning 37% were not school ready. This information will serve as a benchmark for future comparisons.
“Investing in Early Childhood education is the most important money spent because it sets the foundation for a child’s future success in school, “said Dr. Berhl Robertson, Lubbock ISD Superintendent. “For that reason, Lubbock ISD continues to fill the funding gaps and pay for full-day Pre-K.”
Lubbock County highlights:
- Confirmed rate of child abuse is 17.9, almost double the state rate.
- Lubbock was one of eight counties included in a study of juvenile repeat offenders.
- The Family Violence rate increased and continues to be consistently higher than Texas.
- The percentage of children in poverty grew, despite the low unemployment rate.
“The Community Status report is vital to identifying the problems facing our community,” said Janis Putteet, Lubbock Area United Way Community Impact Director. “Identifying problems and working to fight them at the source is key to creating lasting change.”
The report and all statistical information relating to demographics, economics, education, health, and public safety can be accessed online at www.liveunitedlubbock.org/commstatus.shtml.
The Community Status Report is a collaborative effort between Lubbock Area United Way and the City of Lubbock, Covenant Health, Lubbock County, Lubbock ISD, Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and UMC Health System.
Lubbock Area United Way’s 23 Community Partners work daily in Lubbock and the surrounding communities to assist people with needs such as affordable child care, crisis situations, character development, adult literacy, job training, and youth mentoring. A complete list of the Community Partners and the services they provide can be found online at www.liveunitedlubbock.org.
