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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 9/15/2014 (2)111111 OMEASUREOFAMERICA
I
WWW.MEASUREOFAMERICA.ORG
A PORTRAIT OF
SONOMA
COUNTY
SONOMA COUNTY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2014
Sarah Burd -Sharps
Kristen Lewis
'
CHIEF STATISTICIAN
Patrick Nolan Guyer
'
RESEARCHER
'
Alex Powers
COMMISSIONED BY
'
County of Sonoma
Department of
1
Health Services
WWW.MEASUREOFAMERICA.ORG
A PORTRAIT OF
SONOMA
COUNTY
SONOMA COUNTY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2014
Contents
Acknowledgments ...... ...... ............ ...... * ...... .......
......... 2
Foreword...... ..................... ............... ............. * .......... ** ............... .............................
5
Pledge of Support ..................... * ........... * ................ * .......... ** ....... *'*'* .... * ......................6
..'..................6
KeyFindings ..................................... .....................................................................
8
Understanding Human Development ...................................................................
12
Introduction.......................................................................................................
........ 13
How Is Human Development Measured? ....... ................... ............... ......................
15
Human Development: The Benefits of a New Approach ...........................................17
Sonoma County: What the Human Development Index Reveals ..........................20
Sonoma County in Context.. ......... ......... ......... .........
......... 21
Introduction............................................................................................. ..................
31
Analysis by Geography and Race and Ethnicity .........................................................32
What Fuels the Gaps in Health? .................................................................................
43
Introduction......................................................................................................... : ...... 47
Analysis by Geography, Race and Ethnicity, and Gender ..........................................49
What Fuels the Gaps in Access to Knowledge? .................................... ....................
55
A Decent Standard of Living .................................................................................
62
Introduction.................................. ...... * .......... *"***'**** ................................
63
Analysis by Geography, Gender, and Race and Ethnicity ..........................................67
What Fuels the Gaps in Living Standards?. ...............................................................
73
AgendaforAction .................................................................................................
76
References........................................................................................................... 86
Sonoma County Human Development Indicators .....................................................87
MethodologicalNotes ......................................................................... ......................
96
Notes................... .......................................................................................................
98
Bibliography..............................................................................................................
101
Sonoma County Census Tract Reference Map
Copyright Q 2014 Measure of America. All Rights Reserved, CA 55% Recycled Paper I
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Acknowledgments
We must start by thanking the Sonoma County Department of Health Services for
initiating this important project. In particular, we thank the Health Policy, Planning,
and Evaluation Division, which has spearheaded a rich collaborative process for
the development of this report and has provided critical data analysis. The Portrait
of Sonoma Leadership Group includes:
Marlowe Allenbright,
Healthy Healdsburg
Lisa Badenfort,
Ag Innovations Network
Caluha Barnes, Department
of Health Services
Ellen Bauer, Department
of Health Services
Chris Bell, Unitarian
Universalist Congregation,
Santa Rosa
Dan Blake, Sonoma County
Office of Education
Steve Batman, Petaluma City
School District
Beth Brown, Community
Foundation Sonoma County
Davin Cardenas, North Bay
Organizing Project
Louann Carlomango,
Sonoma Valley Union High
School District
Lauren Casey, Regional
Climate Protection Authority
Susan Castillo, Department
of Health Services
Pa
Tammy Chandler, Department
of Health Services
Elisabeth Chicoine,
Department of Health Services
Penny Cleary,
Sutter Medical Center
Susan Cooper, Community
Action Partnership
Angie Corwin, Department
of Health Services
Beth Dadko, Department
of Health Services
Richard Date,
Sonoma Ecology Center
Karin Demarest, Community
Foundation Sonoma County
Nancy Dobbs, KRCB
North Bay Public Media
Jeannie Dulberg, Kaiser
Permanente
Jerry Dunn, Human Services
Department
Kelly Elder, Department
of Health Services
Jeane Ertenborn,
Santa Rosa Junior College
Ramona Faith, Petaluma
Health Care District
Omar Gallardo, Landpaths
Erin Hawkins, Community
Health Initiatives in the
Petaluma Area
Juan Hernandez, Sonoma
Valley Health Roundtable
Ray Holley, Windsor Wellness
Partnership
Matthew Ingram, St. Joseph
Health -Sonoma County
Mike KaRhoff, United Way
of the line Country
Mike Kennedy, Department
of Health Services
Jen Lewis, Department
of Health Services
Chelene Lopez, St. Joseph
Health -Sonoma County
George Malachowski,
Human Services Department
Khaalid Muttaqi,
City of Santa Rosa
Kellie Noe, Department
of Health Services
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
Liz Parra, Department
of Health Services
Tim Reese, CommunityAction
Partnership
Donna Roper, Russian River
Area Resources and Advocates
Peter Rumble, County
Administrator's Office
Jo Sandersfeld, St. Joseph
Health -Sonoma County
Rita Scardaci, Department
of Health Services
Susan Shaw, North Bay
Organizing Project
Socorro ShieLs, Santa Rosa City
School District
Brian Vaughn, Department
of Health Services
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors deserve special gratitude for their
support, leadership, and encouragement of this project. They are Efren Carrillo,
Susan Gorin, Mike McGuire, David Rabbitt, and Shirlee Zane. We would also like
to recognize the Health Action Council for their contribution to the genesis of this
report and for their perspective on its actionable impacts. They include:
Bob Anderson,
Naomi Fuchs, Santa Rosa
Mike Kallhoff, United Way
United Winegrowers
Community Health Centers
of the Wine Country
for Sonoma County
Debora Fudge,
Lisa Maldonado, North Bay
Gina Belforte,
Town of Windsor Council
Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Rohnert Park City Council
David Glass,
Marrianne McBride,
Ken Brown,
Petaluma City Council
Council on Aging
Sonoma City Council
Bo Greaves, Santa Rosa
Cynthia Murray, North Bay
Tom Chambers,
Community Health Centers
Leadership Council
Healdsburg City Council
Sarah Glade Gurney,
Ernesto Otivares, Santa Rosa
Oscar Chavez, Sonoma County
Sebastopol City Council
City Council
Human Services
Caryl Hart, Sonoma County
Mike Purvis, Sutter Medical
Dan Chigazala,
Regional Parks
Center of Santa Rosa
Community Volunteer
Susan Harvey,
Carol Russell,
Frank Chong,
Cotati City Council
Cloverdale City Council
Santa Rosa Junior College
Herman J. Hernandez,
Todd Salinas, St. Joseph Health
Judy Coffey,
Russian River Redevelopment
rDepartment
Kaiser Permanente
Economic Task Force
of Heaalthlth ServicesRita
Nancy Dobbs, KRCB
Juan Hernandez,
Lisa Wittke Schaffner,
North Bay Public Media
La Luz Center
Jahn Jordan Foundation
Ramona Faith,
Steve Herrington, Sonoma
Petaluma Health Care District
County Office of Education
We are also deeply indebted to the following Sonoma County organizations for their
collaboration and inputs throughout the process:
Health Action Subcommittees
Committee for Healthcare
Improvement
Cradle to Career
Operations Team
Health Action Chapters
Community Health Initiatives
in the Petaluma Area
Healthy Heatdsburg
Russian River Area Resources
and Advocates
Sebastopol Area
Community Alliance
Sonoma Valley Health
Roundtable
Windsor Wellness Partnership
CommunityGroups
Community Activity and
Nutrition Coalition
Community and Local Law
Enforcement Task Force
Community Development
Commission
Food System Alliance
Santa Rosa Interfaith
Ministerial Association
Santa Rosa Mayor's Gang
Prevention Task Force
Social Advocates for Youth
Sonoma County
Superintendent Council
Sonoma County
Continuum of Care
Socroro Shiets,
Santa Rosa City Schools
Suzanne Smith, Sonoma
County Transportation
Authority/Regional Climate
Protection Authority
Ben Stone, Sonoma County
Economic Development Board
Mary Szecsey,
West County Health Centers
Willie Tamayo,
La Tortilla Factory
Lee Turner,
Community Baptist Church
Alena Watt, Northern California
Center for Well -Being
Shirlee Zane, Sonoma County
Board of Supervisors
St. Joseph's Health System
Neighborhood Care Team
Tomorrow's Leaders Today
United Way Community
Solutions Team
Upstream Investments
Policy Committee
Upstream Investments
Portfolio Review Committee
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 3
I
We give thanks to contributors who provided their professional expertise on a
wide range of subjects. They are Marty Bennett of North Bay Jobs with Justice,
Ginny Browne of the Participatory Budgeting Project, Daniel Carroll of the U.S.
Department of Labor, and Joseph Hayes of the Public Policy Institute of California.
We want to thank our Social Science Research Council colleagues Ira Katznelson
and Mary McDonnell for their support of Measure of America as well as Jennifer
Carroll Blackman, Rebecca Kershberg, Gail Kovach, Lauren McCay, Alyson
Metzger, Fernando Rojas, Michael Simon, Lisa Yanoti, and Zach Zinn for essential
administrative, communications, and website backstopping, consultant Brian
Karfunkel for statistics, and interns Kristen Hackett and Ijeoma Anyanwu for
their work on this report. Finally, thank you, Katharine Grantz, for your valuable
cartography contributions.
It is always a pleasure working with the wonderful SenseMakers at
Humantific I UnderstandingLab, who never fail to bring life and flair to our
publications. This team includes Elizabeth Pastor, Garry K. VanPatter, Valentina
Miosuro, and Jackie Closurdo. And we owe many thanks to Bob Land and Lisa
Ferraro Parmelee for their precise and thorough editing under tight deadlines.
Lastly, we especiallywant to express enormous gratitude and respect for our
dedicated Measure of America team of Patrick Guyer, Alex Powers, and Margaret
Mattes, whose creativity and commitment to this work are unparalleled and whose
patience with impossible deadlines, overambitious plans, and last-minute ideas
are well beyond the call of duty.
thank yoga!
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
Fo rewo rd
We live in a thriving, beautiful county with unique natu rat resources, rich
cultural diversity, and a robust entrepreneurial community. While every city and
neighborhood in Sonoma has many assets that contribute to our county, not
every individual has access to the same opportunities to meet their full potential
to live long and healthy lives. A Portrait of Sonoma County is an important step in
recognizing those assets as well as raising the difficult reality of disparities.
A Portrait of Sonoma County is also a critical tool to identify avenues for addressing
the underlying causes of disparities.
Our county has set its mission to invest in beautiful, thriving, sustainable
communities for all, and by using A Portrait of Sonoma County, we will be better
able to focus resources and attention to areas of need, leverage the tremendous
assets of every neighborhood, and help our many community partners do the
same. It is also imperative that outwork not end with the publishing of the report.
We plan to use the portrait to help build the resilience of our many neighborhoods
and communities by enhancing existing collaborative efforts and forging new
partnerships with community members, nonprofits, foundations, and public
agencies. In doing this, we will support our community's shared desire fora
Sonoma County that is a healthy place to live, work, and play—a place where
all residents thrive and achieve their life potential.
David Rabbitt
Chair, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014
[]
Support
We have the vision of being the healthiest county in the state of
California. We recognize that in order to achieve this goal, we
must work together in strategic, thoughtful, and engaging ways.
Our Collective Impact efforts to date have led to cross -sector
collaborative partnerships and broad awareness of the multiple
factors that influence our health, such as access to education, jobs,
housing, transportation, and safe neighborhoods. We are committed
to significantly improving the health and well-being of all residents.
However, we know that not all residents have access to the same
opportunities to meet their full potential and that health, education,
and income disparities exist depending on where one lives in the
county. We also know that these disparities have real individual and
community impacts on long-term health and prosperity.
We, below, commit to using A Portrait of Sonoma County to better
understand these gaps in opportunities and to partnering with
community to identify the strengths and assets on which to build a
comprehensive and inclusive response to this report. We commit to
utilizing A Portrait of Sonoma County in the work of our organizations
and our collaborative efforts. We aim to leverage resources,
' empower communities, share best practices, and strategically
focus our efforts in order to creatively contribute to a new and
innovative discussion of health equity in our county. We recognize
' that only by working together as equal partners with a shared vision
and common agenda can we hope to achieve our long-term goals of
' making Sonoma County the healthiest county in the state for all our
residents to work, live, and play.
,. 6 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
The Pledge is a living document, and additional organizations and
elected officials are welcome to pledge support after the initial release.
The following organizations and elected officials voice support:
Ag Innovations Network
Alliance Medical Center
Catholic Charities of
Santa Rosa
Ceres Community Project
Community Action
Partnership Sonoma
County
Community Baptist Church
Community Foundation
Sonoma County
Community Health
Initiatives in the
Petaluma Area
Council on Aging
Food Systems Alliance
HeaLdsburg District
Hospital
Healthy Community
Consortium
Healthy Heatdsburg
John Jordan Foundation
Kaiser Permanente
KRCB
La Luz Center
La Tortilla Factory
Leadership Institute for
Ecology and the Economy
North Bay
Children's Center
North Bay Jobs with
Justice
North Bay Labor Council
North Bay Leadership
Council
North Bay Organizing
Project
North Bay Public Media
Northern California
Center for Well -Being
Petaluma Coalition to
Prevent Alcohol, Tobacco
and Other Drug Problems
Petaluma Community
Foundation
Petaluma Health Care
District
Petaluma Health Center
Russian River Area
Resources and Advocates
Santa Rosa Community
Health Centers
Santa Rosa Junior College
Sebastopol Area
Community Alliance
Sonoma County
Agricultural Preservation
and Open Space District
Sonoma County
Department of Health
Services
Sonoma County Economic
Development Board
Sonoma County Human
Services Department
Sonoma County Office
of Education
Sonoma County
Regional Parks
Sonoma Ecology Center
Sonoma State University
Sonoma Valley Health
Roundtable
St. Joseph's Health—
Sonoma County
Sutter Medical Center
of Santa Rosa
United Way of the
Wine Country
Voices
West County Health
Centers
Windsor Wellness
Partnership
Gina Belforte
City of Rohnert Park
Councilmember
Ken Brown
Sonoma City
Council member
Louann Carlomagno
Sonoma Valley Unified
School District
Superintendent
Tom Chambers
City of Healdsburg
Councitmember
Bob Cox
City of Cloverdale
Vice Mayor
John DeLt'Osso
City of Cotati Mayor
John Eder
City of Sebastopol
Councilmember
Deb Fudge
Town of Windsor
Councilmember
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA 2014
David Glass
City of Petaluma Mayor
Sarah Glade Gurney
City of Sebastopol
Councilmember
Susan Harvey
City ofCotati
Councilmember
Dr. Steve Herrington
Sonoma County
Superintendent of Schools
Robert Jacob
City of Sebastopol Mayor
Steve Jorgensen
Cloverdale Unified School
District Superintendent
Keller McDonald
West Sonoma County
Union High School District
Superintendent
Ernesto Olivares
City of Santa Rosa
Councilmember
Carol Russell
City of Cloverdale Mayor
Socorro Shiels
Santa Rosa City Schools
Superintendent
Patrick Slayter
City of Sebastopol
Councilmember
7
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The hallmark of this work is the American Human Development Index, a
supplement to Gross Domestic Product and other money metrics that tells the
story of how ordinary Americans are faring. The American Human Development
Index uses official government data in health, education, and income and allows
for well-being rankings of states, congressional districts, counties, census
tracts, women and men, and racial and ethnic groups. The Index can empower
communities with a tool to identify priorities and track progress over time.
8 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
Key Findings
APortrait of Sonoma County is an in-depth look at how residents of Sonoma County
are faring in three fundamental areas of life: health, access to knowledge, and
living standards. While these metrics do not measure the county's breathtaking
vistas, the rich diversity of its population, or the vibrant web of community
Measure of America, a project
organizations engaged in making it a better place, they capture outcomes in areas
of the social Science Research
essential to well-being and opportunity. This report examines disparities within the
Council, provides easy-to-
use yet methodologically
county among neighborhoods and along the lines of race, ethnicity, and gender. It
sound tools for understanding
makes the case that population -based approaches, the mainstay of public health,
well-being and opportunity in
offer great promise for longer, healthier, and more rewarding lives for everyone
America and seeks to foster
and that place -based approaches offer a way to address the multiple and often
greater awareness of our
shared challenges and more
interlocking disadvantages faced by families who are falling behind. Only by
support for people -centered
building the capabilities of all residents to seize opportunities and live to their full
policies.
potential will Sonoma County thrive.
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services (DHS) commissioned
Measure of America to prepare this report to provide a holistic framework for
understanding and addressing complex issues facing its constituency. It will
inform the work of the Department's Health Action initiative. Unlike many other
health initiatives, Health Action aims to move beyond a narrowly defined focus on
sickness and medical care to take into account a wide range of vital determinants
of well-being and health, such as economic opportunities; living and working
conditions in homes, schools, and workplaces; community inclusion; and levels of
stigma and isolation. DHS has sought to engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders
and pinpoint root causes of health disparities, all in the service of Health Action's
goat: to make Sonoma the healthiest county in California.
The hallmark of this work is the American Human Development Index, a
supplement to Gross Domestic Product and other money metrics that tells the
story of how ordinary Americans are faring. The American Human Development
Index uses official government data in health, education, and income and allows
for well-being rankings of states, congressional districts, counties, census
tracts, women and men, and racial and ethnic groups. The Index can empower
communities with a tool to identify priorities and track progress over time.
8 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
How Does Sonoma County Fare on the American
Human Development Index?
The American Human Development Index combines fundamental well-being
indicators into a single score expressed as a number between 0 and 10. It is based
on the Human Development Index of the United Nations, the global gold standard
for measuring the well-being of large population groups. This report is Measure
of America's second exploration of well-being within a single county; A Portrait of
Marin was published in 2012. Both county reports build upon a 2011 study of the
state as a whole, A Portrait of California.
KEY FINDINGS: AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX
• The most extreme disparities in basic health, education, and earnings
outcomes are often found within small geographical areas. Of the county's
ninety-nine census tracts, top-ranking East Bennett Valley, with an index
value of 8.47, is only five miles away from bottom -ranking Roseland Creek,
with an index value of 2.79. The former has a Human Development Index
value above that of top-ranked state Connecticut, while the well-being
outcomes of the tatter are well below those of Mississippi, the lowest -
ranked state on the American Human Development Index.
• The ranking of well-being levels by race and ethnicity in Sonoma County
follows that of California, with Asian Americans at the top, followed
by whites, African Americans, and Latinos. But the gap in human
development between the highest- and lowest -ranked racial and ethnic
groups is smaller in Sonoma County than it is in California and nationally.
Sonoma County's females edge out mates in human development. They
outlive males byjust over fouryears, adult women are slightly more likely
to have completed high school and college, and girls school enrollment
is higher than boys'. Yet women's median earnings tag behind men's by
$8,628 per year.
KEY FINDINGS: HEALTH
• Sonoma County residents have an average life expectancy of 81.0—two
years longer than the national average of 79.0 butjust under California's
Life expectancy of 81.2.
• An entire decade separates the life expectancies in the top and bottom
census tracts.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014
KEY FINDINGS
The most extreme
disparities in basic
health, education,
and earnings
outcomes are
often found
within small
geographical
areas.
An entire decade
The top five tracts are Central Bennett Valley (85.7 years), Sea Ranch/
separates the
Timber Cove and Jenner/Cazadero (both 84.8 years), Annadel/South
life expectancies
Oakmont and North Oakmont/Hood Mountain (both 84.3 years), and
West Sebastopol/Graton (84.1 years). The bottom five are Bicentennial
in the top and
Park (77.0 years), Sheppard (76.6 years), Burbank Gardens (76.0 years),
bottom census
Downtown Santa Rosa 175.5 years), and Kenwood/Glen Ellen (75.2 years).
tracts.
• Analysis of Sonoma County's ninety-nine tracts shows a clear
positive correlation between life expectancy and education: people
in neighborhoods with higher educational attainment and enrollment
have longer lives.
• Asian Americans in Sonoma County live the longest compared to
other major racial and ethnic groups (86.2 years), followed by Latinos
(85.3 years), whites (80.5 years), and African Americans (77.7 years).
KEY FINDINGS: EDUCATION
Variation in educational outcomes by census tract in Sonoma County is
significant and meaningful. The range in the percentage of adult residents
with less than a high school diploma is huge, going from a low of 0.4
percent in North Oakmont/Hood Mountain to a high of 46.1 percent in
Roseland Creek. The range in school enrollment is likewise vast, from 53.8
percent in Forestville to 100 percent in Central East Windsor.
In Sonoma County, as in most metro areas and states as well as nationally,
educational attainment follows a similar pattern: Asian Americans have
the highest score, followed by whites, African Americans, and Latinos. The
Education Index is measured by combining the highest degree attained
by adults 25 and older and school enrollment of all kids and young adults
ages 3 to 24.
The Census Bureau—defined category 'Asian encompasses U.S.-born
citizens who trace their heritage to a wide range of Asian countries, as
well as Asian immigrants. The high level of average attainment for this
broad group obscures the education struggles of some. While 59.7 percent
of Asian Indians in Sonoma County have at least a bachelor's degree, only
17.5 percent of Vietnamese residents do.
KEY FINDINGS: EARNINGS
• Median earnings, the main gauge of material living standards in this
report, are $30,214 annually in Sonoma County, which is roughly on par
with earnings in California and the country as a whole.
I10 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
KEY FINDINGS
Of the three indicators analyzed in this report—unemployment, child
poverty, and housing burden—Sonoma falls near the middle of the pack
compared to its peer counties in California.
• Significant disparities in earnings separate census tracts within
Sonoma County; annual earnings range from $14,946 in Rohnert Park
B/C/R Section, which is below the federal poverty line for a two -person
household, to $68,967 in East Bennett valley, more than double the
county median.
• In Sonoma County, whites earn the most money, $36,647 annually,
followed by Asian Americans ($32,495), African Americans ($31,213), and
Latinos ($21,695). This is found in California as a whole as well, although
Asian Americans are the top -earning group in the country overall.
• Men in Sonoma County earn about $8,500 more than women. This wage
gap is similar to the gap between men and women at the state level,
although it is around $1,000 smatter than at the national level.
• Level of education is the single biggest predictor of earnings for racial and
ethnic groups and for census tracts in Sonoma County.
Conclusion—Pledge of Support
Sonoma County is rich in organizations dedicated to improving life for its residents,
Over sixty
particularly those who face high barriers to living freelychosen Lives of value and
organizations and
opportunity. Working together, these public and private organizations can make
elected officials
a real difference. Thus, this report not only ends with an Agenda for Action—a set
of recommendations in health, education, and income that scholarly research
have committed
and well-documented experience have shownwill be essentialto boosting Index
thus far to using A
scores—but also a Pledge of Support from these community actors.
Portrait of Sonoma
Over sixty organizations and elected officials have committed thus far to using
A Portrait of Sonoma County to better understand gaps in opportunities and to
County to better
partner with community organizations and agencies to identify the strengths and
understand gaps
assets on which to build a comprehensive and inclusive response to the report.
in opportunities
This list will grow as the report is released, understood, and shared across the
county, and communities will play a critical role in owning the data and creating
and to build a
solutions moving forward. Those who have signed the Pledge of Support aim to
comprehensive
Leverage resources, empower communities, share best practices, and strategically
and inclusive
focus their efforts in order to creatively contribute to a new and innovative
discussion of health equity in Sonoma County. Recognizing that only by working
response to the
together as equal partners with a shared vision and common agenda, these groups
report.
and individuals hope to achieve their long-term goal of making Sonoma County the
healthiest county in the state for all residents to work, live, and play.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 11
UNDERSTANDING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Introduction
Sonoma County is a leading producer of wine grapes and, after suffering negative
impacts from the Great Recession, is seeing renewed vigor in the tourism industry.
The county now ranks as a very competitive place to do business., We know this
from frequently collected and closely tracked economic metrics that provide an
important account of how the economy is doing in U.S. states and counties. For
a more complete story of how people are doing, however, in Sonoma County
and elsewhere, we need human metrics, which tend to be lower on the list of
information -gathering priorities. For example, health data on something as
basic as how long people are living in our states and counties, as well as by race
and ethnicity within our communities, are rarely calculated. They are, however,
incorporated—along with other important indicators on education and earnings—
into the American Human Development Index.
Telling a more complete story has been a goal of the Sonoma County
Department of Health Services (DHS) for several years. In 2007, DHS convened
a major initiative called Health Action to improve health in Sonoma County and
achieve the vision of making the county the healthiest in California. Unlike many
other health initiatives at the time, the goatwas to move beyond a narrowly defined
focus on sickness and medical care to take into account a wide range of vital
determinants of well-being and health, such as economic opportunities; living and
working conditions in homes, schools, and workplaces; community inclusion; and
Levels of stigma and isolation. In doing so, DHS sought to engage a broad spectrum
of stakeholders and pinpoint root causes of health problems rather than focusing
solely on disease and illness. Box 1 outlines the county's vibrant response to
bringing about systemic change in people's lives.
Box 1 Sonoma County's Goal to Bring About Health Equity for ALL
Sonoma County aspires to be the healthiest county in
California. Health Action, Sonoma County's collective impact
initiative to improve the health and well-being of all residents,
has established a cross -sector approach to meet this vision.
Ten broad goals and target outcomes guide strategic planning
to address major determinants of health, with a strong focus
on eliminating health disparities in those communities that
experience the most negative health outcomes as a result of
poor access to opportunity and prosperity.
In order to meet the county's goals of health equity for
all, the Health Action Council, a group of forty-seven leaders
committed to this vision, is focusing on three broad priority
areas: educational attainment, economic security, and health
system improvement, in line with the 2013-2016 Action Plan
For a more
complete story
of how people are
doing, we need
human metrics.
approved by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in
2012. Subcommittees of Health Action, including Cradle to
Career and the Committee for Healthcare Improvement, in
collaboration with a host of other initiatives, assess Local
data to identify issues across a spectrum of areas that affect
health. These subcommittees recommend specific actions,
drawing from evidence -based and prevention -focused
programs promoted by the Upstream Investments Policy.
The initiatives all rely an strong partnerships with nonprofit
organizations, government agencies, foundations, businesses,
local community groups—including place -based Health Action
Chapters—and other sectors across the county to maximize
resources and impact.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 13
Measure of America
During the course of this work. DHS became acquainted with the human
Publications
development approach, which had been applied in well-being reports on California
and Marin County, and saw that it might be useful to its work on the social
determinants of health. The connection Led to the commissioning of this report.
Human development is formally defined as the process of improving people's
E, z 0-2011
well-being and expanding theirfreedoms and opportunities—in other words, it is
about what people can do and be. The human development approach puts people
at the center of analysis and looks at the range of interlocking factors that shape
their opportunities and enable them to live lives of value and choice. People with
NATIONAL REPORTS
high levels of human development can invest in themselves and their families and
The Measure ofamerica 20104011:
live to their full potential; those without find many doors shut and many choices
Mapping Risks & Resilience
and opportunities out of reach.
The human development concept is the brainchild of the late economist
Mahbub ul Haq. In his work at the World Bank in the 1970s, and later as minister
of finance in his own country of Pakistan, Dr. Haq argued that existing measures of
E3
human progress failed to account for the true purpose of development: to improve
people's Lives. In particular, he believed the commonly used measure of Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) was an inadequate measure of well-being.
STATE REPORTS
Dr. Haq often cited the example of Vietnam and Pakistan. In the late 1980s,
A Portrait of California: California
both had the same GDP per capita—around $2,000 per year—but the Vietnamese,
Human Development Report 2011
on average, lived a full eight years longer than Pakistanis and were twice as
likely to be able to read. In other words, money atone did not tell the whole story;
the same income was "buying" two dramatically different levels of well-being.
Working with Harvard professor and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and other gifted
economists, Dr. Haq published the first Human Development Report in 1990 with
the sponsorship of the UN Development Programme.
The Human Development Report is widely known as a useful analysis of
_ a
the well-being of large populations. In addition to the global edition that comes
COUNTY REPORTS
out annually, reports have been produced in more than 160 countries in the last
A Portrait of Marin: Marin Human
Development Report 2012
fifteen years, with an impressive record of spurring public debate and political
engagement. Today, the Human Development Report with its trademark Human
HRAY oiTHEGAP
Development Index is a global gold standard and a well-known vehicle for change.
Measure of America (MOA), a project of the nonprofit Social Science Research
(; ®
Council, is built upon the UN Human Development Index. MOA keeps the same
conceptual framework and areas of focus but uses data more relevant to an
affluent democracy such as the United States, rather than those applicable to the
full range of conditions found in the 183 United Nations member states. Since MOA
THEMATIC REPORTS
introduced a modified American Human Development Index in 2008, organizations
Halve The Gap: Youth Disconnection
in America "s Cities 2013
and communities across the count have used it to understand community needs
country y
and shape evidence -based policies and people -centered investments.
14 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
UNDERSTANDING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
How Is Human Development Measured?
The human development concept is broad: it encompasses the economic, social,
Legal, psychological, cultural, environmental, and political processes that define
the range of options available to people. The Human Development Index, however,
measures just three fundamental human development dimensions: a long and
healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living. The three
The Human
components are weighted equally on the premise that each is equally important for
human well-being. People around the world value these as core building blacks
Development
of a life of freedom and dignity, and good proxy indicators are available for each.
index measures
The index is the start of a conversation about well-being and access to opportunity
three fundamental
and a useful summary measure that allows for reliable comparisons of groups and
areas. Once disparities in these basic outcomes have been brought to light through
human
the use of objective data, the next task is to examine the underlying conditions and
development
choices that have led to them by exploring a whole host of other indicators.
d1 menSl015: a
In broad terms, the first steps for calculating the index are to compile or
calculate the four indicators that comprise it: life expectancy, school enrollment,
long and healthy
educational degree attainment, and median personal earnings. Because these
life, access to
indicators use different scales (years, dollars, percent), they must be put on
knowledge, and a
a common scale so that they can be combined. Three sub -indexes, one for
each of the three dimensions that make up the index—health, education, and
decent standard
earnings—are created on a scale of 0 to 10. The process requires the selection of
of living.
minimum and maximum values—or "goalposts"—for each of the four indicators.
These goalposts are determined based on the range of the indicator observed from
the data and also taking into account possible increases and decreases in years
to come. For life expectancy, for example, the goalposts are ninety years at the
high end and sixty-six years at the low end. The three sub -indexes are then added
together and divided by three to yield the American Human Development Index
value. (See FIGURE 1; also, a detailed technical description of how the index is
calculated is contained in the Methodological Note on page 96.1
The American Human Development Index is sensitive to changes in the
indicators that constitute it and therefore responsive to changes in well-being
within the populations it is used to measure. For example, if life expectancy at birth
in Sonoma County were to increase by one year while alL other indicators remained
the same, the index value for the countywould increase from 5.42 to 5.56. To
achieve a similar increase in the county's index score holding health and education
indicators constant, median personal earnings would need to grow by $1,900.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 15
1
1
1
1
1
A Long and Healthy Life
is measured using life
expectancy at birth. It is
calculated using mortality
data from the Death Statistical
Master Files of the California
Department of Public Health
and population data from
the U.S. Census Bureau for
2005-11.
Access to Knowledge
is measured using two
indicators: school enrollment
forthe population 3 t 24
years of age and educational
degree attainment for those 25
and older. A one-third weight
is applied to the enrollment
indicatorand a two-thirds
weight to the degree
attainment indicator. Both are
from the U.S. Census Bureau's
2012 American Community
Survey.
A Decent Standard of Living
is measured using median
earnings of all full- and part-
limeworkers age 16 and older
from the same 2012 American
Community Survey.
16
FIDURF : Human Development: From Concept to Measurement
CAPABILITIES
physical safety family and community
political participation voice and autonomy
sustainable environment equality before the law
respect of others religious freedom
digitalaccess self-expression
THREE DIMENSIONS
® Y� 7
A Long and Access to A Decent
Healthy Life Knowledge Standard of Living
INDicnlops
r Life expectancy r Educational r School l r Medfan
tat birth ` degree attainment l enrollment J ` earnings
Health Education Income
INDEX INDEX INDEX
American
Human Development
INDEX
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
UNDERSTANDING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Human Development:
The Benefits of a New Approach
Measure of America uses official government statistics to create something new
in the United States: an easy -to -understand composite of comparable indicators
of health, education, and living standards. Four features make the American HD
The Human
Index particularly useful for understanding and improving the human condition
Development
in the United States.
Index moves away
It supplements money metrics with human metrics. An overreliance on
economic metrics such as GDP per capita can provide misleading information
from a binary
about the everyday conditions of people's lives. Connecticut and Wyoming, for
us -them view of
instance, have nearly the same GDP per capita. Yet Connecticut residents, on
advantage and
average, can expect to outlive their western compatriots by two and a half years,
are almost 50 percent more likely to have bachelor's degrees, and typically earn
disadvantage
$7,000 more per year.
to one in which
It connects sectors to show problems, and their solutions, from a people -
centered perspective. The cross -sectoral American HD Index broadens the
everyone can see
analysis of the interlocking factors that create opportunities and fuel both
him- or herself
advantage and disadvantage. For example, research overwhelmingly points to the
along the same
dominant role of education in increasing life span, yet this link is rarely discussed.
In fact, those with an education beyond high school have an average life expectancy
continuum.
seven years longer than those whose education stops with high school.z
It focuses on outcomes. Human development and the HD Index focus on the
end result of efforts to bring about change. Lots of data points help us understand
specific problems related to people's lives (for example, asthma rates in one
county) or quantify efforts to address the problems (for example, funding for
health clinics with asthma specialists). But we often stop short of measuring the
outcome of these efforts: Are investments making a difference? Are children in the
community healthier? Are hospitalizations for asthma decreasing?
It counts everyone. The Human Development Index moves away from the binary
us -them view of advantage and disadvantage provided by today's poverty measure
to one in which everyone can see him- or herself along the same continuum.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 17
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
t
KEY FACTS ABOUT THE POPULATION OF SONOMA COUNTY
Four hundred eighty-three 14,01
thousand, eight hundred ...........
seventy-eight people
Total population
'483o878 ................
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
RACE & ETHNICITY
EMPLOYMENT
HOME OWNERSHI
I E'
BIRTHPLACE
NATIVITY BY RACE
Asian American
0'wilk
Some Other Race/Races
White
Note: Papulation data by gender, urban/rural, and age are from 2010; aU other data are from 2012. Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.
Sources: U.S Census Bureau, Census 2010 and American Community Survey2012,
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014
19
Sonoma County in Context
' 6�k Variation by Race and Ethnicity
Variation by Gender
Variation by Geography: Census Tracts
SONOMA COUNTY: WHAT THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX REVEALS
Sonoma County in Context
While the American Human Development Index does not measure Sonoma
Sonoma and
County's breathtaking vistas, the rich diversity of its population, or the vibrant
Comparable Counties
web of community organizations engaged in making it a better place, it captures
on the HO Index
outcomes in three areas essential to welt -being and access to opportunity.
Encapsulated within these three broad areas are many others: for example,
Marin
Life expectancy is affected by the quality of the air we breathe, the amount of
(7,731
stress in our daily Lives, the presence or absence of occupational hazards, and
many other factors.
Sonoma County's Human Development Index value is 5.42 out of a possible
Santa Cruz
total of 10. This score is well above the U.S, index value of 5.07 and slightly above
(5.79)
California's value of 5.39. Relative to seven other California counties that share
some important socioeconomic characteristics with it, Sonoma County ranks
San Luis Obispo
sixth on the index, below Marin, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Napa
(5.60)
Counties, but above both Santa Barbara and Monterey Counties (see SIDEBAR).
These counties were selected for this analysis because the Sonoma County
Economic Development Board uses them as a benchmark against which to assess
Ventura
the county in the areas of business and jobs. As discussed below, Sonoma County
(5.59)
falls toward the middle of this group on education and earnings but is at the
bottom in terms of Life expectancy.'
Sonoma County is made up of ninety-nine inhabited areas (or neighborhoods)
Napa
(5.43)
designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as census tracts. Each contains an average
of 5,000 inhabitants, enabling comparisons of neighborhoods with roughly the
same population size. Together they encompass all the land within the county
Sonoma
boundaries, including tribal Lands. In sixty-nine tracts, or two-thirds of the county's
[5.421
census -defined neighborhoods, well-being and access to opportunity fall above the
U.S. average of 5.07.
The following is an exploration of the state of weLL-being within Sonoma
Santa Barbara
15.061
County. It presents and analyzes index scores based on a number of indicators
for the major racial and ethnic groups, for women and men, and for the county's
census tracts, which contain the smallest place -based population groups for
Monterey
which reliable, comparable data on these indicators are available from the U.S.
(4.47)
Census Bureau.
Sources: Measure of America
analysis of data from the California
Department of Public Health
2005-2012 and US. Census
Bureau, American Community
Survey, 2012.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 21
Sonoma County's racial
and ethnic well-being
gap is smaller than that
of California.
Tq=
Source: Race and ethnic group
estimates for California are from
Lewis and Burd -Sharps 12013).
Remainder are from Measure of
America analysis of data from
the California [)apartment of
Pubtic Health 2005-2011, and
U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2012.
VARIATION BY RACE AND ETHNICITY
The American Human Development Index scores of Sonoma County's major racial
and ethnic groups vary significantly. The groups we examine are defined by the
White House Office of Management and Budget, although we cannot include Native
Americans in the index, as they make up less than 1 percent of Sonoma Countys
population. The report does discuss issues concerning Native American well-
being, however.
The ranking of well-being levels by race and ethnicity in Sonoma County
follows that of California, with Asian Americans at the top, followed by whites,
African Americans, and Latinos. A similar pattern holds nationwide, although
Latinos fare better than African Americans at the national level, and Native
Americans have the lowest scone.' Even so, Sonoma County differs from the state
and nation in some surprising ways.
One considerable difference is the gap in human development between the
highest- and lowest -ranked racial and ethnic groups, which is smaller in Sonoma
County (2.83) than in California (3.25). Given the increasing evidence that extreme
racial disparities in terms of income and other factors can be detrimental to many
aspects of well-being, this is indeed very good news for Sonoma.s
A second difference concerns the well-being of Asian Americans, who are the
only major racial or ethnic group with an HD Index value Lower in Sonoma County
than in the United States, even though they are ranked first overall in Sonoma. This
lower Asian American value is in marked contrast to that of African Americans,
with an index value in Sonoma a surprising 23 percent higher than for African
Americans nationally; likewise, the index value is 5 percent greater for Sonoma's
Latinos than the national Latino average and 11 percent greater forwhites.
The following are some notable strengths of and challenges for each of these
groups in Sonoma County:
FIGURE 2 Human Development Outcomes among Sonoma County's
Major Racial and Ethnic Groups Vary Significantly
E .._.._
0= BA
*,,HEALTH INDEX
1-8.03 —
8- Asian
___ _.7.64 =6.06
Americans
Asian
q EDUCATION INDIX
(7.301
Americans
b `---._.�.._
5.23 �-----i -5.92 .—......._.—......
17.101
—�— — ---
7 __.____ .____._..
___*_._...._..
4.25
6 --' --
I5
_._.._.._ ___..---___.-__
._----- __
0
4
Latinos —
African Americans
Latinos
14.27)
17.10 OVERALL HDI 16.01 OVERALL HDI
(4.051
1
'
r
r
I
,
r
'
'
r
'
r
r
'
'
1
r
'
'
r
I
'
'
r
r
r
,
,
1
r
,
,
r
,
n i
CALIFORNIA
HOINDEX
SONOMA
HDINOEX
Source: Race and ethnic group
estimates for California are from
Lewis and Burd -Sharps 12013).
Remainder are from Measure of
America analysis of data from
the California [)apartment of
Pubtic Health 2005-2011, and
U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2012.
VARIATION BY RACE AND ETHNICITY
The American Human Development Index scores of Sonoma County's major racial
and ethnic groups vary significantly. The groups we examine are defined by the
White House Office of Management and Budget, although we cannot include Native
Americans in the index, as they make up less than 1 percent of Sonoma Countys
population. The report does discuss issues concerning Native American well-
being, however.
The ranking of well-being levels by race and ethnicity in Sonoma County
follows that of California, with Asian Americans at the top, followed by whites,
African Americans, and Latinos. A similar pattern holds nationwide, although
Latinos fare better than African Americans at the national level, and Native
Americans have the lowest scone.' Even so, Sonoma County differs from the state
and nation in some surprising ways.
One considerable difference is the gap in human development between the
highest- and lowest -ranked racial and ethnic groups, which is smaller in Sonoma
County (2.83) than in California (3.25). Given the increasing evidence that extreme
racial disparities in terms of income and other factors can be detrimental to many
aspects of well-being, this is indeed very good news for Sonoma.s
A second difference concerns the well-being of Asian Americans, who are the
only major racial or ethnic group with an HD Index value Lower in Sonoma County
than in the United States, even though they are ranked first overall in Sonoma. This
lower Asian American value is in marked contrast to that of African Americans,
with an index value in Sonoma a surprising 23 percent higher than for African
Americans nationally; likewise, the index value is 5 percent greater for Sonoma's
Latinos than the national Latino average and 11 percent greater forwhites.
The following are some notable strengths of and challenges for each of these
groups in Sonoma County:
FIGURE 2 Human Development Outcomes among Sonoma County's
Major Racial and Ethnic Groups Vary Significantly
E .._.._
0= BA
*,,HEALTH INDEX
1-8.03 —
6_____764
___ _.7.64 =6.06
q EDUCATION INDIX
4.95
1
b `---._.�.._
5.23 �-----i -5.92 .—......._.—......
4.86
—�— — ---
2
INCOMEINDIX
4.25
°
2.43
—..__—. -.
i
.___._� ..... _.._. _....____
+
( 2.37
0
Asian Americans Whites
African Americans
Latinos
17.10 OVERALL HDI 16.01 OVERALL HDI
16.68 OVERALL HDI
14.270VERALL HD)
Source: Measure of America analysis of California Department of Public Health, Death Statistical Master
File, 2005-2011, and U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2012.
22 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
SONOMA COUNTY: WHAT THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX REVEALS
Asian Americans, who make up 3.7 percent of Sonoma County's population,
Major Asian Subgroups
have the highest well-being score in Sonoma, at 7.10. Their strongest dimension is
in Sonoma County '
health: Asian Americans live longer than members of any other racial and ethnic
FILIPINO
group, 86.2 years. The high educational attainment of Sonoma County's Asian
23%
American adults is also impressive; 44.4 percent have at least a bachelor's degree,
as compared to whites at 38 percent. One area in which the group Lags, though,
'
CHINESE [Except TaWanesel
is high school completion; nearly 13 percent of Sonoma's Asian American adults
78�
age 25 and older did not complete high school or an equivalency diploma. One
VIETNAMESE
factor to consider when Looking at these data is that the Census Bureau -defined
'
13%
category "Asian" is extremely broad. It encompasses U.S.-born citizens who trace
their heritage to a wide range of Asian countries as well as Asian immigrants
ASIAN INDIAN
9%
who arrive in the United States from extraordinarily diverse circumstances (see
SI DEBAR). This split record on educational attainment can be traced to the differing
JAPANESE
educational opportunities of immigrants and their children. But like immigrant
B%
groups before them, the second generation tends to have far higher Levels of
OTHERASIAN
educational attainment than their parents. While overall educational outcomes of
bpi,
Asian Americans are higher than those of whites, median personal earnings, or
the wages and salaries of the typical worker in Sonoma County, are considerably
KOREAN
lower, with a gap of over $4,000 ($32,495 for Asian Americans, as compared to
5%
$36,647 for whites). Earnings are explored in greater depth in the chapter on
LAOTIAN
Standard of Living.
5%
Whites, who make up 66.1 percent of Sonoma County's population, have an
index score of 6.01, the second-highest among the racial and ethnic groups. Whites
CAMBODIAN
can expect to live 80.5 years, which is on par with the California and Sonoma life
4%
expectancies; over 95 percent of adults have completed high school; and earnings
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
are $36,647, well above California's median of $30,500, but considerably lower
American Community Survey,
than other nearby counties. Whites in Santa Cruz, Ventura, and Napa Counties, for
2012, 5 -year estimates.
example, earn roughly $40,000, $42,000, and $39,500, respectively.
African Americans, who make up 1.4 percent of Sonoma County's population,
rank third with an index score of 4.68. African Americans fare better in Sonoma
County than in California as a whole, and while they are below Latinos in the
national HD Index ranking, their score in the county is higher than Latinos'. African
Americans also have rates of college attainment and median personal earnings
at or above Sonoma County's average. Yet, as in the nation and in California, they
have the shortest life expectancy at birth. An African American baby born today
in Sonoma County can expect to Live eight and a half years less than an Asian
American baby and seven and a half years less than a Latino baby.
Latinos, who make up 24.9 percent of Sonoma County's population, have the
Lowest score on the index, 4.27. Yet Latinos in Sonoma County do better in terms of
human well-being than they do in the state as a whole (the Latino statewide score
is 4.05). As discussed below, Latino life expectancy in Sonoma County is very high;
Latinos outlive whites, on average, by nearly half a decade.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 23
In Sonoma, women live
Education and income indicators are far behind, however. Nearly 44 percent of
longer and have more
Latino adults did not complete high school, and their median earnings are only
education, but men
about $21,500, which is below the poverty line for family of four.
earn more.
In the chapters that follow, the distribution of well-being by race and ethnicity
in health, education, and earnings are explored further.
HEALTH
All ✓
VARIATION BY GENDER
Sonoma County's females edge out mates in human development by a small
Men women
margin; their score is 5.41, as compared with 5.30. Females outlive males byjust
78.9 83.0
years years
over fouryears, women are slightly more likely to have completed high school and
_ ................... -.........I.............-
college than men, and girls' school enrollment is higher than boys'.' Females age
16 years and older in the workforce, however, lag behind mates in earnings by an
EDUCATION
annual amount of $8,628 )see SIDEBAR).
✓
The difference in life expectancy between men and women can largely be
attributed to biological genetic factors—the world over, females have an average
Men women
four- to five-year advantage in life span over males, though differing patterns of
89h
with
with with
health and risk behaviors la a role as well.
play
at Least atleasta
h
hi h school high school
In the United States, women have taken to heart the notions that education
diploma diploma
is an assured route to expanding options beyond traditional low-paying "female'
.........•• • •....... •.•.•••. 1............ • •• •
occupations and that competing in today's globalized knowledge economy requires
EARNINGS
higher education; girls and young women today are graduating high school and
college at higher rates than men across the nation. Yet, as the numbers show, higher
educational achievement has not automatically translated into higher earnings.
The earnings gap between men and women remains stubbornly persistent'
Men women
Median personal earnings include both full- and part-time workers, so part of the
er year per;ca3z61:
paryaar
difference is a higher proportion of Sonoma County's women than men working
part time.8 These gaps are also explained in part by the wage "penalty" women pay if
a
Source: Measure of the
analysis of data from the California
the leave the workforce to raise children; in art b women's predominance in such
Y P Y
Department of Public Health 2005-
low-wage occupations as child-care providers and home health aides; and in part
2011, and U.S. Census Bureau,
American Community survey,
by the persistence of wage discrimination—even in a female -dominated field like
2012,1-yeerestimates.
education, where two in three workers are women, men earn $17,000 more peryear.9
24 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
SONOMA COUNTY: WHAT THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX REVEALS
VARIATION BY GEOGRAPHY: CENSUS TRACTS
Sonoma County vs.
SONOMA
United States
A took at the Sonoma County human development map does not reveal any
'
particular geographical pattern to well-being outcomes [see MAP 1). High human
development areas are found in the north as well as the south and in cities as well
as rural areas. What is clear, however, as is true across America, is that the most
'
extreme disparities in basic social and economic outcomes are often found within
9—_ EastBennett
Y
small geographical areas.
fa.a71
At the top of the Sonoma County well-being scale are three census tracts
'
in and around the city of Santa Rasa: East Bennett Valley, Fountain Grove, and
B
Skyhawk. Three Santa Rosa neighborhoods are also at the bottom: Sheppard,
Roseland, and Roseland Creek [see s1 DE BAR). Top-ranking East Bennett Valley,
with an index value of 8.47, is five miles east of bottom -ranking Roseland Creek,
7 _""`--- --'— '
with an index value of 2.79. The former has a Human Development Index value
Connecticut
16.171
above that of top -ranked -state Connecticut, while the well-being outcomes of
6 _ •
the latter are well below those of Mississippi, the lowest -ranked state on the
American HD Index.
In East Bennett Valley, a baby born today can expect to live 82 years.
5 __. ......
Virtually every adult living in this tract has completed high school, and nearly
three in five have at least a bachelor's degree. Median personal earnings [$68,967)
are more than double those of the typical Sonoma County worker. East Bennett
4 - -
Valley is 90 percent white, 5 percent Latino, 3 percent Asian, and less than
Mississippi
1 percent African American.
13.611
In contrast, Life expectancy at birth in Roseland Creek is only 77.1 years,
3 --)-- --
�
and educational outcomes are alarmingly Low, with nearly half (46 percent) of
Roseland t
adults todaytacking the barebones minimum of a high school diploma. The typical
9 9 P tYP
creel)
2_ _.�__ � 12.791 --
worker in Roseland Creek earns $21,699, about the same as the earnings of an
;
American worker in the Late 1960s (in inflation-adjusted dollars). Roseland Creek
is 60 percent Latina, 30 percent white, 5 percent Asian American, and 2 percent
African American.
t
W
U.S.
SONOMA
He1NOEX
Ha INDEX
Sources: Lewis and Burd -Sharps
(20131 and Measure of America
analysis of data from the California
Department of Public Health 2005-
2011, and US Census Bureau,
American Community Survey,
2012, 5 -year estimates.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 25
1
1
1
1'
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
MAP 1 Human Development in Sonoma County by Census Tract
HD INDEX
6.58-8.47
5.79-6.57
5.44-5.78
4.32-5.43
2.79-4.31
Ranch
LakeSonoma '�, Geyserville
26 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
0
listoga
10 // 20 Miles
SONOMA COUNTY: WHAT THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX REVEALS
TAt� -. Human Development in Sonoma County by Census Tract
�Ayl9fple
5an\pym(I� Cau IN
1 East Bennett alley
2 Fountain Grove
3 5 awk
4 nnadeVSoulh Oakmont
5 Old Ouarry
d RuaLC emete
7 CentaLBennett altey
8 Sea Ranch7rimber Cove
9 CherryValtey
10 Sonoma Mountain
11 Windsor East
12 Meadow
13 Petaluma Airport/Armyu Park
14 Downtown Sonoma
15 Southwest Sebastopol
16 Gold Ridge
17 Amold Drive/East Sonoma Mountain
18 Cental East Windsor
19 Larkfield-Wikiup
20 Sonoma C. y SouthNnetpu
21 Southern �unior College Neighborhood
22 Jenner/Candem
23 Occidental/Bodega
24 Fulton
25 Spring Hitt
26 Casa Grande
27 Monl®omeryVillage
28 Hessen Community
29 Rohnert Park F/H Section
30 West Bennett Valle}}''
31 Camems5/Qf,n(ol1naAme
32 Northeast wlnAsor
33 North Healdsburg
34 Windsor5outheast
35 Southeast Sebastopol
36 West Windsor
37 North Oakmont/Hood Mountain
38 North SebaI,o of
39 East Catatlo�nert Park L Section
40 Sonoma City NorthAVest Mayacamas Mountain
41 Grant
42 West Cloverdale
43 Rohnert Park M Section
44 Alexander Valley
45 Sunrise/Bond Parks
46 Pine,
47 Laguna de Santa Rosa/Hatt Road
48 yes Hot Springs West/ELVerano
49 M,Kin
50 Shilo outh
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014
27
311
11.3
3,9
A
11.7
�1771t8�9
!
82.0
0.5
58.6
24.0
9�.2
8,967
82.0
4.2
56.6
246
88.7
67,357
83.1
3.6
57.8
22.5
84.1
50,633
84.3
3.1
54.3
21.2
86.5
45,441
82.5
3.7
57.5
26.5
93.1
43,919
83.6
3.4
48.0
25.7
92.5
43,240
85.7
6.3
40.8
15.8
89.4
44.564
84.8
1.1
65.4
40.8
86.7
31,552
81.1
5.6
40.1
15.7
90.6
47,536
81.2
4.3
39.8
7.7
87.3
51,590
83.3
7.2
40.5
13.7
81.9
45,526
81.2
4.5
39.1
15.1
85.5
47,368
82.4
5.0
36.9
8.4
88.3
44,504
80.4
4.3
52.3
19.7
86.1
42,835
81.5
6.5
41.9
15.6
85.5
44,669
B3.4
5.4
51.4
21.5
77.5
40,151
82.6
5.1
50.9
13.8
78.7
40,369
B3.3
9.5
21.2
8.4
100.0
38,783
81.2
6.4
36.2
9.9
81.9
44,643
BOA
5.4
32.0
13.3
90.1
41,168
81.9
4.0
49.5
18.1
79.7
37,055
84.8
4.7
35.9
12.1
80.2
35,000
81.7
5.0
51.5
25.5
83.4
32,468
81.2
12.2
30.2
7.1
89.2
41,465
77.1
8.2
45.7
15.3
86.4
46,214
82.4
7.6
38.4
12.6
84.7
35,987
82.0
3.8
32.7
10.8
86.4
36,101
81.3
7.7
34.0
12.1
83.1
39.743
81,6
6.3
31.1
8.8
87.0
35,610
81.6
6.6
47.5
18.8
72.4
36,145
81.7
8.3
39.6
12.1
92.3
30,052
83.3
12.2
23.2
5.7
81.9
37,289
81.7
12.0
41.9
18.4
81.8
32,928
79.6
11.1
16.6
5.6
94.2
40,145
79.2
7.3
36.0
15.0
78.9
41,014
82.0
15.0
32.0
8.2
80.6
37,695
84.3
0.4
44.2
18.9
95.0
20,406
82.1
8.0
39.5
16.4
75.1
31,627
BO.6
11.2
24.7
7.0
83.6
35,880
81A
7.3
43.1
15.3
73.0
31,649
80.5
6.6
44.1
15.6
65.3
37,279
80.1
13.2
25.9
9.1
79.4
38,292
81.9
5.9
28.3
7.0
85.0
30,179
82.1
17.8
32.1
13.2
79.2
32,303
81.2
129
29.8
10.4
78.4
34.621
82.7
11.2
19.0
3.9
74.0
36,774
82.0
18.4
30.6
9.3
81.5
32,231
83.0
26.0
29.8
11.5
85.3
29,824
80.6
17.3
30.6
8.9
78.1
36,114
B1.9
11.8
34.4
13.3
74.0
31,909
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014
27
1
1
1
1
1
1
TABLE t Human Development in Sonoma County by Census Tract
California
@39
Cli
1
!1)
��,9
11.3
��p
�9
Sonora onry,r
13.
31�7p
11.7
30.2 4
51 Middle Rincon�ulh
5.61 _
803
7.3
26.7
10.3
85.4
30,568
52 Miwok
5.64
80.9
16.7
26.2
5.1 _
82.1
34,119
S3 Spring Lake
-.5.59
81.4
11.6
33.3
14.1
75.5
31,683
54 La Tercera
5.5b
78.8
16.4
25.9
4.7
86.9
36,216
55 West Sehastopol/Graton
5.56
84.1
14.4
45.1
16.1
61.2
x518
56 Two Rock
5.59
82.4
9.6
32.3
12.0
72.2
30,949
57 Boyes Hot Springs/Fetters Springs/Aqua Caliente
East 5.5S
81.8
14.2
40.4
17.3
72.6
30,164
58 Ory Creek
-.5.55
81.9
11.5
45.0
20.5
67.0
30,375
59 Rohnert Park SSU/J Section
5.5p
80A
13.5
33.2
9.6
80.5
31,638
60 Old Healdsburg
i$1� 1
82.4
8.3
37.0
15.6
66.2
29,912
61 Schaefer
5.3' j
78.2
13.3
22.8
5.8
75.1
40,322
62 Guernevi0e/Ria Nido
is.2y
80.1
11.1
32.4
15.6
65.1
34,547
63 West Catati(Penngrove
15,25 1
80.6
16.3
26.1
7.6
77.3
31,499
64 Northern Junior College Neighborhood
,�5
80.0
5.3
339
9.2
70.3
31,860
65 Rohnert Park❑/E/S Section
5, 1
81.4
12.6
21.2
_
7.9
83.4
27,294
66 Pioneer Park
(5,0
81.2
15.0
19.1
5.4
71.1
34,083
67 Russian RiverVattey
79.9
8.2
37.1
116.5 _
_ 68.1
30,431
68 Brush Creek
[
79.5
15.1
32.2
109
74.7
31,334
69 Cinnabar/West Rural Petaluma
(
78.9
9.5
32.3
9.8
67.5
34,010
70 Central Rohnert Park
?d
78.0
10.8
28.4
7.0
71.8
33,509
71 Kenwood/Glen Ellen
-
75.2
11.9
36.8
12.8
62.5
41,137
72 Wright
r id
79.4
215
209
6.4
76.1
32,046
73 Central Windsor
l
79.6
17.2
22.4
8.5
73.2
30,436
74 Middle Rincon North
'�
77.1
8.1
28.0
9.7
72.7
31,947
75 OOvet Road
-'7,,,
80.5
12.3
22.0
7.4
78.2
26,118
76 Bellevue
II
81.0
25.4
13.0
4.6
78.5
27,511
77 Monte Riop
( .3
79.9
5.8
28.0
14.0 _
67.9
25,553
78 Lucchesl/Mc0owe0
!ig� 0
78.5
17.7
24.2
7.9 _
_ 79.8
26,597
79 ForestvilleT-j7
79.7
7.2
35.0
15.6
53.8
26,561
80 Downtown Cotati
! - ,
77.6
14.3
24.7
9.2
70.1
27,108
81 Kawana Wing.
`� f
80.9
26.8
22.1
5.4 _
78.6
21,510
82 Central Heatdsburg
79.3
22.7
23.0
9.3
67.1
25,463
83 Railroad Square
t
79.7
21.7
14.0
5.9
78.0
22,908
84 Downtown Rohnert Park
i.. I i. i
79.5
10.0
18.6
3.9
60.1
26,630
65 Coddiq lawn
f r
_l
78.9
21.4
16.5
4.7
75.6
24,114
86 Burban�Gartlens
l '
76.0
16.1
29.8
149
79.0
22,421
87 Rohnert Park B/C/R Section
3T�
80.4
IMO
28.7
8.3
85.9
14,946
88 Comstock
�, O,�
78.0
33.G
8.4
3.2
81.2
25,000
89 Taylor Mountain
hp�i. p
t
77.1
23.2
13.1
2.9
71.3
27,688
90 Downtown Santa Rosa
1)
L
75.5
e.4
30.1
7.4
75.2
22,628
91 East Cloverdale
I 1 ,j
80.1
30.3
12.4
2.9
63.5
25,721
92 Rohnert Park A Section
1�,. 1
77.9
22.0
14.2
3.7
76.4
22,522
_
93 Bicentennial Park
'ii
77.0
26.6
21.5
5.0
71.2
26,760
94 West End
`.�t.�'
78.7
35.7
12.9
3.6
_ _73.2
22,294
95 West Co(q�r�°e
k$' !
79.3
17.1
22.7
7.0
65.3
18,919
96 Fetters Springs/Agua Catiente West
y/�j
81.8
45.4
17.1
5.8
67.8
19,444
97 Shepqard
_!7
76.6
41.8
8.2
3.6
71.7
22,068
98 Roseland
77.1
40.8
14.4
4.1
65.4
21,683
99 Roseland Creek
77.1
46.1
8.6
4.3
66.2
21,699
Sources: Measure of America analysis of data from the California Department of Public Health, Death Statistical Master Fite,
2005-2011, and U,S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2012 and 2008-2012.
SONOMA COUNTY: WHAT THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX REVEALS
The three chapters that follow examine
gaps in Sonoma County in three basic
areas vital to well-being and access to
opportunity—health, education, and
PAGE 30 PAGE 46
�4
PAGE 62
They explore the distribution of well-
being through several lenses, including
geography, focusing primarily on
census tracts, and demography,
focusing primarily on race and ethnicity,
and gender. Both geography and
demography affect human development
outcomes, and the ways in which they
interact also influence the range of
people's choices and opportunities.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 29
duction
sis by Geography and Race and Ethnicity
Fuels the Gaps in Heatlh?
A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE
Introduction
Social Determinants
The topic of health has been high on the national agenda in recent years as a result of Health
of the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. At the Local level, These are defined as the
attention has begun to shift to an aspect of health that lies beyond the singular circumstances in which
focus on doctors and medicine that has characterized much of the debate: the people are born, grow up,
live, work, and age, as well
conditions in our communities—whether we have access to healthy food, clean air, as the systems put in place
safe places to play and get exercise, secure jobs that reduce the chronic stress of to deal with illness. These
economic uncertainty, good schools, and other important advantages. The impacts circumstances are in turn
on our health of the conditions in which we grow up, work, and grow old are largely shaped bya wider set of
underappreciated by the general public. Yet a look at today's leading causes forces: economics, social
policies, and politics.
of death, in Sonoma County as in the nation, shows that many of the chronic
diseases that cause premature death come from factors that are often preventable World Health Organization
through changes in social and environmental conditions. These so-called social
determinants of health [see SIDEBAR) are the main drivers of disparities within Healthy communities Have:
our communities. Sonoma County has dedicated itself to addressing social
determinants of health and has set a bold goal: to be the healthiest county in
the state by 2020.
Why does life expectancy at birth figure as one-third of the American Human . Green spaces
Development Index? It is because advancing human development requires, first . Sidewalks and bike paths
and foremost, expanding people's real opportunities to Live long and healthy lives. • Affordable housing
The index uses the indicator of Life expectancy at birth as a proxy measure for
its health dimension. Defined as the number of years that a baby born today can }
expect to Live if current patterns of mortality continue throughout that baby's life, it
is calculated using mortality data from the California Department of Public Health
and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau for 2005-2011. • Fresh produce stores
• High-quality schools
Life expectancy does not, of course, tell the full story of our health. Some . Affordable health care
people go about their lives with ruddy good health, few restrictions on their . Accessible public
physical activity, and Little protracted pain. Others struggle with chronic pain transportation
or disease, disability, or even lack of dental care—often overLooked as a health
issue—all of which undeniably affect daily quality of life. Life expectancy is,
nonetheless, an important gauge for indicating which groups are living long
lives and which are experiencing conditions that cause premature death, and it
helps to focus investigations on a whole range of other information necessary • Jobs with decent wages
• Work/life balance
for understanding why. This chapter examines the disparities that exist in this . A diverse economy
summary measure in Sonoma County and uses additional data to explore some
important issues further.
• Equality under the law
• Accountable government
• Affordable, safe childcare
• Safety and security
A PORTRAIT DF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 31
Analysis by Geography and
Race and Ethnicity
32 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
VARIATION BY GEOGRAPHY: SONOMA COUNTY IN CONTEXT
Sonoma County
Sonoma County's residents can expect to live to an average age of 81 years—two
in Context
years longerthan the national average of 79 butjust slightly shorterthan California's
life expectancy of 81.2. If we judge only by how long people are living, seven of
LIFE EXPECTANCY IN YEARS
the eight peer counties have very similar mortality outcomes. Marin stands apart
w
with a life expectancy of 84.2 years, with the rest grouped in a narrow range
from Monterey, at 82.4 years, to Sonoma, at 81 (see SIDEBAR1.10 A look at a set
of interrelated factors that contribute to long lives, or conversely, to premature
U.S. California Sonoma
79.0 81.2 81.0
deaths, yields some interesting observations about Sonoma County in comparison
years years years
to this set of seven counties. They are as follows:
Absence of health risk behaviors. Most premature death today stems from
Source: MeaofdaureomAmerica
the Cat
analysis of data from the California
preventable health risks, chiefly smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity, and
Department of Public Health 2005-
excessive alcohol use. AS TABLE 2 illustrates, Sonoma County is on the higher side
Centers for Disease control
and Prevention WONDER 2010, and
and
in each of these areas among the eight counties. It has the highest rate of smoking
U.S. Census Bureau,
among adults,14.3 percent. In contrast, Napa County's much lowersmoking rate is 8.7
percent of adults." Reducing exposure to these "fatat four" health risks through policy
actions can go a long way toward improving the average life span in Sonoma County.
Access to health care. Sonoma County falls in the middle of the eight -county
pack in terms of both access to doctors and health insurance (although 15 percent
tacking insurance is clearly suboptimal). In terms of disease screenings, Sonoma
is faltering. Screenings for diabetes or cancer and other forms of preventive care
have an important impact on lowering premature death rates and are far Less
costly than dealing with full-blown disease at a later stage.
Economic security. Low income and the chronic stress of economic insecurity
make people more susceptible to health risks such as poor diet and smoking and
take a toll on the cardiovascular system.'' Sonoma County's unemployment rate
is relatively low, at 6 percent (as compared with around 9 percent in Santa Cruz
and Monterey), and the proportion of people living in poverty in the county is 12.1
percent, which is far better than the high of over 18 percent in Monterey but much
higher than the 8-9 percent range in Marin and Napa Counties.
Safe neighborhoods. The damaging effects of high rates of crime and violence
on health include causing chronic stress, discouraging outdoor exercise, and, at
worst, resulting in injury or death. Sonoma County's rate of 412 violent crimes
per 100,000 residents is roughly double Marin's rate and far higher than those
of Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties, but it is below the rates in Napa and
Monterey, which have nearly 500 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.
32 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
Education. As discussed below, people across the United States who
have more education live longer than those who have less.13 Sonoma County's
educational outcomes fall well below those of Marin County, but they compare
favorably to both Monterey and Napa.
TABLE 2 Health -Related Indicators in Sonoma and Seven Peer Counties
Health risk behaviors
Monterey 22.4 13.1 15.9 15.0
Napa 22.2 8.7 15.5 22.9
San Luis Obispo 21.7 10.3 14.6 19.5
Santa Barbara 19.9 11.1 16.0 IBA
Santa Cruz 19.8 9.6 12.4 17.6
Sonoma 22.9 14.3 14.5 21.5
Ventura 23.3 12.3 17.0 17.5
Access to health care
Monterey 1:1,595 82.2 66.9 21.0
Napa 1:1,189 81.7 66.5 14.8
San Luis Obispo 1:1,280 85.7 70.8 13.1
Santa Barbara 1:1,252 86.6 69.0 18.6
Santa Cruz 1:1,047 83.2 69.4 14.4
Sonoma 1,1,070 79.8 66.2 15.0
Ventura 1:1,458 82.4 65.6 16.0
Economic security & safe neighborhoods
COUNTIES
P1 ll
76
0yjt" i
i`il1A,'
1•
Ham,
Marin
4.6
7.9
3.9
212.9
Monterey
9.1
18.4
Be
498.8
Napa
6.0
8.9
5.9
511.4
San Luis Obispo
6.1
13.7
5.5
274.2
Santa Barbara
6.4
16.3
6.8
437.8
Santa Cruz
8.7
13.4
7.9
493.9
Sonoma
6.0
12.1
7.6
412,4
Ventura
7.3
11.5
7.5
243.8
Sources: Measure of America (life expectancy); Bureau of Labor Statistics, Laal Area Unemployment
Statistics, November 2013 (unemployment); Measure of America analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey 2012 (insurance, poverty level, SNAP); County Health Rankings 2013 (remaining indicators).
A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE
Life Expectancy at
Birth in Sonoma (years)
86 .
84 _! Marin
184.2 yea rs)
Monterey
Ventura
82 ~ Santa Barbara
dk- Santa Cruz
a--- Napa
San Luis Obispo
Sonoma
80 _. __.(81.0 years)
1
r
1
r
r
r
1
78 ---
LIFE UPECTANCY
IN PEEN COUNTIES
Source: Measure of America
anatysfs of data from California
Department of Public Health 2005-
2012, and U.S. Census Bureau.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 33
r
76
_ i. _..._......._ _ ._..._
1
i
1
r
1
74
LIFE UPECTANCY
IN PEEN COUNTIES
Source: Measure of America
anatysfs of data from California
Department of Public Health 2005-
2012, and U.S. Census Bureau.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 33
'1
'1
Top and Bottom Five
Census Tracts for Life
Expectancy in Sonoma
'- County
86 . _- Central - __..
e— Bennett
' Valley
Sea Ranch/
Timber Cove
84 _. Jenner/Cazadero
e
South Oakmont
North Oakmont/
Hood Mountain
82
I'm
80 _.._ .- ___
78e— Bicentennial Park
e— Sheppard
76 ems, Burbank Gardens. _
/Downtown
f Santa Rosa
♦— Kenwood/
Glen Ellen
1
74
'LIFEUPECTANCY
IN SONONA COUNTY
Source: Measure of America
analysis of data from the California
Department of Public Health,
2005-2011, and population data
from the U.S. Census Bureau.
34
VARIATION BY GEOGRAPHY: CENSUS TRACTS
These main drivers of longevity in Sonoma County make it one of a set of very
healthy counties in a state with very good health outcomes; California has the
third-highest life expectancy in the continental United States. Nonetheless, work
remains to be done (see MAP 2). An entire decade separates the life expectancies
of the top and bottom census tracts among the ninety-nine that make up the
county. The top five tracts are Central Bennett Valley (85.7 years), Sea Ranch/
Timber Cove and Jenner/Cazadero (both 84.8 years), AnnadeUSouth Oakmont and
North Oakmont/Hood Mountain (both 84.3 years), and West Sebastopol/Graton
(84.1 years]. The bottom five are Bicentennial Park (77.0 years), Sheppard 176.6
years), Burbank Gardens (76.0 years), Downtown Santa Rosa (75.5 years), and
Kenwood/Glen Ellen (75.2 years). See SIDEBAR.
What characteristics do the census tracts with higher life expectancies have
in common? While manyAmericans believe income and health rise and fall in
tandem, the situations in these neighborhoods challenge that assumption. The
typical currently employed worker in Central Bennett Valley and AnnadeUSouth
Oakmont earns in the range of $45,000, while his or her counterparts in Sea
Ranch/Timber Cove and Jenner/Cazadero have median earnings of $31,500 and
$35,000, respectively; all are among the top five census tracts for life expectancy.
In marked contrast, the tracts with the highest earnings, Fountain Grove and East
Bennett Valley, rank twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth in terms of life expectancy. In
fact, studying the relationship between earnings and health across all ninety-nine
of Sonoma County's census tracts shows only a weak positive correlation. In other
words, knowing about the wages and salaries in Sonoma's neighborhoods gives
you little of the information necessary to predict life span.
What, then, does matter for health outcomes?
One very important, and undervalued, factor in a long and healthy life is education.
Analysis of Sonoma County's ninety-nine tracts shows a clear positive correlation
between life expectancy and education: people in neighborhoods with higher
educational attainment and enrollment have longer lives. This is in part because
better -educated people have more access to health care and are more likely
to comply with treatment regimens, use safety devices such as seat belts and
smoke detectors, and embrace new laws and technologies.t6 But low educational
attainment also chips away at life expectancy in ways less obviously linked with
health. It both causes and is caused by low socioeconomic status, circumscribes
career options, results in low-wagejobs and limited benefits, and often results in
families living in neighborhoods with poorer schools and higher crime, all of which
contribute to chronic stress that damages the heart and blood vessels.
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
MAP 2 Life Expectancy in Sonoma County by Census Tract
I , I V
LIFE EXPECTANCY
82.5-85.7 years
81.7-82.4 years
80.5-81.6 years
® 79.2-80.4 years
75.2-79.1 years
A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE
10 20 Miles
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 35
1,
1l
1,
BOX 2 A Tale of Two Neighborhoods
CENTRAL SENNETT VALLEY SHEPPARD
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 85.7 YEARS LIFE EXPECTANCY: 76.6 YEARS
�s
"*4%
i2 im
su� ��
n ! ,,
Residents of Central Bennett Valley in eastern Santa Rosa have
an average life expectancy of 85.7 years, at the top of Sonoma
County's longevity scale. Toward the bottom of this scale is
Sheppard, a neighborhood within the same city and only about
two mites away. Here, the average resident has a life expectancy
at birth of 76.6 years. What are some of the factors that may be
contributing to this life expectancy gap of over nine years?
Central Bennett Valley, a top -ten tract in terms of overall
human development, is a small neighborhood of 0.6 square
mites," located in eastern Santa Rosa in a verdant area
that is close by hundreds of acres of state parkland. The
neighborhood's ethnic makeup is about four-fifths white, with
a small (10.8 percent) Latino population. Four in ten adults
here have at least a bachelor's degree. The tract is home to
Strawberry Park, with nearly six acres of open space and sports
facilities, and the smaller Matanzas Park." The poverty rate is
Low 16.6 percent), and only 8.6 percent of residents lack health
insurance. Of the major occupational categories (defined by the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticsl, Central Bennett Valley has a
very high proportion of workers in management -type work (60
percentl. It has fewservice jobs (11 percent) and even fewerjobs
in agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and other manual
labor -based trades.
Sheppard ranks ninety-seventh of the county's ninety-nine
tracts in human development. It is roughly the same size
as Central Bennett Valley" but flanked by two highways.
Sheppard's population is two-thirds Latino—over six times
the Latino population share of Central Bennett Valtey—and
one-third white. Fewer than one in twelve adults has a
bachelor's degree or higher. One six -acre park lies within the
tract boundaries, but only one acre is developed, and the park
has walking areas but no recreational facilities.ta Sheppard's
poverty rate is nearly three times that of Central Bennett Valley,
and triple the proportion of residents tack health insurance.
Sheppard has fewer than a third of the proportion of
workers of Central Bennett Valley in relatively higher -paying
management and related occupations 116.9 percent) and over
triple the proportion (19.2 percent) doing work that revolves
Largely around manual labor: agriculture, construction,
maintenance, or repair. Finally, while in most Sonoma County
census tracts, including Central Bennett Valley, women
outnumber men in the population, largely due to their longer
life expectancy, the reverse is true in Sheppard. Although data
on the undocumented are hard to obtain, a recent study by
the Public Policy Institute of California found that in the zip
code that encompasses Sheppard and the other Southwest
Santa Rosa neighborhoods, more than one in four residents
is an undocumented immigrant." Health outcomes in this
neighborhood are very Low, all the moreworrisome because, as
discussed below, Latinos in Sonoma County outlive whites, on
average, byjust under half a decade.
The portraits of these two small neighborhoods are not
exhaustive—in part because health risk behaviors data are
lacking for very small populations. But they cover some
important social, economic, demographic, and environmental
health determinants. The dailyconditions for healthful
behaviors in these two neighborhoods are worlds apart, as are
the educational backgrounds, jobs, and access to services of
their residents. And the outcomes speak for themselves. In the
neighborhood with ample green space and clean air, where the
majority of adults have relatively high levels of education and
work in managementjobs with minimal exposure to hazards,
and where poverty rates are low, the Life expectancy of a baby
born there today is longer than that of a baby born in any other
Sonoma County tract on the same day. In the neighborhood
where the risk of work-related injury and the stress of economic
insecurity that is so damaging to health are far higher, and
where access to health insurance and opportunities for
recreation and exercise are more limited, life expectancy is
about the same as it was in the United States in the mid-1990s,
nearly two decades ago?o
'. 36 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
BOX 2 CONTINUED ATaleofTwo Neighborhoods
CENTRAL BENNETT VALLEY : SHEPPARD
Total Population Ratio of Men to Women Total Population
3p5b3 � an V Woman `r�`IL r1t rr
Race/Ethnkity Race/Ethnicity
_..
80.8% 10.8% 8.4% 23.2%
White Latino Other White
HEALTH HEALTH
85,7 IV 8.6° h 76.6
years life withoutt health years life
expectancy insurance expectancy
EDUCATION
0 89.4%
drool
enrollment
STANDARD OF LIVING
$44,564 I
median earnings
OCCUPATIONAL BREAKDOWN
Management &
Related
Sales & -
Office 17%
Service 11 %
Natural Resources,, 6p/p
Construction, Maintenance
Production, Transportation,' 6p/p
& Material Moving
40.8%
have at least a
bachelors degree
EDUCATION
71.7%
school
enrollment
STANDARD OF LIVING
6,6% $22,068
living in poverty median earnings
A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE
Ratio of Men to Women
I��,11 ; ,'"
jMen J Woman
i
66.4%
Latina
OCCUPATIONAL BREAKDOWN
10.4%
Other
%25.9%
without health
insurance
8.2%
have at least a
bachelor's degree
► 18.7%
Living in poverty
60% - Management&-17%
Related
Sates &_
27%
Office
Service-
23%
Natural Resources.
Construction, Maintenance
- 19%
Production, Transportation,■
& Material Moving
14%
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2010, and American CommunitySurvey 2008-2012.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014
37
',
t,
11
11
38
BOX 3 Dating and Domestic Violence: Public Health Challenges in Sonoma County
According to the California Department of Justice, 147
homicides from domestic violence were committed in 2011—
nearly 12 percent of the state's homicides. While gang- and
robber -related homicides were on the dectihe, domestic
violence killings in California went up by 30 percent from
2008 to 2011 21 The tragedy of death resulting from domestic
violence is only part of the destruction it wreaks. Domestic
violence has devastating psychological, physical, and economic
consequences on thosewho experience it—and on the
children who are exposed to it. In the health realm, beyond the
immediate injuries, victims often suffer from a host of longer-
term physical health problems, including sleep and eating
disorders, and frequently experience devastating psychological
distress, such as depression, anxiety, and sometimes suicide.
Young people who are victims of teen dating violence can also
experience these health symptoms; are more likely to engage in
health risk behaviors such as smoking, excessive drinking, and
drug use; and are at a higher risk of being victims of intimate
partner violence in adulthood. Domestic violence also exacts
a high cost to society at large—medical costs,justice system
costs, reduced workforce productivity, and reduced capabilities
of future generations.
Dating and domestic violence are pervasive public health.
issues that continue to impact communities nationwide,
including Sonoma County. In 2012, the rate of domestic
violence -related calls to law enforcement in Sonoma County
was 4.7 per one thousand residents ages 18 to 64, lower than
the state rate of 6.6 per one thousand. Yet some areas in the
county are seeing higher rates, ranging from fewer than four
calls to law enforcement per 1,000 residents in some cities and
towns to nearly twenty calls in others.22 However, care must be
taken in comparing and interpreting these data due to possible
-differences in how local law enforcement agencies define, collect,
and record domesticviolence-related calls. Standardization
of definitions and data collection practices are essential to
understanding the relative magnitude of the problem.
A Look at teens who have experienced dating violence in
the county shows that the rate is slightly below the California
average for all but nontraditional students, but is nonetheless a
problem that affects hundreds of Sonoma's young people [see
below). The percentage of students who have been intentionally
physicaLLy hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the past year in
Sonoma County public schools ranges from 4.1 percent among
seventh graders to 5.7 percent in ninth grade, and climbs
to 5.8 percent by eleventh grade. Both dating and domestic
violence are typically underreported, especially among certain
populations, such as people who are undocumented. These
data, therefore, may be an underestimation of the extent of
dating and domestic violence in Sonoma County.
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services is
developing a Violence Profile, due out in 2014, as part of an
effort to move away from a focus on individual causes to one
that frames violence as a public health issue. The next step
will be the development of a full-scale initiative with targeted
efforts to better understand and address the community,
environmental, and social factors that contribute to violence in
Sonoma County.
Dating Violence among Youth in California and Sonoma County, 2008-2010 School Years
60 CALIFORNIA .57.8
51.2 49.2 51 7
50 __-54.5 - . 45.r -- - ` 41.5.. _ 4
40
30
20
13.3
tit
0
7th 9th lith Nontraditional
grade grade grade students
SONOMA COUNTY
521 52,8
.. .40.0 46.3
7th
grade
9th
grade
43.1
13.9
5.8.
11th Nontraditional
grade students
N Experienced dating violence in past year N L-1 No dating violence in past year N l7 No boyfriend/girlfriend in past year N
Source: California Department of Education, California Healthy Kids Survey iWestEdl http:/Aw .kidsdata.org/. Notes: Nontraditional students
are students erm[Led in community day schools or continuing education. They make up about 7 percent of the sampled student body on this
survey question. Values may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
VARIATION BY RACE AND ETHNICITY
The life expectancy of Sonoma County's population varies considerably by race and
ethnicity, reflecting that of the state and nation as a whole, but with a smaller gap
between the longest- and shortest -lived groups (see FIGURE 31.
Asian Americans in Sonoma County live longest, with an average life
expectancy of 86.2 years. This is very close to the state and national average
forthis group. As discussed above, education is an important determinant of
health, and in Sonoma County, Asian American educational outcomes are indeed
impressive. Nearly three-fourths of Sonoma County Asians were born overseas 121
and one way in which they differ from Asian Americans statewide is that they
include a larger proportion of immigrants from Cambodia and Thailand. Many
Cambodian immigrants in California are refugees from years of civil war, whose
psychologically traumatic experiences and physical deprivations, including
periods of starvation, have led to exceedingly poor health compared to other Asian
immigrants 25 More research is needed on the health of this population to better
meet their needs. Yet despite the particular challenges of refugee populations in
Sonoma County, health outcomes for Asian Americans overall tap the chart.
Latinos have the second-highest life expectancy in Sonoma County, 85.3
years—only about one year less than Asian Americans. Sonoma County's Latinos
outlive whites, on average, by nearly half a decade.
A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE
The life
expectancy of
Sonoma County's
population varies
considerably by
race and ethnicity.
FIGURE 3 The Gap between the Longest- and Shortest -Lived Groups in Sonoma County
Is Smaller Than the U.S. or California Gap.
Lj
UNITED
STATES
90
85
80
75
70
CALIFORNIA
SONOMA
COUNTY
Asian Latino White African Asian Latina White African Asian Latina White African
American American American American American American
Sources: Measure of America analysis of data from the California Department of Public Health, Death Statistical Master File and U.S.
Census Bureau, 2005-2011. U.S. and California estimates arefrom Lewis and Burd -Sharps 12013).
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 39
�l
Three factors appear The phenomenon of Latinos living longer than whites despite having lower
'
to contribute to educational levels and incomes and far lower rates of insurance coverage (29.4
Latino longevity: percent of Latinos in Sonoma lack health insurance, as compared to 9.4 percent
of whites) d is referred to as the Latino Health Paradox and is evident at the state
'
and national levels as well.
Although Latinos in Sonoma County are generally a very young population,
-1� that does not affect life expectancy at birth, as the calculation is sensitive to
'
Latinos smoke cigarettes at the age structure of the local population. For example, the presence of a large
lower rates than whites. assisted-tiving facility for seniors that encompasses much of one census tract
does not distort the calculation of life expectancy. While further research on the
longevity of Latinos and on the Latino Health Paradox is needed, several factors
'
seem to contribute. Latinos binge drink less than non-Hispanic whites and have
far lower smoking rates," which is important because both smoking and excessive
drinking can contribute to premature death from heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
In addition, some research shows that aspects of Latino culture, such as strong
social support and family cohesion, help bolster health outcomes, particularly for
mothers and infants. 28
'
Latinos drink to excess at One particularly interesting aspect of the Latino Health Paradox is that this
lower rates than whites. protective health benefit seems to wear off the longer Latinos are in the United
States. Researchers seeking to understand this trend have found that splitting
'
Latinos into two groups, U.S.-born and foreign-born, reveals markedly different
characteristics. Foreign-born Latinos tend to have better health outcomes than
• those who were either born in the United States or have spent a significant
''•
amount of time in this country. These findings have led researchers to believe that
immigrants adopt the preferences of the people among whom they live over time, a
��
process of acculturation that has significant adverse impacts on health (with some
'
strong sociatsupport and beneficial impacts as wet[V More research is needed, however, to understand
family cohesion seem to the various factors contributing to these outcomes. Gaining such knowledge could
bolster health outcomes, help lengthen life spans for everyone, as well as contribute to our understanding of
particularly for Latino acculturation's negative health impacts on immigrant groups, so that the second
mothers and infants.
generation can remain as healthy as their parents.
Whites in Sonoma County have a life expectancy of 80.5 years, better than
whites nationwide and in California but well below that of Asian Americans and
Latinos. In fact, the longevity gap between Latinos and whites (4.8 years) is much
Larger in Sonoma County than it is in either California [with a gap of 3.4 years) or
'
the United States 13.9 years). Given the relatively high income and educational
Levels of the county as well as other environmental and social characteristics of
Sonoma that support good health, it is surprising that whites live significantly
'
shorter lives than Latinos and Asian Americans, despite their higher earnings and
other socioeconomic advantages. One concern in Sonoma is cancer.
In
40 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
Sonoma County has higher incidence and death rates from cancer than the state
averages 30 but the death rate is significantly higher still for white residents than
for other racial and ethnic groups. Whereas the Latino and Asian American cancer
rates are in the range of 100 to 110 deaths per 100,000 population, for whites, the
death rate is nearly 177 per 100,000. (Cancer death rates for African Americans in
Sonoma County cannot be estimated due to the small size of this population).31 A
focus on reducing Sonoma's relatively high smoking rates would be one important
effort for reducing cancer in the county.
African Americans have a life expectancy of 77.7 years, the shortest life span
of the four major racial and ethnic groups in Sonoma County. The concerning life
expectancy gap of 8.5 years between this shortest- and the longest -lived racial
or ethnic group in Sonoma County is nevertheless smaller than that observed
in either the United States (12 years) or California [11 years]. While the African
American population in Sonoma is quite smatt (around 7,000), one in five is foreign
born,32 which represents a far higher proportion of immigrants than the national
average among African Americans.33 In California, foreign -born African Americans
have a slight life expectancy edge over U.S.-born African Americans 36
A comparison between the education levels of African Americans in Sonoma
County and those nationally reveals important health -giving advantages in
the county. Sonoma's African Americans are far more likely to have bachelor's
degrees (31.4 percent versus 17.9 percent) and twice as likely to have graduate
or professional degrees. In addition, this population is more integrated across
Sonoma census tracts than in many other cities and counties across America.
FIGURE African Americans in Sonoma County
AT LEAST GRADUATE
BACHELOR'S DEGREE DEGREE
17.9%
21.4%
.............................. ................... _. _.__....,.. _
77.7 ♦31.4%
years
Sonoma
V 6,3%
IF 7.6%
_.. _....._............ I ....
.
12.5%
Source: Lewis and Burd -Sharps !20131, Measure of America analysis of the California Department of
Public Health, Death Statistical Master File, 2005-2011, and U.S. Census Bureau, American Community
Surrey, 2012.
A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE
African Americans
have a life
expectancy of
77.7 years, the
shortest life span
of the four major
racial and ethnic
groups in Sonoma
County.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 41
LIFE
EXPECTANCY
74.6
years
United States
•
75.1
years
California
AT LEAST GRADUATE
BACHELOR'S DEGREE DEGREE
17.9%
21.4%
.............................. ................... _. _.__....,.. _
77.7 ♦31.4%
years
Sonoma
V 6,3%
IF 7.6%
_.. _....._............ I ....
.
12.5%
Source: Lewis and Burd -Sharps !20131, Measure of America analysis of the California Department of
Public Health, Death Statistical Master File, 2005-2011, and U.S. Census Bureau, American Community
Surrey, 2012.
A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE
African Americans
have a life
expectancy of
77.7 years, the
shortest life span
of the four major
racial and ethnic
groups in Sonoma
County.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 41
in
42 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
Our research has shown that residential segregation by race often leads to
concentrations of poverty and disconnection as well as islands of affluence,
which affects local revenue streams and in turn has an impact on public services,
including school funding and quality, and public transportation options"
'
Also very important is segregation's effects on access to the strong social
networks and connections so vital to job and mentorship opportunities and for
neighborhood safety and trust?" Each of these sets of community conditions, in
.
turn, affect health.
'
Native Americans make up less than 1 percent of the Sonoma County
Native Americans
population, with a total of about3,500 residents whose full heritage is Native
' face a very
American, plus 9,800 others who make some claim to Native American identity.
high rate of
Unlike in many other American communities, Native Americans live in almost
every Sonoma city and town. No Sonoma County neighborhood is more than 3.8
unintentional
percent Native American,however, and only three neighborhoods(Sheppard,
injuries related
Wright, and West Windsor) have over 100 people who identify as Native American 37
Health care for this population is provided by a variety of services, including
poisoning,
the federally funded Sonoma County Indian Health Project, plus local clinics
'to
1 firearms, falls,
and providers. The result is that nearly three in four Native American adults
motor vehicle
(73.5 percent) and nearly all children (99.1 percent] have health insurance. This
compares favorably to 88.3 percent of Latino children and 95.1 percent of white
' accidents, fires,
children 38 Another respect in which Sonoma's Native American population is
drowning,
faring comparatively well is in terms of the prevalence of cancer. Coupled with
and work.
Alaska Natives, the Native American population has the lowest cancer rates of
'
the county's five major racial and ethnic groups, almost half that of whites (250 as
compared to 482 cases per 100,000)"
Native Americans face other health challenges, however, one of which is the
very high rate of unintentional injuries related to poisoning, firearms, falls, motor
vehicle accidents, fires, drowning, and work. In 2009, they had a startling rate of
2,158 unintentional injuries per 100,000 population, more than double the African
'
American rate and nearly triple that of whites. Latinos also have a relatively high
rate of unintentional injury, but it is still considerably lower, at 1,374 per 100,000.40
Two other areas of concern regard children. A lower proportion of Native
'
American mothers receives early prenatal care l71 percent) than mothers in any
other racial or ethnic group, and the rate of child abuse is 20.6 cases per 1,000
children, as compared to 3.9 per 1,000 for Asian Americans, 4.9 per 1,000 for
'
Latinos, 5.3 per 1,000 for whites, and 15 per 1,000 children for African Americans 41
in
42 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE
What Fuels the Gaps in Health?
Action to address the following three priority areas is key to boosting index scares 4W
for all residents of Sonoma County and to narrowing the gaps in health outcomes
between groups and neighborhoods. In each case, they emphasize a focus an
creating the conditions for preventing problems before they start, which is in
almost every instance less expensive and more effective than delaying action until
a crisis is full-blown.
UNEVEN NEIGHBORHOOD CONDITIONS
The life expectancy gaps that separate groups in Sonoma County—over a decade
The life
by neighborhood, eight and a half years by race and ethnicity—are not predestined,
nor are they rooted only in genetic makeup. They are largely avoidable. But
expectancy gaps
reducing thesegaps requires distributing health resourcesfar more evenLythan
that separate
they are distributed today.
groups in Sonoma
Doctors, treatments, and medicines are essential, especialtywhen a person
is already sick. But progress in health at the population level can only be made by
County are largely
going beyond the systems put in place to deal with illness to address the wide set
preventable.
of economic, social, and political forces shaping the conditions in which people are
born and grow up.
What are the resources for health in Sonoma County? They are safe and
affordable opportunities for recreation and fitness, places to get nutritious food,
reliable transportation systems, high-quality schools, safe neighborhoods, jobs
that offer dignity and economic security, decent housing, and a voice in decisions
that affect people's lives. And they are an absence of such health risks as
exposure to toxic substances, policing policies that target specific groups, zoning
and private -sector lending and credit practices that segregate neighborhoods,
aggressive marketing of cigarettes and alcohol in low-income neighborhoods,
and many others.
In some Sonoma County neighborhoods and among some groups, resources
for health are plentiful, and their value is clearly evident in the people's health
outcomes. For others, the social determinants of health that shape daily routines
result in shorter, less healthy lives. The good news, however, is where we started:
extreme health disparities are largely preventable. Collaborative efforts by
government, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals themselves
aimed at prevention offer a path to healthier, longer lives and fewer public health-
care dollars spent on treating preventable illness.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 43
Adolescent Smoking
Rates by Gender in
Sonoma
Smoked a Cigarette during
Past 30 Days I% of 7th, 9th,
11 th graders)
19%
t4.v9'°
Saccula Measurons from of America
calculations from California
' Department of Education,
California Healthy Kids Survey
(WestEdl, 2008-10.
Adolescent Smoking
Rates by Race and
Ethnicity in Sonoma
Smoked a Cigarette during
' Past 30 Days I% of 7th, 9th,
11th graders)
AFRICAN AMERICANS
13.9%
WHITES
LATINOS
- 9.9%
' ASIANAMERICANS
_ 4.4%
' Source: Measure of America
calculations from California
Department of Education,
California Healthy Kids Survey
(WestEdl, 2008-10. Data for
7th, 9th, and 11th graders are
combined to provide more
retiabLe estimates.
I'm
44
SMOKING—A MAJOR HEALTH RISK BEHAVIOR
The tremendous reduction in smoking rates between 1965, when 42 percent
of American adults smoked, to 2000, when 23 percent did, ranks among the
greatest U.S, public health victories of the twentieth century.12 Smoking declined
because people's desire to quit was supported by a whole range of actions that
made smoking diff icuLt (such as indoor and outdoor antismoking policies and
ordinances), expensive !such as cigarette taxes and fees), and less socially
acceptable (through social marketing and health promotion campaigns). A wide
range of proven tools is available to reduce death and disease from tobacco use
and exposure to secondhand smoke. Sonoma County has been active in using
many of them, including an ordinance passed in 2011 pertaining to secondhand
smoke and smoking in certain public places. But the battle against smoking is
not yet won. Over 14 percent of county residents smoke, a higher percentage than
residents of any of the other seven counties in this analysis, though differences are
not aLL statistically significant.
Where will antismoking efforts bring the greatest benefits? Local data
on smoking rates are particularly important for tailoring them. According to
calculations from the California Healthy Kids Survey for 2008-10, a higher
percentage of eleventh -grade boys smoked at least once during the thirty days
before the survey than girls (19.0 percent compared with 14.7 percent), and African
American youth were the most likely among racial and ethnic groups to have
smoked in the past thirty days (see SIDEBAR). Among the nine school districts
surveyed, smoking rates ranged from 11.3 percent of eleventh graders in Cotati-
Rohnert Park Unified School District to more than double that (23.0 percent) in
Petaluma Joint Unified School District (see FIGU RE s).
The 2014 report card of the American Lung Association in California shows
much room for improvement in many parts of Sonoma Countywith respect to
smoke-free housing and restricting outdoor smoking and gives the county low
marks for restricting tobacco sales at pharmacies and within a certain distance of
parks and schools as well as for curtailing sampling of tobacco products."
Finally, despite the strong deterrence value of cost to smoking, especially
among teenagers, California has one of the lowest cigarette tax rates per pack
in the nation -87 cents—as compared with $4.35 in New York State, $3.51 in
Massachusetts, and $3.03 in Washington State." Although state Law prohibits
municipalities from Levying their own cigarette taxes, one local mechanism
Sonoma County could investigate, though it does require a community vote, is
imposing an additional regulatory fee per pack for cigarette litter cleanup, as San
Francisco has done it Redoubling aRthese efforts would help chip away at the
annual county toll from cancer, which amounted to 933 deaths in 2012 atone d6
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
FIGURE 5 Teenage Smoking Rates Vary Widely by School District
Petaluma Joint Unified
(Petaluma Joint Union High)
West Sonoma County Union High
Cloverdale Unified
Santa Rosa High
Sonoma Valley Unified
Windsor Unified
Healdsburg Unified
Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified
SONOMA
CALIFORNIA COUNTY
13.2 16.7
1 5 10 15 20
25
(
23.0
I
i
Source: Measure of America calculations from California Oepartmentof Education, California Healthy Kids
Survey IWestEdl. 2008-10. Data for Geyservilte Unified not available.
LATINO HEALTH ADVANTAGES
Common wisdom holds that higher incomes can buy better health, and, certainly,
groups with higher education levels tend to be healthier and to live longer the
world over. Yet Latinos in Sonoma County, many of whom face disproportionate
economic and social challenges, outlive Sonoma County whites by half a decade.
As discussed in subsequent chapters, the typical Latino worker earns only $21,695
a year, compared to $36,647 for the typical white worker. And less than 5 percent of
white adults have never completed high school, compared to 44 percent of Latino
adults!' What factors might explain this conundrum?
We have some indications about what Latinos are doing right: they engage
in fewer health risks like smoking and drinking, and their communities and
families are more supportive of healthy behaviors. In addition, some researchers
have conjectured that the Latino immigrant population is a statistically biased
sample because only relatively healthy individuals are willing to undergo the
risks and uncertainties of emigration (the "healthy migrant' hypothesis), or that
Latino immigrants disproportionately return home when they are ill to die in
their countries of origin and are thus not counted in U.S. mortality statistics (the
"salmon bias" hypothesis). But tests of these hypotheses have been inconclusive
or contradictory."B Much more investigation is needed to learn from Latinos howwe
might lengthen life spans for everyone and help second -generation Latinos avoid
the negative health impacts of acculturation.
A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE
Latinos in Sonoma
County, many
of whom face
disproportionate
economic and
social challenges,
outlive Sonoma
County whites by
half a decade.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 45
' roduction
' alysis by Geography and Race and Ethnicity
Fuels the Gaps in Access to Knowledge?
ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE
Introduction
For individuals, access to knowledge is a critical determinant of long-term
well-being and is essential to self-determination, self-sufficiency, and the real
freedom a person has to decide what to do and who to be. More than just allowing
for the acquisition of skills and credentials, education builds confidence, confers
status and dignity, and broadens the horizons of the possible. More education is
associated with better physical and mental health and a longer life, greater marital
stability and ability to adjust to change, betterjob prospects, and higher income.
For society as a whole, a more educated population correlates to less crime,
greater tolerance, public savings on remedial education and the criminal justice
There's no human
system, and increased voting rates and civic participation. There's no human
development "silver bullet," but education comes the closest.
development
Education is not only key to human development more broadly; it is also, as
"silver bultet," but
has been shown, a fundamental social determinant of health. For adults ages 35
education comes
and up, every additional year of education is associated with 1.7 additional years
of life expectancy." Why? Because well-educated people have greater access
the closest.
to and understanding of health-related information. They tend to practice fewer
health risk behaviors like smoking and are more likely to exercise regularly and
eat a healthy diet. They are better able to understand and comply with medical
instructions and make well-informed decisions about their health. In addition,
educated people tend to have more stable interpersonal relationships and a
greater range of healthy coping behaviors, both of which mitigate health -eroding
chronic stress. And because more education typically Leads to better jobs and
higherwages, better -educated people are more likely to have health insurance and
more money and time to take care of themselves and less likely to live in Stress -
inducing neighborhoods—specifically, concentrated -poverty areas with high crime
rates and comparatively few opportunities for physical activity.
Education is also the surest route to economic competitiveness, for people and
places alike. Globalization and technological change have made it extraordinarily
difficult for poorly educated Americans to achieve the economic self-sufficiency,
peace of mind, and self-respect enabled by a secure livelihood. The diverging
fortunes of well- and poorly -educated workers in the Great Recession illustrates
the economic benefits of education, especially in a tight labor market. In 2010,
California's unemployment rate approached 13 percent—but the rate for the
state's college graduates (6.7 percent) was Less than half that for Californians who
never completed high school (16.1 percent).50 Economic competitiveness is at risk
when the workforce Lacks the technical skills and credentials a knowledge-based
economy requires. Sonoma County has made concerted efforts to diversify its
economy, targeting in particular knowledge-based sectors, in part by Luring tech
companies north through promotion of its numerous lifestyle amenities.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 47
i
Continuing to attract such businesses and ensuring that the residents of Sonoma
' County can compete for the higher-wage jobs they bring requires real investment
on the part of the county, schools, and young people themselves in developing
Access to higher-order skills.
' Access to knowledge in the American Human Development Index is measured
knowledge is using two indicators that are combined into an Education Index. The first is school
measured using enrollment for the population between the ages of 3 and 24 years; this indicator
'
two indicators: captures everyone who is currently in school, from preschool-age toddlers to
24-year-olds in college or graduate school. The second indicator is educational
school enrollment degree attainment for the population age 25 and older. This indicator presents
' and educational a snapshot of education in a place or among a group at one point in time. Weep
degree in mind that the share of the population with high school degrees refers only to
adults over 25; it is not a measure of the current high school graduation rate. The
' attainment• graduation rate of today's high schoolers is an important indicator discussed in this
chapter, but it is not part of the index.)
The school enrollment indicator counts for one-third the weight of the
education dimension of the Human Development Index, and the degree attainment
indicator counts for the remaining two-thirds; these relative proportions reflect
the difficulty of, as well as the payoff for, completing an education as compared
' to simply enrolling in school. Data for both indicators come from the annual
American Community Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Finally, while access to education is critical, so is the quality of that education.
' Unfortunately, no comparable, reliable indicators of quality are available across the
country, so none are included in the American Human Development Index. Such
measures are incorporated into the analysis when they exist.
FIG UR E 6 The Benefits of Education Go Well beyond Better Jobs and Bigger Paychecks.
If we were to wave a magic f t
wand and every Sonoma
' County adult without a high Life expectancy 352 fewer 4,426 fewer 10,359 more
school diploma suddenly Would increase people would people would residents
had one, trends suggest the
following would happen: by 4 months be unemployed live in poverty would vote
' Source: Measure of America, Common Good Forecaster. measureofamerica.org/forecaster.
'. 48 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
Analysis by Geography and
Race and Ethnicity
VARIATION BY GEOGRAPHY: SONOMA COUNTY IN CONTEXT
Sonoma County outpaces the rest of California in terms of the share of adults
who have at least a high school diploma. In Sonoma County, nearly 87 percent of
adults over age 25 have high school diplomas, compared to just under 82 percent
in California as a whole. When it comes to today's young people, the county is
on par with the state. In Sonoma County, 79.3 percent of those in the graduating
class of 2011-2012 finished on time or within four years, compared to 78.9
percent statewide. Sonoma County's 2011-2012 on-time graduation rate was up
appreciably from the county's rate in 2009-2010, which was 75 percent."
Sonoma County is similar to the rest of the state on other education indicators.
The percentage of adults with college and graduate or professional degrees is
roughly the same as it is in the rest of California (see TABLE 31. Likewise, Sonoma
school enrollment is on par with that of California as a whole, at 77.9 percent
versus 78.5 percent, respectively. But both of these figures top the U.S. average of
77.5 percent. In fact, Sonoma County is equal t0 or modestly better than the nation
on all education indicators covered in this report."
Sonoma County compares favorably on education with the seven peer counties
identified by its Economic Development Board. Its share of adults without high
school diplomas, 13.1 percent, is smatter than those of all its peers except San
Louis Obispo and Marin. On the other indicators, Sonoma County tends to be in
the middle of the pack. Neighboring Marin County, with the best educational score
among these California counties, throws the curve for the whole state, registering
much higher rates of educational attainment and enrollment than the others in
this group, including Sonoma County.
TABLE Education in Sonoma County and Seven Peer Counties
RANK COUNTY
CaUfornla
7 Marin
2 Santa Cru:
3 San Luis Obispo
4 Sonoma
5 Ventura
6 Santa Barbara
7 Napa
8 Monterey
ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE
ADULTS WHO COMPLETED
HIGH SCHOOL
W
U.S. California Sonoma
86% 82% 87%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau,
American Community Survey,
2012.
I _ 1
6.8
93.2
S5.8
24.5
87.3
L�, .. __t
14.0
86.0
38.3
15.2
80.6
8.7
91.3
33.5
11.8
81.6
13.1
86.9
31.0
11.7
77.9
E ] 7 _J
17.3
82.7
31.6
11.1
78.8
i'lf&=
20.8
79.2
30.2
12.5
80.2
18.3
81.7
30.3
9.2
78.5
I®
30.1
69.9
24.0
8.7
76.6
Source: Measure of America analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2012.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 49
'. 50 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
For instance, nearly twice the percentage of Marin's adults over 25 have graduate
'1
or professional degrees, and the share of adults with at least a bachelor's degree is
nearly 25 percentage points higher than in California (see TAB LE a).
Education Index
VARIATION BY GEOGRAPHY: CENSUS TRACTS
Stack-Up
Despite Sonoma County's above-average educational statistics at the county level,
to ___
variation is significant and meaningful among its census tracts. The range in the
percentage of residents with less than a high school diploma is huge, going from
Sea Ranch/
a low of 0.4 percent to a high of 46.1 percent. The share of the adult population
9 0—Timber C_ ove
with graduate degrees goes from 2.9 percent to 40.8 percent, and the range in
�-- Old Quarry
East Bennett Valley
school enrollment is tremendous, from 53.8 percent in Forestville to 100 percent in
Runt Cemetery
Central East Windsor.
B-- --Fountain Grove ---
The top five geographical areas on the Education Index are Sea Ranch/
'
Timber Cove, Old Quarry, East Bennett Valley, Rural Cemetery, and Fountain
Grove. (See MAP 3 for Education in Sonoma County and TABLE 4 for Top Tracts
- -
for Education.) In all five neighborhoods, less than 5 percent of adults lack high
'
school diplomas, and between 48 percent and 65 percent have bachelor's degrees;
e
enrollment rates top 85 percent. In Sea Cove/Timber Ranch, nearly all adults
completed high school, and two in three have at least a bachelor's degree. In Old
'
Quarry, East Bennett Valley, and Fountain Grove, nearly six in ten have bachelor's
5 _ - . _ ____ _ _._ _ ___
degrees, and about one in four has a graduate degree. To put this high level of
educational achievement in perspective, no U.S. state or metro area comes close
to the Education Index scores of these five neighborhoods; their scores, which
4_ - --- .. -
range from 8.38 to 9.21, are near the top of the education scale, higher even than
Marin County overall.
Of the bottom five neighborhoods on the Education Index, Roseland Creek
3
has the lowest score, followed by Roseland, East Cloverdale, Fetters Springs/
Sheppard
�Feners5prings/
Aqua Caliante West
Agua Caliente West, and Sheppard. The values for all five tracts are comparable
to those found in areas that register some of the country's lowest human
'
2 �
" Ea-sl --
development levels—California neighborhoods in the Fresno area and South
Roseland
+— Roseland
Los Angeles and counties in the Mississippi Delta and Appalachia. In Sheppard,
1 -" - Creek —
Roseland Creek, Roseland, and Fetters Springs/Agua Caliente West, four in ten
'
adults lack high school diplomas. The school enrollment rates in East Cloverdale
(63.5 percent), Roseland (65.4 percent), Roseland Creek (66.2 percent), and Fetters
Q
Springs/Agua Caliente West (67.8 percent) bode poorly for the future; they are
'
between 10 and 14 percentage points below the rate for Sonoma County overall.
This is particularly concerning because Roseland, Roseland Creek, and Fetters
SON MAION COUN0TY EX IN
Springs/Agua Caliente West are three of the top four census tracts in terms of
'
share of the population under age 18; in these neighborhoods, more than three
Source: Measure of America
analysis of data from the U.S.
in every ten people are children.
Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2008-2012.
'. 50 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
MAP 3 Education in Sonoma County by Census Tract
EDUCATION INDEX
N 6.86-9.21
05.69-6.65
5.02-5.88
.i 4.08-5.01
1.33-4.07
ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE
10 (/ 20 Mites
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 51
I
I�
I,
TABLE 4 Top-and Bottom-Five Census Tracts for Education in Sonoma County
LESS THAN AT LEAST AT LEAST GRAOUATEOR SCHOOL ,I
EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL BACHELOR'S PROFESSIONAL ENROLLMENT
RANK TRACT NAME INDEX 1%) DIPLOMAI%1 DEGREE Ki DEGREE MI t°!o5
California 5.04 18.5 81.5 30.9 11.3 78,5 5.39
Sonoma County 5.28 13.1 86.9 31.8 11.7 77.9 5.42
' Top Five Census Tracts for Education -
1 _Sea Ranch/Timber Cove_ 11:0:11:1.1 1.1 98.9 65.4 40.8 86.7 7.35
2 Old Quarry [ ___�,T_:_j 3.7
96.3 57.5 26.5 93.1 7.71
3 _ East Bennett Valley _ i _..11 0.5 99.5 58.6 24.0 90.2 8.47
4 Rural Cemetery l$44E__ _j 3.4_ 96.6 48.0 25.7 92.5 7.67
5 Fountain Grove ! ` _:_.._:� 4.2 95.8 56.6 24.6 88.7 8.35
Bottom Five Census Tracts for Education
45 Sheppard [0 41.8 58.2 8.2 3.6 71.7 2.98
' 96 Fetters Springs/Agua Caliente West illts 45.4 54.6 17.1 5.8 67.8 3.41
97 East Cloverdale [h9 30.3 69.7 12.4 2.9 63.5 3.79
98 Roseland ElIP5 40.8 59.2 14.4 4.1 65.4 2.95
99 Roseland Creek x]33 46.1 53.9 8.6 4.3 66.2 2.79
' Source:Measure of America analysis of data from the California Department of Public Health,Death Statistical Master File,2005-2011,
and U.S.Census Bureau,American Community Survey,2012 and 2008-2012.
tVARIATION BY RACE AND ETHNICITY AND GENDER
' Asian Americans In most states,educational attainment follows a similar pattern:Asian Americans
have the highest score,followed by whites,African Americans,and Latinos(see
have the highest TABLE 5).This is also the ranked order at the national level, as well as in most
Score, followed metro areas.53 Sonoma County follows this pattern.
' by whites, African Asian Americans have an Education Index score of 7.64, by far the highest of
any of the major racial and ethnic groups in this analysis.As explained earlier in
Americans, and the health section,the Census Bureau-defined category"Asian"encompasses
' Latinos. U.S.-born citizens who trace their heritage to a wide range of Asian countries,as
well as Asian immigrants.
The high level of average attainment for this broad group obscures the
I
educational struggles of some.Although 44.4 percent of Asian American adults in
Sonoma County hold bachelor's degrees or more-nearly 40 percent higher than
the county average-almost 13 percent lack the bare-bones minimum of a high
Ischool diploma(see FIGURE 7).A look at the educational attainment of the five
largest Asian subgroups sheds light on this dichotomy:while six in ten Sonoma
residents of Asian Indian descent and nearly as many of Chinese descent have
I
bachelor's degrees,only about one in six of Vietnamese heritage do.
The astonishingly high enrollment rate of Asian Americans ages 3 to 24 in
Sonoma County, 95.5 percent,demonstrates that the county's young people of
' Asian descent stay in high school through graduation and continue their educations
52 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
1
1
ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE
FIGURE 7 Asian American Educational Attainment Varies Widely by Subgroup
POPULATION WITH AT LEAST A POPULATION WITH AT LEAST A
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA BACHELOR'S DEGREE
100%......92.8%.. . ...93.8% ....._92.9%------88.7%
64.6% 59.7°k °
60% _ 57.6/0 51.4%
43.1%
40%.._
20% _ 17.5%_.
0
Asian Chinese Filipino Japanese Vietnamese Asian Chinese Filipino Japanese Vietnamese
Indian (except Indian (except
Taiwanese) Taiwanese)
Source:U.S.Census Bureau,American Community Survey,2006-2010(Table DP021.
beyond high school at much higher rates, regardless of their parents'academic
credentials,than do white, Latino, or African American young people in Sonoma
County.Asian Americans in Sonoma not only do better on this indicator than young
people of other racial and ethnic groups in the county,they also surpass Asian
Americans in the rest of the state.The enrollment rate for Asian Americans in
California as a whole [already better than that of all other ethnic groups) is nearly
10 percentage points less,86 percent.
Whites have the second highest Education Index score in Sonoma County, 5.92.
Only 4.7 percent lack high school diplomas, giving this group the highest score
in high school completion. More than one in three have bachelor's degrees,and
about one in seven has a graduate degree.The white educational enrollment rate,
however, is essentially on par with the overall county rate.
African Americans score 4.25 on the Education Index.The share of adults with
bachelor's and graduate degrees is roughly the same as in the county as a whole.
Pulling down this group's score is the high proportion of adults who tack high
school degrees,just about one in four.This rate is 10 percentage points higher than
the Sonoma County rate and twice the rate for African Americans in California.
African Americans'school enrollment also lags the Sonoma County average by 6
percentage points.
Latino educational attainment in Sonoma County,as in the state and country,
lags that of other groups significantly. Four in ten Latino adults did not complete
high school,and Less than one in ten completed a bachelor's degree. Part of the
explanation is the difference in educational attainment between native-born and
foreign-born residents.Overall, U.S.-born residents have higher educational
attainment levels than foreign-born residents,who are seven and a half times
as likely to tack high school degrees. Eighty-eight percent of Latino immigrants
to Sonoma County hail from Mexico,and many arrive with limited education;42
percent of Sonoma's Latino population today is foreign born.54
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 53
I
I
Interestingly,while more than half of foreign-born Latino adults in California
I. today did not complete high school,the percentage of native-born Latino adults
who hold high school diplomas is virtually the same as the rate for all Californians,
Women about 80 percent.55 This generational change,which has U.S.-born children ending
I
outpace men up with higher levels of educational attainment than their immigrant parents,
is certainty not unique to Mexican Americans but rather reflects the typical
in educational experience of most waves of immigrants to the United States.
attainment and Finally, in the United States as a whole,women outpace men in educational
Ienrollment. attainment and enrollment, and this pattern holds in Sonoma County,where they
are more likely to have completed high school.As discussed in great detail below,
the gender gap in high school completion among today's young people is actually
Ilarger than the gap among adults over age 25.
ITABLE 5 Educational Attainment by Gender and Race and Ethnicity
LESS THAN AT LEAST AT LEAST GRADUATE OR SCHOOL
EDUCATION HIGHSCHOOL 1410H SCHOOL BACHELOR'S PROFESSIONAL ENROLLMENT
POPULATION GROUP INDEX I%I DIPLOMA f%f DEGREE MI DEGREE I°,61 (%I
California 5.04 18.5 81.5 30.9 11.3 78.5
Sonoma county 5.28 13.1 86.9 31.8 11.7 77.9
I Gender
Women i 5.59 11.2 88.8 33.0 11.8 79.7
Men 4.96 15.2 84.8 30.6 11.7 76.1
I Race/Ethnicity
Asian Americans 7.64 12.9 87.1 44.4 15.4 95.5
Whites :5.92 4.7 95.3 38.0 14.0 76.7
I African Americans :4.25
-23.8 76.2 31.4 12.5 71.8
Latinos ;2.37 43.6 56.4 7.7 1.9 77.4
Source:Measure of America analysis of data from the U.S.Census Bureau,American Community Survey,2012.
II
I
I
I
1 I
154 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
1
ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE
What Fuels the Gaps in
Access to Knowledge?
Society often seems to expect schools to solve all its problems.To be sure,
throughout American history,schools have been instrumental in creating a
productive and cohesive society, helping to assimilate waves of young immigrants
and the children of immigrants,fostering a collective identity as Americans, Sonoma County
developing shared norms around citizenship, and providing a ladder out of Public Schools
poverty for academically able young people.Yet in the past, there was not the S * • ASA • A
same expectation that schools would be able to create equality of outcomes;even 11 11 , 11 , ! , ,
equality of opportunity in schools wasn't on the table a generation ago. Girls were
shut out of athletics and certain types of coursework,and African Americans 70,600 students
faced legal segregation,the most blatant example of educational inequity in our
country's history. In 1970, only 52 percent of American adults had even completed
high school, and just 11 percent had bachelor's degrees."The difference between
then and now was that equal opportunity for everyone,women and people of color 42% 22%
included,was not yet a salient concept in American society. In addition, unionized Latino learning
jobs in manufacturing and the trades paid middle-class wages to people, mostly English
men,with limited academic skills;educational credentials weren't a requirement P
for a family's basic economic security.
In today's globalized,knowledge-based economy,such jobs are few and far
between. In addition,society has rightly rejected the idea that school success is 48% 12')/0
economically receiving special
for the few. Schools are expected to graduate"college-and career-ready"young disadvantaged education services
people, and to be able to do so for all students—including children whose young,
single parents did not graduate high school and struggle to make ends meet as
well as those whose affluent, college-educated parents read to them every night;
neglected children from chaotic,abusive homes as well as cherished children from
stable, loving ones;and everyone in between.This is a worthy aim, but to believe just
saying it is so will make it so is magical thinking.In reality, educating children from 40 school
disadvantaged backgrounds requires greater resources, human and financial,than districts (K-12)
educating more privileged ones, Making the required investments in disadvantaged
children is imperative, not only for reasons of basic fairness and social justice, but 182
also to ensure America's continued competitiveness in the global economy. public schools
107 Elementary
25 Alternative
24 Middle/Junior High
19 High
7 Independent Study
Source:Sonoma County Office
of Education,About Sonoma
County Schools,2014.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 55
I
I
1
UNEQUAL RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION
I Where do California States and communities tend to invest less in educating low-income students
school resources than in educating middle-class and affluent ones. Education budgets in California,
come from? as across the United States,are derived from a hyper-complex set of formulas;
I in California,funding comes from the federal government(about 11 percent of
a school's budget),the state (about 57 percent), local property taxes (about 31
percent),and the lottery(about 1 percent),57 supplemented by volunteer hours and
contributions from parents and the private sector. Differences in property values,
I which underpin local educational budgets,have a big impact on the funds available
to different school districts.Widening the gap are parental efforts.Because
families in affluent communities have more disposable income and extensive
I
parental social networks that include the business community, PTA fundraising
efforts there can yield tens of thousands of dollars,resources sufficient to hire
Ian art or music teacher,or funding for a year's worth of culturally enriching field
N 57%State of California trips—thus expanding opportunities for students whose families may already pay
II 31%Local Property Taxes for private music Lessons or belong to local museums.
I Because incomes of Latinos in the state are disproportionately low,this group
11%Federal Government is often on the losing end of the funding equation. In California,the proportion
1%Lottery of low-income Latino students attending overcrowded schools is twice that of
white students. Latino high school students are four times as likely as white high
source:'"Education s�dyec— schoolers to attend schools designated"low performing," and over twice as likely
CaiEd�racts;' g P 9
as white or Asian students to attend schools with severe shortages of qualified
teachers.58 Previous Measure of America research in Los Angeles County and
I
Marin County has found strong evidence that schools with predominantly Latino
or African American students from low-income families have fewer resources at
I their disposal than those whose mostly white students come from more privileged
circumstances. Research also shows that educational funding alone is not enough
to overcome the out-of-school challenges and barriers low-income children face.59
How is Sonoma County doing on this score?One way to judge is to look at two
I specific schools with similarly sized but socioeconomically distinct populations.
BOX 4 takes a closer look at two elementary schools.
I
I
I
I
I56 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
11
I
ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE
BOX 4 A Tale of Two Schools
RACE/ETHNICITY FAMILY BACKGROUND ENGLISH LEARNERS STANDARDIZED TESTS
I PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH
82% fiifiitt. 75%
1E1 • WHITE
° Q PROFICIENT IN HATH
7/0 ii
About one in every ten /O fti$ftft 78%
GRANT LATINO comes from disadvantaged
11% g PROFICIENT IN SCIENCE
ELEMENTARY OTHER background Iia%I ft i t f i f$`>r y 83%
ii • • ii • • ii • PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH
Mill ii ,. 18% TttTitT � i ffti#' Ye''i'4'S'21%
LATINO
18°/a About eight in every ten 67% PROFICIENT IN o
ELVERANO WHITE come from disadvantaged t t t ' ° ° ' 27/°
SCHOOL 6% backgrounds(a4%1 PROFICIENT IN SCIENCE
OTHER ttttritui ci'Qt/40%
A dismaying pattern has emerged in other Measure of America enrichment programs,which vary by semester and are paid
studies:schools that serve the most disadvantaged students for by individual parents.Options for fall 2013 included chess,
tend to have the fewest resources,and schools that serve the Spanish,art,jewelry making,and a music troupe.
most advantaged students tend to have the most resources. El Verano also offers afterschool classes like ballet,art,
Two Sonoma County schools buck this counterproductive trend. and yoga.In addition,the school offers a range of programs,
Grant Elementary in Petaluma enrolls 402 children.The all free of charge,that directly address out-of-school barriers
average parental educational attainment is college graduate, to school success.A program run by the Boys&Girls Clubs of
and most families live in single-family homes they own.Most Sonoma Valley every school day from dismissal until 6:00 p.m.
students enter Grant in kindergarten or first grade after one offers healthy snacks,homework assistance,and enrichment
or two years of preschool and remain through sixth grade. activities.An innovative partnership with a science museum
Eighty-two percent are white,and 7 percent are Latino. in San Francisco combines science and English-language
Thirteen percent come from disadvantaged backgrounds, instruction.El Verano runs a preschool program funded by the
but less than 2 percent are English-language learners.On California Department of Education and local foundations;62 a
the 2012-2013 California Standardized Tests,Grant students high-quality preschool is particularly vital for English-language
performed very well.d0 learners,who are not only adjusting to school but also learning
El Verano School in Sonoma Valley Unified district enrolls a new language.The school's Universidad de Padres provides
437 children in kindergarten through fifth grade.Students are parents with a forum to talk about their needs,concerns,and
drawn chiefly from an area with low index scores and a poverty hopes.A recent activity was a trip for nineteen parents to the
rate double the county average.Over eight in every ten children University of California/Davis.None had attended college,and
come from disadvantaged backgrounds,and nearly seven in the excursion allowed them to tour the campus and learn about 1
ten are English-language learners.On the 2012-2013 state requirements for admission,financial aid,and college life.
tests,only 21 percent of the children scored at least"proficient" Although El Verano students don't perform as well as Grant
in English language arts(not unexpectedly,given the large students on the state tests,the future Looks bright for them.
number of English-language learners)61 El Verano is taking steps that decades of research have shown
• Grant and El Verano spend approximately the same per help to close the achievement gaps opened by socioeconomic
pupil,teacher pay and qualifications are on par,and average inequality.But leveling the playing field is not something that
class size is comparable.Both schools have beautiful student schools can do on their own;true equal opportunity requires
murals,thriving outdoor garden plots,space for outdoor play, greater investment in young children and their parents from all
and warm,vibrant environments for learning.Both are also parts of society.
sparing in their use of suspension and expulsion,with almost
no cases over the last three reporting cycles. Sources:School Accountability Report Card:Grant Elementary 2012-
Both schools also offer a rich array of afterschool activities, 2013 and School Accountability Report Card:El Verano Elementary 1
School 2012-2013.
though they differ in their focus,funding,and operation.
At Grant,for instance,the PTA chair manages a host of
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 57
I
I
I
111
II
POVERTY AND EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF PARENTS
I Gaps in educational achievement in Sonoma County stem largely from poverty
and parental education levels.These interacting challenges, coupled with
Language barriers and issues related to immigration status, particularly affect
II, Latino families and children.
Low levels of educational attainment among parents are associated with
less verbally rich environments for very young children,which has serious -
consequences for school readiness and success. A famous study by Betty Hart
1, and Todd R. Risley of the University of Kansas found that poor children were
exposed to about 600 spoken words per hour,white working-class children heard
I. 1,200 words per hour and children from professional families 2,100 words per
hour. By age three,a poor child had heard 30 million fewer words than one from a
professional family—a huge gap separating poor children from their peers before
they even entered school.The researchers found correlations between the number
', of words and both IQ and eventual school performance.63 In other words, children
In Sonoma in poverty start school behind and too often do not catch up.The good news is
that high-quality,center-based preschools can address this problem as well as
I
l County, on39
y y allow children to build the noncognitive skills they will need to succeed in school
percent of Latino (like persistence and impulse control).Unfortunately, in California,the children
I 3- and 4-year-olds who would benefit most—low-income children and those at highest risk of school
failure—are least likely to attend preschool.64 In Sonoma County,only 39 percent
attend preschool, of Latino 3-and 4-year-olds attend preschool,compared to 65 percent of white
I compared to 65
percent of white 3-and 4-year-olds.65 Research by,among others, University of Chicago economist
and Nobel Laureate James Heckman shows that a quality preschool experience
has a higher return than any other educational investment.The cost of preschool is
3- and 4-year- a barrier for low-income families, as is a Lack of programs that meet the needs of
Iolds. the youngest English-language learners and their parents.
Once in school,children living in poverty face many barriers to academic
success.Some were mentioned above in the section on unequal school resources.
I
A frequently overlooked issue is the frequency of moves. Research shows that
children who change schools typically suffer"psychologically,socially, and
academically from mobility,"and that"students who changed high schools even
I once were less than half as Likely as stable students to graduate from high school,
even controlling for other factors that influence high school completion.:"While
three-quarters of California students make unscheduled school changes between
I first grade and the senior year of high school, national patterns reveal that low-
income students make more moves,especially in high school,67 than high-income
students,and high-minority schools tend to have high mobility rates.6e
I More obviously, low levels of parental education make it more difficult for
parents to help their children with homework and may make them feel intimidated
when dealing with schools and teachers. Language barriers,work hours, and
Iconcerns about immigration status may make even meeting with teachers difficult.
I58 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE
DIFFERENCES IN HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION
BY GENDER AND ETHNICITY
Completing high school is the bare-bones minimum educational credential in
today's global economy.Yet in Sonoma County,as in the nation as a whole,only
four in every five high school students graduate in four years. Failing to complete
high school is associated with a variety of poor outcomes,the most obvious being
economic. High school dropouts face far higher unemployment rates than better-
educated adults—the rate for adults 25 and older without high school diplomas in
2013 was 11 percent,compared to 5 percent for people with associate degrees and
4 percent for those with bachelor's degrees. Even when they are working, poorly
educated Americans in our increasingly knowledge-based economy are unlikely U.S.weekly earnings
ever to earn more than poverty wages.Average weekly earnings for full-time for full-time workers
workers over 25 without high school diplomas are just$472—compared to$827 for over 25
all full-time workers.69
Yet the impacts of lacking a high school diploma go well beyond the 827
pocketbook effects.The Life expectancy gap between high school dropouts and high
school graduates has been increasing over the past generation;today the former
•
live seven years fewer than the latter.70 One in eleven male high school dropouts , Q
between the ages of 16 and 24 is behind bars—a figure that jumps to nearly one in
four for young African American men who dropped out.People without high school $ .
diplomas are less likely to marry and more likely to have children as teenagers.71
Students who live in poverty,have recently immigrated to the United States, $472
struggle with English, are parents,or have disabilities are all more Likely to drop
out of school than students without these challenges 72 •
"" I
Keeping young people in school is easier than luring them back.The early 1VI '. Q`
warning signs of dropping out of high school appear well before ninth grade and _ , �
are well known.Students who fail core courses in English or math,achieve Low Q . w
grades,score poorly on assessments,exhibit attendance or discipline problems, c%)-} r $`
Ci
or are held back are more likely to drop out. By identifying and engaging with ,a
students who exhibit a critical mass of dropout factors,stakeholders can intervene P7611
while
while the students are still likely to benefit from it.For early warning systems to be
effective,student monitoring must begin early,as must intensive services to help ALL WORKERS
WORKERS without a
at-risk children overcome the obstacles they face,from learning differences to high school
health problems to difficult family situations. In addition,schools need to be aware diploma
of the economic situations different families are facing;young people who see their
families struggling economicallymayfeel compelled to leave school and enter Source:rU.S.i s, aunt
99 9 P Labor Statistics,Earnings
the labor market,a short-term stopgap that exposes them to lifelong economic and Unemployment Rates by
insecurity.73 Helping young people to balance their responsibilities to their families Educational Attainment,2013.
with their schoolwork and to see staying in school as a long-term investment that
will pay off for everyone in the long term is vital.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 59
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II .
Sonoma County high schools do as well as those in the state overall in
I graduating students in four years,with one exception—at Cloverdale Unified, 71
Sonoma County percent of students graduate on time, less than the state and county averages,
On-Time High School which straddle 79 percent.Yet a great deal of variation lies below the averages. In
I Graduation looking at the numbers, it is important to keep in mind the main message of this
[percent of ninth graders who chapter:school performance is conditioned by the challenges children face outside
graduate from high school the classroom, not just by what happens inside.74 The following are some of the key
four years later) differences we found among students in Sonoma County:
GEN DER • Girls in Sonoma County are considerably more likely than boys to graduate
V 1,7 high school in four years-83.7 percent as compared to 75.0 percent.The
gender gap in Cloverdale Unified is even larger, nearly 20 percentage
Boys Girls points. In no Sonoma County district do boys"outgraduate"girls.
I 75.0% 83.7% • At the county level,Asian American students are the most likely to
graduate on time(87.8 percent do), followed by whites(84.7 percent),
RACE/ETHNICITY Latinos(72.8 percent),and African Americans(66.1 percent).
I s Asian
American • In Cotati–Rohnert Park Unified,only 54.6 percent of African American
87.8% students graduate high school on time, the Lowest rate for any racial or
I • Whethnic group in any of the Sonoma County high schools.
84.ite7% • In West Sonoma County Union High, 79 percent of Asian American
students graduate on time—about 9 percentage points lower than the rate
• for Asian Americans in the county as a whole.
if Latino
72.8% • Healdsburg Unified,Sonoma Valley Unified,and West Sonoma County
Union High have the highest rates of on-time graduation for Latino young
I
African
�� American people, between 87.3 percent and 89.7 percent.The lowest rate for Latinos
�V 66.1% among the school districts is in Santa Rosa High,where only 72.3 percent
graduate in four years.
•I
' Source:Measure of America
analysis of California Department The white rate of on-time graduation (69.8 percent)is below the Latino
of Education,DataQuest,2011— rate(74.1 percent) in only one district, Cloverdale.75
2012 school year.
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60 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
a
ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE
TABLE 6 Percentage of Ninth Graders Who Graduate from High School Four Years Later,
bySonoma County School District,Gender,and Race and Ethnicity
RANK SCHOOL DISTRICT OVERALL ., - - . i
California 78.9 74.9 83.0 91.1 86.6 73.7 66.0
Sonoma County 79.3 75.0 83.7 87.8 84.7 72.8 66.1
1 Petaluma Joint Unified!Petaluma Joint Union RAN ajl):::_*---1 88.4 93.4 96.4 94.3 84.6 - _
2 West Sonoma County Union High [90.8 1 89.8 91.8 78.6 92.3 87.3 -
` _
3 Healdsburg Unified 14.4_..".-J87.5 93.8 - 93.1 87.3 -
4 _Sonoma ValleyUnified _ [..10.327-17.1 87.7 92.9 _ - 90.7 89.7 -
5 Windsor Unified [jijG __.1 87.4 90.2 - 93.0 81.4 84.6
6 Santa Rosa High [Ki11.111 77.6 83.5 90.6 87.5 72.3 77.1
7 Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified [79ia.=_.. 74.3 84.2 95.5 82.5 74.4 54.6
8 Cloverdale Unified NIT-i 63.1 82.6 - 69.8 74.1 -
Source:Measure of America analysis of California Department of Education,DataQuest.Data for Geyservitle are not available.
Note:Where data are missing,there are too few students for reliable analysis.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 61
1
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• iA
Decent
of L
1,
t:
•
•
•
)Introduction
v .
1 ?Analysis by Geography, Gender, and Race and Ethnicity
,What Fuels the Gaps in Living Standards?
ti
1
1
A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING
Introduction
Income is essential to meeting basic needs like food,shelter, health care,and
education—and to moving beyond these necessities to a Life of genuine choice
and freedom. Income provides valuable options and alternatives,and its absence
can limit life chances,restrict access to many opportunities, lead to untenable
tradeoffs among necessities, and cause tremendous stress. Income is an An overview of Sonoma
important means to a host of vital ends, including good health,a decent education, County's economic
a safe living environment,security in illness and old age,social inclusion, and a improvements and
say in the decisions that affect one's life.Money isn't everything, but it's something challenges
quite important.
As the many organizations in Sonoma County that are concerned with UNEMPLOYMENT
people's health and well-being know, material resources are an important social RATES
determinant of health.Adequate earnings allow people to afford to live in safe REBOUNDING
TOURISM
neighborhoods with places to exercise and generally enable access to healthy ECONOMIC
foods, clean air, and high-quality medical care.They allow families to avoid many GROWTH
of the situations that cause stress,such as living in overcrowded apartments
or dangerous neighborhoods or having to work two jobs.Sufficient earnings IMPROVEMENTS
free people from the chronic anxiety of not being able to make ends meet,thus
protecting their health from toxic stress and stress-induced health-risk behaviors.
And aside from monetary compensation,jobs themselves can(if they're good)
provide meaning, emotional support,and social capital,which boost mental health
and protect physical health. OhoR1=
The continuation of Sonoma County's recovery from the Great Recession,with
ty
sharp improvements in recent years across a range of economic indicators, is
thus good news for human well-being.The most recent monthly unemployment
figure available for the county(November 2013)was 6 percent, better than the CHALLENGES
national average and down significantly from the November 2010 rate of 10.3
percent.76 According to the Sonoma County Economic Development Board,
employment grew three times faster in Sonoma,than in the nation as a whole in PERSISTENTPOVERTY
2012,the county enjoys a high growth rate in business establishment,and tourism HIGH
HOUSING
is surpassing its prerecession level??A recent report by the National Association of COSTS
Counties reports that Sonoma County's 2013 GDP(the total value of all goods and INCOME
STAGNATION
services produced)was$23.7 billion,and its 2012-2013 economic growth rate was
2.9 percent, close to what it had been before the 2007 crash.78
More worrisome economic trends in Sonoma County relate to persistent
poverty, still-high housing costs,and stagnation—even backsliding—in the
economic fortunes of middle-and Low-wage workers.About one in eight people
(12 percent) in the county live below the poverty line. Nearly half of all households
(46 percent) spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing.Although the
recession-sparked decline in median housing prices has made homeownership
more affordable to new buyers than it was during the real estate bubble,that is
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 63
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of little comfort to those homeowners who saw the value of their Largest asset
plummet over the course of 2008.Median household income declined$2,500
between 2009 and 2011.79 Also concerning are the economic prospects of a large
group of young people;the rate of youth disconnection (that is,the proportion of
people ages 16 to 24 who are neither working nor in school) in Sonoma County
' increased from 10.4 percent in 2009 to 11.8 percent in 2011.80
These larger trends provide the backdrop for considerable variation by
'1 neighborhood, race, ethnicity,and gender.Some groups within Sonoma County
have high living standards,while others struggle with Low-wage, insecure jobs,
overcrowded or unaffordable housing,and inadequate transportation (see BOX 5).
Box 5 Commuting:Most Sonoma County Commuters Go It Alone
' An overwhelming majority of Sonoma County residents,over 81 Some 10 percent of Sonoma County workers commute more
I percent,drive to and from work alone;11 percent carpool;3.5 than an hour each way.82 Lengthy commutes have serious
percent walk;and about 4 percent either use public transit or downsides.Long drives fuel climate change,for one.Both
111another form of transportation(see figure below]. health and happiness suffer as the result of less sleep,
American workers over age 16 spend,on average,25.4 decreased family time,stress over commuting standbys
minutes commuting each way;the mean commute time for like timeliness,traffic congestion,and other drivers,and
Sonoma County workers is identical.This is lower than the environmental stressors,such as noise,crowds,and pollution.
I { California average of 27.1 minutes,but the average commute The resulting ill effects may include less exercise,higher levels
M time for those in Sonoma using public transportation(55.3 of stress,increased blood pressure,worse cardiorespiratory
minutes)is significantly longer than the national and California fitness,risk of neck pain,higher Body Mass Index,
averages(47.9 and 47.3 minutes,respectively)81 musculoskeletal disorders,diminished cognitive performance,
II,
and increased chances of divorce.83
81.3% 11.1%
' DRIVE ALONE CARPOOL
(173,336 workers) (23,632 workers)
I' Si*iiiiitt41111‘talk*et /IC>. In;
;.
►+�� �►O+ t '
goottiokI* o► os `' 3.5% 1.8% 1.4%
Ilike► ifalb►
WALK PUBLIC TAXI,
like,gestgait, ilyikilike, joit, (7,505 workers) 3,878 TRANSPORTATIONworkeMOTORCYCLE,
R OTHER
Oak o�Siak 41684Oilkk $, (3,015 workers)
ICYCLE
pp��� ��� � � Ott 4y '++T'�++l' [1,889 workers)
I
Source:U.S.Census Bureau,American Community Survey,2012.
1 64 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
I .
1
A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING
Agriculture is a cornerstone of the Sonoma County economy and was the
source of over 10 percent of county earnings in 2008.84 Sonoma County agriculture
enjoyed a banner year in 2012:agricultural products like crops, livestock,
vineyards,and nurseries yielded over$820 million,an increase of about 41 percent
from 2011.Wine grapes alone contributed 71 percent of the total 2012 value.85
With some 450 vineyards in Sonoma County,this bounty has been and remains a
magnet for tourists,who spent$1.5 billion within the county in 2011.e6 Residents
also benefit from the availability of many different locally grown foods. Agricu Rture is a
Although data about the agricultural workforce in Sonoma County specifically cornerstone of the
are Limited, nearly all(96 percent)of California's farmworkers are from Mexico.87
(A study of Sonoma County agricultural workers currently under way will provide Sonoma County
much needed information on this group.)Working conditions can be difficult. economy and
The most recent Department of Labor agricultural survey found that the typical was the source of
Californian farmworker puts in forty-five hours a week and earns between
$12,500 and$15,000 per year,which leaves the families of one in every four over 10 percent of
farmworkers in poverty. Over half of California farmworkers are under 35 years of county earnings
age and,despite their youth,face serious barriers to working their way up either in in 2008.
or out of the industry. More than 62 percent cannot speak English at all, and fewer
than one in ten speak it"somewhat"or"well." In addition, most(seven in ten)are
not citizens and are not authorized to work in the United States 88
Vineyard workers are more highly skilled than other agricultural workers
because producing grapes for premium wines involves a series of specialized tasks
(pruning,suckering, leaf removal,shoot positioning,and harvesting), many of
which must be done by hand and require expertise and experience.Thus,vineyard
workers in Sonoma County and neighboring Napa County tend to earn more than
farmworkers elsewhere in the state,though their wages are still on the low end of
the wage distribution.89 In addition, unlike farms growing crops that require tending
by many workers at harvest time and almost none the rest of the year,vineyards
have work to be done nine or ten months a year.Thus,some vineyard workers
have as many challenges in common with low-wage workers in the service sector
(low pay,the need to find Long-term affordable housing and transport, no set work
schedule)as they do with traditional migrant workers(the need for temporary
housing, problems arising from undocumented status, physically arduous labor,
exposure to pesticides and other workplace risks, and so forth1.S0
The wages and working conditions of farmworkers have long been an area
of concern in California.Though earnings and conditions have improved, most
farmworkers—the people on whom key parts of Sonoma County's economy,
particularly wine and tourism,depend—still earn too little for a life of dignity,
security,and self-determination.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 65
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eox 6 Measuring Living Standards in the Human Development Index
What About Wealth?
Many different measures can be used to command women and men have over
Neither earnings nor income gauge people's material standard of living. economic resources.While many households
E include wealth.Wealth for The American Human Development Index are headed jointly by married couples,who
I
net worth)is the value of uses the median personal earnings of all full- typically share their incomes,more than
everything a person owns—a and part-time workers 16 years of age and half are not.The share of married-couple
house or other real estate, older;the data come from the U.S.Census households has been falling since the 1970s;
' savings,investments, Bureau's American Community Survey. it passed the halfway mark in 2011 and is
businesses,cars,and more— The median earnings figures in this report continuing a downward trend.In addition,
minus any liabilities or debts, may strike some as unexpectedly low.News not all married couples stay that way,and
such as unpaid mortgage outlets and others talking about economic cohabitating couples who share resources
principal.Wealth has a major issues often refer to the average f or mean) also often part company.
impact on current well-being incomes of households rather than the
and future opportunities, Median versus average.The median
median earnings of individuals,and median gives a better indication than the average
and wealth disparities
' household incomes in Sonoma Count ,
eclipse income or earnings y does of how the ordinary worker is faring.
which top$60,000,are about double the The median earnings figure is the midpoint
disparities, county's median personal earnings.Average of the earnings distribution—that is,half
Unfortunately,wealth is household incomes are higher still.What the population is earning more than that
I extremely hard to measure, accounts for the large differences among amount and half is earning less.In contrast,
in part because the value of apparently similar measures? averages can be misleading in situations of
•
assets like stocks and real Earnings versus income.Earnings are high inequality;the presence of a few people
estate are constantly in flux, the wages or salaries people earn from their taking home whopping sums will pull the
I and also because the very paid jobs.Income is a broader category; average far above what the vast majority are
wealthiest are likely to be it includes earnings,which make up the actually earning.For example,in Sonoma
missed in random sampling largest share of income for most Americans, County,the mean household income is nearly
or decline to participate in and it also includes pensions and Social $84,000—almost$20,000 above the median 91
l
surveys.The Federal Reserve Security benefits,child support payments, Part-time workers.The earnings of part-
Board produces reliable public assistance,annuities,stock dividends, time workers are included in median personal
wealth data on the United funds generated from rental properties,and earnings.While some workers prefer not to
I
States as a whole every three interest.Earnings figures thus are lower than or don't need to work full-time,others work
years through the Survey of income figures in most cases. part-time because they cannot find full-time
Consumer Finances.The data Personal earnings versus household jobs or affordable child care,or they have
are not available for states, earnings.Actual and potential earnings have responsibilities,such as elder care,that
' counties,or congressional a significant impact on the range of options
a person has and the decisions he or she make full-time work impossible.Thus,all
districts,however,much workers are included in the median personal
less census tracts,and thus makes about family and work life.Referring earnings indicators,whereas other indicators
cannot be incorporated to personal earnings—rather than household may only include full-time workers.
'• into the American Human earnings—allows us to compare the relative
Development Index.
I .
,
I •
I
1 66 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
I
A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING
Analysis by Geography,
Gender, and Race and Ethnicity MEDIAN DOLLARS((2012 DOLLARS]
VARIATION BY GEOGRAPHY: SONOMA COUNTY IN CONTEXT "'r '
U.S. California Sonoma
Median earnings, the main gauge of material living standards in this report, $30,155 $30,502 $30,214
are$30,214 in Sonoma County,which is roughly on par with those of California
and the country as a whole.
Sonoma County's economic conditions look slightly less rosy,though,when Earnings in Sonoma and
compared with Marin County,whose residents earn more than those of any Seven Peer Counties
other California county to which Sonoma often compares itself. In Marin, median
$50K.._....-..
earnings are$45,052, nearly$15,000 more than in Sonoma County.Sonoma
County earnings are quite similar, however,to those in neighboring Napa County
as well as in Ventura,Santa Cruz,and San Luis Obispo Counties,and significantly
higher than in Santa Barbara County($24,561)and Monterey County($22,433).
The three indicators below—unemployment,child poverty,and rent $45K
burden—track some very important risk factors that can pose direct threats to $45,052
people's capability to enjoy a decent standard of living.Sonoma County has an
unemployment rate lower than both the nation and the state and tower than most
of its peer counties.On child poverty,Sonoma falls in the middle of the group,
though this still represents about 15,400 of the county's children under 18 who are $40K . .
living in households with incomes below the poverty Line. Finally,all of the counties
in this group have housing cost burdens above the U.S.average.Nearly 46 percent of
Sonoma's households pay 30 percent or more of their monthly income on housing.
$35X– --
( ---
TABLE 7 Economic Challenges in Sonoma and Seven Peer Counties
Napa
Ventura
TRACT NAME ... i,;., .. .,. $30K_— Santa Cruz–_._ _
United States 7.0 22.6 35.9 Sonoma
California. 8.4 23.8 44.8 San Luis Obispo
Marin 4.6 9.1 41.7
Monterey _ 9.1 28.2 47.4
Napa 6.0 10.9 41.2
San Luis Obispo 6.1 15.1 _ 44.2 $25K____..-_...._.._...._..-.._.._.-_._-................
Santa Barbara 6.4 20.5 46.5 o—Santa Barbara
Santa Cruz 8.7 14.0 45.1
Sonoma 6.0 14.9 45.7 I, —Monterey
Ventura 7.3 17.7 46.4
$22,433
Source:Bureau of Labor Statistics,Current Population Survey and Local Area Unemployment Statistics, $20K_...!
non-seasonally adjusted county figures and seasonally adjusted state and national figures for November
2013(unemployment):U.S.Census Bureau,American Community Survey,2012 tables 51701(child poverty] Source:U.S.Census Bureau,
and DP04(rent]. American Community Survey,
J 2012,
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 67
I
'�
VARIATION BY GEOGRAPHY: CENSUS TRACTS
I
Median Earnings:Top Significant disparities in median earnings separate census tracts within Sonoma
and Bottom Five Tracts County;earnings range from$14,946,which is below the federal poverty line for a
two-person household,to$68,967, more than double the county median (see MAP 4).
I
' $70K._._.___East_ The five top-earning tracts are East Bennett Valley, Fountain Grove,Sonoma
0-13ennett Mountain,Skyhawk,and Cherry Valley(see TABLE 81. Earnings in all these
Valley neighborhoods surpass those in top-ranked Marin County and are,at least in two,
I
$68,967
Fountain Grove more than twice as high as the California median. In top-earning East Bennett
$6oK Valley, nearly nine in ten residents are white,and over six in ten work in the
occupational category"management, business, science, and arts occupations,"
which includes executives and managers in business and other fields, as well as
professionals in computer and life sciences, law, medicine,and architecture.The
.�Sonoma Mountain poverty rate is 1 percent,and 92 percent of housing units are owner-occupied
$50K e-.S!sx1. __.___...._.__.. rather than rented. Nearly all adults have at least a high school diploma,six out
el—Cherry Vattey of every ten have bachelor's degrees,and school enrollment is very high.
I 1
f - 1.
-
$40K_.. .._.._.._. ..._ ... ..._ .. ... TABLE 8 Top-and Bottom-Five Tracts for Earnings in Sonoma County
3tE0UF1.. ,
EARNINGS,.. ,
RANK TRACT NAME 0012 dollarsi F .
California $30,502 5.39
I
Sonoma County $30,214 5.42
Kawana Springs Top-Five Census Tracts for Earnings
1 East Bennett Valley $68,967 8.47
North Oakmont/ 2 Fountain Grave $67,357 8.35
Hood Mountain 3 Sonoma Mountain $51,590 7.16
Fetters Springs/ 4 Skyhawk 550,633 7.78
$20K___01,7 Ague Caliente West 5 Cherry Valley 547,536 7.18
—West Junior Cottage
I R o h n e r t
f—Pa rk B/C/R Bottom-Five Census Tracts for Earnings ---
95 Kawana Springs $21,510 4.20
Section 96 North Oakmont/Hood Mountain .$20,406 5.98
97 Fetters Springs/Ague Caliente West $19,444 3.41
$1.4.....90.......___. — — — — — —
$1OK_ ! _ _ . . 98 West Junior College $18,919 3.44
ilk 99 Rohnert Park B/C/R Section $14,946 3.97
Source:Measure of America analysis of data from the California Department of Public Health,
I
EARNINGS IN Death Statistical Master File,2005-2011,and U.S.Census Bureau.American Community Survey,
SONOMACOUNTY 2012 and 2008-2012.
Source:U.S.Census Bureau,
American Community Survey,
I2008-2012.
I
68 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
I
A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING .,111
•
4. .
MAP 4 Median Earnings in Sonoma County by Census Tract `4•
MEDIAN EARNINGS
k, Santa)\.,, Santa 1 & b
( -sir-- Rosa � ,y''
El$41.137-$68.967 4_} -�� - _ �_.. I �r�s°is` F
III$35,610-$41,136 y.. X' s '
'/ -- a�� J tom.
Els i$31,552-$35,609 ,a �
$26,561-$31,551 "1ETD 11
rr
$14,946-$26,560
--,. ,,__...... :, I
,,
....,,
��Cloverdale A)
1 ,,
- t
Sea Ranch � ),:_,,
� {
..,6
Lake-Sonoma Geyserville
..
‘\. ,,
._:_,
c,
,' ,`P Healdsburg^�}, t73
ti
;\Calistoga
<`\ Windsor ``•,�.
Guernevillejk, �
_ ' • `
�\mo .
me osa\
• `
o
I
Bodega Bay ,_,IV_Ro in F
• 1• s ha
,� ----,.5-01 Le-o au Sonoma
VI4 �,
•Tomales P a i_l I1.Yc \L� "``_
Petaluma `r
ti,
\2
l
0-,
,. I
(NOV-1/
I\
)
0 10 (� 20 Miles
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 69 ill
I
1
I
IT
The five lowest-earning census tracts in Sonoma County are Rohnert Park
B/C/R Section,followed by West Junior College, Fetters Springs/Agua Caliente
West, North Oakmont/Hood Mountain,and Kawana Springs.The low earnings in
two of these,however,are most likely due less to financial struggles than to stage-
of-life realities:
• The Rohnert Park-area tract is home to Sonoma State University and
Communities its student housing.Wages there are pulled down because a large
' share of the population are students,and students who are working are
at the bottom disproportionately likely to be in part-time and lower-paying jobs.
of the earnings • North Oakmont/Hood Mountain is home to the 4,200-person planned
table have tow retirement community of Oakmont, developed in 1963 for adults 55 years
concentrations old and up.92 Nearly two-thirds of the residents of this tract are 65 or older,
and many are no longer working. Furthermore,the relatively few Oakmont
I .of workers in residents still in the job market may be working only part-time, relying in
management part on savings, pensions,and Social Security, none of which would show
' and related up as earnings.That Oakmont is a retirement community explains why
23.8 percent of residents—nearly one in four—have some form of disability
professions. and also clears up some contradictory findings,such as the coexistence of
' low earnings with a high share of bachelor's and graduate degree holders.
The other three Sonoma County communities at the bottom of the earnings
table,two of which are in Santa Rosa, have low concentrations of workers in
management and related professions. Between four and five out of every ten
' residents are renters,and approximately one in four lives in poverty.
In Fetter Springs/Agua Caliente,26.9 percent of residents lack health
I insurance,which,coupled with such low earnings, leaves families in this area
particularly vulnerable to economic shocks like unexpected illness or injury.
Rental housing in Fetter Springs/Agua Caliente is crowded;it ties Sheppard as the
' census tract with the largest household size among those who are renting their
homes-4.5 people—compared to 2.6 people Sonoma County-wide.And 45 percent
of adults here did not graduate high school. Both Fetter Springs/Agua Caliente and
Kawana Springs are predominately Latino,60 percent and 51 percent, respectively.
I
r
70 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
1
A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING
VARIATION BY RACE AND ETHNICITY AND GENDER
In Sonoma County,whites earn the most money,$36,647,followed by Asian Men in Sonoma County
Americans ($32,495),African Americans ($31,213),and Latinos($21,695). earn about$8,500 more
This earnings ranking is found in California as a whole as well, although Asian per year than women.
Americans are the top-earning group in the country overall.The following are more
particulars about earnings by race and ethnicity in Sonoma County: $34,219
• Asian Americans in Sonoma County earn about$3,500 less than Asian T
Americans at the national level,whereas whites in Sonoma earn about • $25,519
$3,500 more than whites in the country as a whole 93 $
V 0
• Median personal earnings for African Americans in Sonoma County are • �j • 116 +
on par with earnings for all African Americans in the state ($32,837)and , a . . 0
higher than the national median for African Americans ($26,299)96 • •
• The overall earnings gap in Sonoma County between whites and Latinos is •• Q.9 • : ®
about$15,000.This is about$3,500 smaller than the gap at the state level. .1 ..
r aa
Men in Sonoma County earn about$8,500 more than women.This wage gap is
•
l•
$1,000
similar to the gap between men and women at the state level,although it is around •
$1,000 smaller than at the national level.
The gender gap in earnings is the result of several factors, but lack of
education is not one of them.As discussed above,women in Sonoma outperform
their male counterparts at every educational level;they are more likely than men Men Women
to hold high school,college,and graduate degrees and to be enrolled in school.
Source:U.S.Census Bureau,
American CommLnity Survey,
2012.
TA O L E 9 Earnings by Race and Ethnicity
FiL.
POPULATION GROUP
California $30,502 5.39
Sonoma County $30,214 5.42
Whites $36,667 • 6.01
Asian Americans $32,495 7.10
African Americans $31,213 4.68
Latinos $21,695 4.27
Source:Measure of America analysis of data from the California Department of Public Health,Death
Statistical Master Fite,2005-2011,and U.S.Census Bureau,American Community Survey,2012.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 71
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/
•
Even in professions Several other factors are behind the gap:
'' where women • Part-time work.Among women in Sonoma County,42.4 percent work
predominate, part time,a larger percentage than men.9J This contributes to lower
men earn more.
median earnings.
I, 3
s Responsibilities for caretaking labor. Social norms around work in and
outside the home have changed significantly over the past generation,
Predominantly Mens but the change has been dramatic in one direction and lackluster, at best,
I
Female Weekly Median
Professions Earnings over in the other.Women have joined men in the paid workforce in droves,
Women's but men have been slower to take over an equal share of caretaking
.
responsibilities.As a result,women still shoulder the majority of the child
.......
'� In and elder care, domestic work,and emotional Labor required by family life.
+$296
Human Depending upon life stage and family circumstances,handling the bulk of
Resources these tasks alongside a demanding, high-paying job is extremely difficult.
Manager
72%FEMALE
• Motherhood penalty.Women pay a wage penalty for leaving the
marketplace to care for children,and evidence indicates employers
I.
+$160 discriminate more against mothers than women in general in hiring
Social Worker and promotion decisions.96 This is in part because the United States has
79.7%FEMALE
not adopted family-friendly policies similar to those of all other affluent
I
democracies, ranging from mandatory paid maternity and paternity leave,
+$150 sick leave,and annual leave to care for children or elderly relatives to
Nurse universal,affordable child care.The smaller wage gap in California and
88.8%FEMALE
' Sonoma County relative to the country as a whole may have something to
IR O do with the paid maternity leave mandate in the state.
¢$122
Lab • Wage discrimination. Evidence shows women across the United States
I Technician
73.6%FEMALE are hired less frequently than men in high wage firms and receive
less training and fewer promotions. Even when working in the same
occupational category, and even in female-dominated occupations Like
I t +$100 nursing, men tend to earn more than women.97
Office and
Administrative • Women work different jobs.Women are concentrated in lower-paying
Support
76.8%FEMALE occupations and industries, in part because of their choices of fields of
I
study. Fewer women major in science and engineering,for example,than
Source:Measure of America
analysis of data from the Bureau in education or social work,fields with Lower economic payoffs.
of Labor Statistics,Current
I Population Survey,2013. • Low-skills jobs pay men more.The low-wage jobs where women
predominate,such as child care provider and home health aide,
virtually always pay less than occupations dominated by men with
I
similarly low educational attainment levels,such as security guard
or parking attendant.98
I
1 72 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
I
I
A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING
1
What Fuels the Gaps in Living Standards?
Mit
Gaps in living standards among different groups in Sonoma County stem from $ 1
a variety of factors:
EDUCATION LEVELS
' i
Level of education is the single biggest predictor of earnings far racial and ethnic
groups and for census tracts in Sonoma County.The county's Latino residents
earn the least by a huge margin—about$9,500 Less than African Americans,
$11,000 less than Asian Americans,and$15,000 less than whites.99 They are
also the furthest behind in terms of educational attainment,with four in ten
adults lacking high school diplomas.Educational attainment rates for Latinos Levet of education
in California are pulled down by the lower attainment of new immigrants;in the
state as a whole, U.S.-born Latino adults are as likely as other Californians to is the single
have completed high school. Enrollment rates for Sonoma County Latinos are on biggest predictor
par with those of the county as a whole,which bodes well for improved earnings of earnings for
in the next generation.In terms of neighborhoods, educational attainment and
enrollment strongly and positively correlate with earnings; in other words,as a racial and ethnic
census tract's average education levels rise,so,too,do median earnings. groups and for
Unlike the national story,the fact that Asian American residents have the census tracts in
highest education score doesn't translate into their having the highest earnings.
One likely contributing factor is that although 44 percent of Sonoma County Asian Sonoma County.
Americans have bachelor's degrees,nearly 13 percent of the overall group Lack
high school diplomas(compared to only 4.7 percent of whites).This is discussed
further below.
IMMIGRATION PATTERNS
Immigration patterns influence earnings largely because of the education levels
of new arrivals.The vast majority of Latino migrants come from Mexico and arrive
with low levels of education, giving them few options outside low-wage jobs in the
service, construction,and agricultural sectors.Although immigrants from Asia
tend to arrive with higher levels of education,generalizations about this large
and extremely diverse population can obscure important subgroup distinctions.
For instance,the county's Laotian Lua population struggles with Low English
proficiency, low Levels of educational attainment, high unemployment,and many
health problems that stem from their often traumatic experiences as refugees
fleeing war and reprisals.100
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 73
I
I
HOLLOWED-OUT MIDDLE
'lUl TOP Fifth The decline in manufacturing has made middle-class jobs less available, not just
I I 6,,,1„,
$ uj in Sonoma County, but in the state and country as well. People at the bottom of the
Q Q wage ladder can't climb it as easily as in the past because there are fewer middle
I
CO Z
Z rungs on the ladder. Projected job growth is primarily at the top and bottom of
R0 the income scale(see Box 7).This bifurcated job market leads to sharp divides in
CO
a living standards;the bottom fifth of Sonoma taxpayers take home only 2.5 percent
I. 0 0 of the county's total income,while the share of the top fifth is twenty-four times
ti BOTTOM Fifth 2.5% N higher,at 60 percent.101 The wages earned by 6 percent of all working residents
Z Q f fi$$ of Sonoma—about 14,000 workers—are insufficient to lift them abovepoverty.102
The split is starkly evident in earnings at the top and bottom of the Sonoma County
The top fifth of census tract scale.In Fountain Grove, for instance, 56 percent of workers have
Sonoma County jobs in management-type occupations and 11 percent work in the service sector;
taxpayers take median earnings here are over$67,000. In Fetters Springs/Aqua Caliente West,
home 60% of only 16 percent of workers have management jobs,whereas 38 percent are in the
Sonoma's total service sector; in The Springs, median earnings are about$19,500. In Sonoma
County as in the rest of the state,the boundaries of these distinct worlds of work
income.The fall along ethnic lines.
bottom fifth take
'.
home 2.5%. WEALTH DISPARITIES Source:Measure of America Although wealth is notpart of the American Human Development Index, it is too
g P
analysis of Sonoma County consequential to ignore.Wealth matters because financial assets allow families
income tax statistics from
I
California Franchise Tax to invest in futures—to buy homes in safe neighborhoods with good schools,to
Board zott Annual Report, invest in businesses,to pay for college,to help grown children with mortgages,
and to leave behind inheritances that can translate into higher living standards for
' children and grandchildren.Wealth also matters because it is closely linked to the
distribution of power;affluent people are more likely to be elected to public office
and to influence the political process through access to social and professional
I
networks than are the poor and middle class, and elected officials are more
responsive to the preferences of the rich.7"In emergencies,assets can enable
people to cushion the effects of job loss,death or divorce,or natural disasters.
I Because, unlike most jobs, wealth can be transferred from one generation to the
next,the wealth divide is more dramatic than the earnings divide.The stark wealth
differences that drive the disparities in living standards today lay the foundation
Ifor still more disparities tomorrow.
Ii
11.
74 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
I
A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING
—T
lox 7 The Earnings Hourglass
The decline in middle-wage jobs like construction,coupled without private/informal assistance(e.g.,free babysitting by
with the growth in jobs at the top and bottom of the earnings a relative or friend,food provided by churches or local food
scale,creates an hourglass-shaped labor market in Sonoma banks,or shared housing)."106
County that mirrors broader national trends. Sonoma County has seen major shifts in its employment
Sonoma County has a workforce of 250,000,employed across picture in recent years.From 2000 to 2011,employment
a wide range of sectors.104 About two-thirds are employed by declined in sectors like manufacturing and construction,
private companies;13 percent work for local,state,or federal where in the past middle-wage jobs were plentiful.
government entities;and much smatter percentages work Job growth has been strong at the top in the well-paying
for nonprofit organizations or are self-employed.t05 One in professional sectors,including business services,education,
five working county residents has a job in education or health and heallh.107 Among the highest earning are business
care,with almost 29,000 employed in health care and social executives and medical specialists,such as psychiatrists,
assistance alone, internists,physicians,and surgeons,all of whom earn
The next largest industry is the retail sector;one in eight upwards of$90 per hour,on average.1DB
employed county residents works in retail,one of the lowest- At the opposite end of the earnings distribution are workers
paying job categories.The typical retail worker earns only in a range of service and agricultural occupations—among them
$21,500 per year,a sum that falls short of the Sonoma County farm workers,graders and sorters of agricultural products,
self-sufficiency standard of$26,065 for just one person—and waiters and waitresses,dishwashers,and fast-food cooks—who
is just a fraction of the more than$53,700 a worker with two typically earn between$9 and$12 per hour.1°9 Job growth has
school-age children needs to make ends meet in Sonoma. been strong in the tower-wage leisure and hospitality sectors,
The self-sufficiency standard,developed by Diana Pierce in fueled to some degree by burgeoning interest in the farm-to-
the mid-1990s,"defines the amount of income necessary to table movement and"agri-tourism,"as well as large increases
meet basic needs(including taxes)without public subsidies in the incomes of"the top 1 percent"from the larger Bay Area
(e.g.,public housing,food stamps,Medicaid or child care)and and beyond,who have plenty of resources for travel.
Large and fast-growing job categories are clustered at the bottom of the earnings scale.
0 41. ED
I HIGH WAGE
OCCUPATIONS Physicians Chief Software
and surgeons executives developers
co $113/HOUR $93/HOUR $56/HOUR
a
4rJobs in the middle :31 si
are shrinking. 0
cc m
o Engineering Industrial machinery Payroll and
Z technicians mechanics timekeeping clerks
a $34/HOUR $25/HOUR $22/HOUR
Lu !Jobs at the bottomla/ -
0
are growing.
$ Restaurant and Personal and Waiters and
LOW WAGE fast-food cooks home care aides waitresses
OCCUPATIONS $10-12/HOUR $12/HOUR $11/HOUR
Source:Mean hourly wage from California Employment Development Department,High Wage Occupations in Santa Rosa-Petaluma
Metro Statistical Area,first quarter 2013.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 75
1
foren a
What concrete actions can the Sonoma County Department
1' of Health Services and its allies across a wide range of
11, sectors take to shore up the foundations of well-being for
all the county's people and build the capabilities of those
groups that lag behind?
�l Population-Based Interventions
• Make Universal Preschool a Reality
111' • Redouble Antismoking Efforts
Place- Based Interventions
• Improve Neighborhood Conditions to
Facilitate Healthy Behaviors
• Mend the Holes in the Safety Net for
Undocumented Immigrants
• Address Inequality at Education's Starting Gate
• Prioritize On-Time High School. Graduation
• Reduce Youth Disconnection
,. • Take a Two-Pronged Approach to Raising Earnings:
Boost Education and Improve Pay
1
I
AGENDA FOR ACTION
Sonoma County is home to some communities in which most residents have
the tools they need to live healthy, productive,freely chosen lives;neighborhoods
in Bennett Valley,the Sonoma Mountain and Arroyo Park area,and Southwest
Sebastopol are good examples.The rich and diverse sets of capabilities and
conditions people in these and similar Sonoma County communities tend to
have—from educational credentials,well-paying jobs, and strong social networks
to safe neighborhoods, secure housing, and a voice in the decisions that affect their Sonoma County
lives—are reflected in their communities' high scores on the American Human
Development Index.This is not to say people living in neighborhoods that score on is home to some
the high end of the index scale(from roughly 6.50 upward)are on easy street; communities
they work hard and are certainly not immune to the reversals and sorrows that
in which most
are part and parcel of the human condition. Nonetheless,the foundational building
blocks they require to realize their potential and invest in their families'futures residents have the
are firmly in place. toots they need
Sonoma County is also home to neighborhoods in which people face to live healthy,
many obstacles to discovering,developing,and deploying their unique gifts
and talents,and where necessity too often demands that human flourishing productive, freely
take a backseat to human survival. In the Lowest-scoring tracts—those that fall chosen lives and
in the high 2.00 to low 4.00 range—fewer capabilities translates into fewer choices others in which
and opportunities,as well as greater economic insecurity.In Southwest Santa
Rosa, East Cloverdale,and other low-scoring Sonoma County communities, people face
adults must direct the lion's share of their time and energy to securing the many obstacles
basics—essentials like nutritious food, medical care,and a place to live.The to discovering,
struggle to stretch low wages far enough to make ends meet and to navigate
the daily challenges of life in high-poverty neighborhoods exacts a high cost:the developing, and
chronic stress of insecurity causes excessive wear and tear on the heart and blood deploying their
vessels,weakens immunity,frays relationships,and erodes psychological health.
unique gifts and
And the effects of prolonged poverty,particularly in the early years, on children's
well-being are grave and long-lasting. talents.
Between these high-and low-scoring neighborhoods are ones that score
in the high-4.00 to mid-6.00 range.The people Living in these communities
experience a mixture of security and insecurity.Their health, levels of education,
and earnings range from near the national average to well above it. But, like
many in California's statistical middle,they lack the security Americans have long
associated with middle-class status.Too frequently they face high housing costs,
have limited assets, have too little saved for higher education and retirement costs, •
and are particularly affected by the erosion of middle-class jobs and benefits. Many
have yet to recover fully from the effects of the Great Recession.
As this report reaches its conclusion,the question we need to ask is this:What
concrete actions can the Sonoma County Department of Health Services and its
allies across a wide range of sectors take to shore up the foundations of well-being
for all the county's people and build the capabilities of those groups that lag behind?
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 77
111I
I
1
111,
Two sets of actions offer promise.The first comprises population-based
interventions targeted at Sonoma County as a whole;they are aimed at promoting
' the overall welt-being of the county and will benefit communities all along the
human development spectrum.The second includes place-based interventions
that target specific neighborhoods.
Population-Based Interventions.
Make Universal Preschool a Reality
A mountain of evidence shows that disadvantaged children who benefit from a
high-quality preschool experience are less likely to repeat grades and more Likely
to graduate from high school and college, marry, earn more,and be healthier as
' adults than those who do not.They are also less likely to have children when they
are teenagers, receive public assistance,and spend time behind bars.10 National
research has consistently shown that quality matters—poor-quality programs
don't help disadvantaged children and may harm them—and that the most
disadvantaged children attend the lowest-quality preschools."'
Today,only about half of Sonoma County's 3-and 4-year-olds are enrolled in
I
and,among Latinos,the rate falls to 39 percent.The average annual
today, only about
cost of a center-based preschool in Sonoma County is$9,500—equivalent to about
half of Sonoma one-third of the median annual personal earnings for the county.This high price
County's 3- and puts preschool out of reach hot just for low-income families but for many middle-
income families as well. In 2012,some 15,900 youngsters qualified for subsidized
4-year-olds
preschool, but fewer than 2,300 spots were available.12 A commitment among
I- are enrolled in municipalities,the county,the business community, the school system,and the
preschool and, philanthropic community to meet the need for subsidized preschool would help
secure a life of choice and value for today's Sonoma County children.As quality
among Latinos, is fundamental to the benefit of preschooling, raising the wages of preschool
the rate falls to personnel to attract teachers with early childhood expertise is important.The
39 percent. California Employment Development Department estimates Sonoma County has
I about 1,800 child care workers,and, in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma Metro Area,
their median hourly wages are just$11.52.13 Attaching a preschool to an existing
elementary school,as El Verano School has done, is an excellent approach to build
strong bonds between families and the school from the start.
'r
1
78 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
AGENDA FOR ACTION
Redouble Antismoking Efforts
Most premature death today stems from preventable health risks, chief among
which is smoking.Among its peer counties,Sonoma County has the highest rate of
adults who smoke, 14.3 percent.The county also has higher incidence and death
rates from cancer than are average for California,particularly among whites."'
Given that tobacco is highly addictive and most people who smoke began in Most premature
their teens,15 the best way to lower smoking rates is to prevent teenagers from
picking up the habit in the first place.Since most smokers want to quit, helping death today stems
them do so is also vital;quitting by age thirty-five reduces most of the risk of from preventable
premature death, and quitting by forty returns an astonishing nine years of life health risks, chief
expectancy to a former smoker."'Sonoma County has a range of approaches in
place to address both adults and teens, including an ordinance prohibiting smoking among which is
in certain public places,active public health campaigns,and free and low-cost smoking.
smoking cessation programs.Yet adult and teen smoking rates in Sonoma remain
stubbornly high."'California's cigarette tax, at 87 cents per pack, is among the
lowest in the country.1'Raising cigarette prices could have an immediate impact
on young smokers in particular,who respond quickly to price increases.1'Another
important strategy would be enforcing ID laws and restricting sales in pharmacies,
particularly near parks and schools, to Limit teens'access to cigarettes. Building
upon the ample evidence about what works to lower smoking rates can make a
real difference to longevity in Sonoma County.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 79
I
Place-Based Interventions
Place matters to psychological and physical health and is a fulcrum of educational
and economic opportunity. Our well-being and life paths are profoundly shaped
I . by the characteristics of the places where we are born,spend our earliest years,
attend school, make friends,fall in love, make the transition from adolescence
adulthood,work, start families,and age. Neighborhoods can be bridges,or
Ito
' barriers,to lives of freedom and opportunity.
The American Human Development Index allows us to identify areas whose
populations face interlocking health, education, and income impediments to
Place matters to human flourishing. In Sonoma County,the census tracts with the lowest scores
psychological and should be the focus of a place-based approach to improving people's well-
being.The challenges these communities face are well beyond what any single
physical health institution—whether a school,a health clinic, or a municipal or county agency—can
' and is a fulcrum mm meaningfully address on its own.A place-based approach views a neighborhood,
of educational its people,and their assets and challenges as a holistic system and brings to bear
on their needs the concerted, coordinated efforts of a wide variety of actors from
and economic the business community, local government,schools, hospitals,community-based
opportunity. organizations, faith communities,and the philanthropic sector. Place-based
I approaches,which also fall within the rubric of'"collective impact,"ideally ensure
that a set of actions becomes more than the sum of its parts and does so in a way
that empowers communities to identify their own priorities and solutions.
Index results suggest that the areas discussed in BOX a, many of which
comprise contiguous census tracts,would benefit from a place-based approach.
In some low-scoring Sonoma County census tracts,the data show clearly the
basic areas where the lag is most significant and where concerted effort could
make a real difference to overall human development levels. East Cloverdale,for
instance,has fallen behind in terms of education, not just of adults over age 25, but
in terms of today's young people as well;education would,therefore, appear to be
a good place to start.The Springs lags in education and income, but already has
• put in place education policies and approaches that are helping to close the gap
' between Latino and white students, as evidenced by the near parity between these
two groups in rates of on-time graduation from Sonoma Valley High School;the
improvement already in progress has set in place a strong foundation for further
' place-based initiatives.
But in areas like Southwest Santa Rosa,all major indicators badly trail the
county average.From health and housing to health insurance and income, people
in these neighborhoods face major constraints from all quarters in terms of
' their ability to live freely chosen lives of value.To impose a hierarchy of needs or
list of priorities for action from outside would only serve to disempower these
communities further.
' 80 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
I
AGENDA FOR ACTION
Nti
Bolstering the ability of existing organizations to take a lead role in the L
-
development of priorities for place-based initiatives,or supporting the creation ,
of new mechanisms, is a critical first step. .41-,'-'1
Although each community will identify a set of issues that call for intervention 4'
based on people's most pressing concerns,the analysis done for this report
suggests that making real progress toward higher Levels of well-being and ,
expanded opportunity requires taking the actions outlined below.This list can , `ka
serve as a launching point for community-led identification of priorities. 11c
4 t ,
BOX 8 Sonoma County Priority Places `_
y1y
� •s
Southwest and Southeast Santa Rosa The Springs t:-^1
Three census tracts in Southwest Santa Rosa, to one The Springs in Sonoma Valley(Fetters S nn s/A ua Caliente
adjacent P 9 9 ),
another in the area bounded by Highway 12 and Route 101, West)has the lowest score outside Southwest Santa Rosa.This Irv,
have the county's lowest human development levels.Index comparatively compact area lies amid census tracts with much f,..;:';',4.,
scores in Roseland Creek,Roseland,and Sheppard,which higher scores.Although life expectancy in this community t ''';.
range from 2.79 to 2.98.are similar to those that prevailed in is higher than the county average,45 percent of its adults 1=
the country as a whole in the late 1970s.The struggles here lack high school diplomas and its median personal earnings
are many:fife expectancies are among the county's lowest are third from last among Sonoma's ninety-nine tracts.The
(around 77 years);four in ten adults lack high school diplomas; relatively small population(just over 5,000);the fact that this i',
school enrollment rates are well below the county average; community is not adjacent to other high-poverty,low-human- i'.J'?';;
4ci
and earnings are roughly$22,000 per year—the median wage development areas;and the strong positive community rote ]!;'
that prevailed in the United States in the late 1960s.Six in ten played by the area's schools(see BOX 4)give a place-based '`'l�
housing units are rented,and the average size of households approach to the area a high likelihood of success. 'r',
Lir.q
living in rental housing is among the county's highest, t ,i
suggesting overcrowded living conditions.Just across Route East Cloverdale l'id
101 lie two Southeast Santa Rosa tracts,Kawana Springs and East Cloverdale ranks ninety-first among the ninety-nineTaylor Mountain,which rank eighty-first and eighty-ninth, Sonoma County census tracts.This north Sonoma tract
Ik
respectively,on the index among the ninety-nine Sonoma struggles in particular with education.Three in ten adults lack i<1 Y'.
County census tracts.Their low scores place Southeast Santa high school diplomas,and just 12 percent hold bachelor's I �'
Rosa at high priority for intervention. degrees(compared to 31.8 percent for Sonoma County as a ` 44
whole).School enrollment,at 63.5 percent,is in the bottom five 1`,
Northwest Santa Rosa for the county,and the rate for on-time graduation from high 45 s;',
The scores of the eight tracts to the north of Highway 12 that school in the Cloverdale Unified school district is fewer than t.,y=
straddle Route 101 in Santa Rosa range from 3.50 to a bit over three in four students 171.2 percent)—the lowest in the county. `'•ti�.:'
4.00,which are typical of the country in the early 1990s.The The situation with boys is particularly worrisome;less than "`
neighborhoods of West End,Bicentennial Park,Downtown two-thirds(63.1 percent)graduate high school in four years. 10.
Santa Rosa,Comstock,Burbank Gardens,West Junior College, r. t
•
Coddingtown,and Railroad Square,all of which are among the ,',
twenty lowest scoring tracts,together represent a large area of ,
concentrated disadvantage. :1'
i•4
,vr
r
?..
i. ., r
f•
11
_
i
I
+Y
y
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 81
Ii
I-;
Improve Neighborhood Conditions
11
to Facilitate Healthy Behaviors
Better health and longevity are largely the result of the conditions of our daily lives,
the levels of stress we habitually experience,the scores of small decisions we
make about what to put in our bodies, and how well we are able to avoid the "fatal
four" risk factors for premature death:smoking, drinking to excess, poor diet,and
,1 physical inactivity.Efforts to improve neighborhood conditions should focus on
creating a safe environment with more sidewalks, more streetlights, more parks,
convenient,full-service grocery stores, accessible physical and mental health
I
1 care, and other amenities conducive to healthy behaviors.They should also focus
on eliminating risk factors,such as easily available tobacco, pervasive alcohol
advertising,or concentrations of fast-food outlets.
Mend the Holes in the Safety Net
for Undocumented Immigrants
p Recent estimates show Sonoma County roughlyhas41 000 undocumented
Longevity IS immigrants,constituting 8.8 percent of the population—the tenth-highest rate
among California's counties.1Z0 Undocumented immigrants and their children,
Largely the result including children who are U.S. citizens,face significant challenges in getting
of the conditions access to vital services and are often unaware of what services actually exist.
rOf our daily Lives. Despite Sonoma County efforts and policies to improve the well-being of this
population,including the Sanctuary County designation for driving and the
promotion insurance program H , mented and their families of facethehealth numerous and varied barriersealthy to livingKidsproductivetheundocu,fulfilling lives
of value and dignity.
111,
Address Inequality at Education's Starting Gate
Universal preschool in Sonoma County would benefit all families,and particularly
I low-income families. But those with the greatest challenges, such as deep poverty,
domestic instability,and low levels of parental education,also need intervention
at an earlier stage.The first three years are critical to the emotional,social,
cognitive,and Linguistic development of young children,and responsive,warm,
and appropriately stimulating interactions with consistent caregivers provide the
primary pathway for this development.Well-tested and proven programs,such
as the Nurse-Family Partnership,that target infants and young children in the
' 0-3 age range and their parents are associated with greatly improved child health
outcomes and school performance and more effective parenting strategies.121
82 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
1
AGENDA FOR ACTION
Prioritize On-Time High School Graduation
A high school diploma is the barebones minimum educational credential in today's
increasingly knowledge-based economy;the costs of dropping out of high school
are extremely high in terms of health, relationships,employment,and wages. On-
time graduation rates vary widely by school district in Sonoma County,from over
90 percent of ninth graders finishing high school on time in Petaluma Joint Unified,
West Sonoma County, Healdsburg Unified, and Sonoma Valley Unified,to fewer
than three in four in Cloverdale Unified.'22 The early-warning signs that typically The costs of
precede a child's dropping out of high school are now well established,allowing dropping out of
for the development of systems to identify, monitor, and engage at-risk youth.
Vigorous efforts to support students at risk of dropping out can pay dividends not
high school are
only to the students and their schools but to all county residents,as high school extremely high in
dropouts are four times as likely as high school graduates to be unemployed123 and terms of health,
eight times as likely to be incarcerated.124
relationships,
Reduce Youth Disconnection employment,
and wages.
The years between ages 16 and 24 are extremely important for a person's life
trajectory—a time for gaining educational credentials,work experience, and the
social and emotional skills required for a productive, rewarding adulthood.Yet
in Sonoma County, 11.8 percent of people in this age group, comprising nearly
7,000 teens and young adults,were"disconnected" in 2011—that is, neither
working nor in school—up from 10.4 percent in 2009.125 Young people of color
are disproportionately likely to be disconnected.126 Periods of disconnection as a
young person reverberate in adulthood in the form of lower wages, lower marriage
rates,and higher unemployment rates. Offering narrow interventions late in the
game,such as an unpaid high school summer internship,cannot turn around a
situation years in the making.The large majority of disconnected young people
come from communities with entrenched poverty,where the adults in their lives •
also tend to be disconnected from mainstream institutions as they struggle
with Limited education,frequent periods of unemployment,and limited social
networks.127 Preventing youth disconnection thus requires improving the conditions
and opportunities in today's high-disconnection communities.It also requires
the creation of meaningful pathways—such as career and technical education
programs in high school linked to postsecondary certificate programs and work
experience—that connect school and work for students whose interests and
aspirations are not best served by traditional bachelor's degree programs.Another
important priority is helping low-income young people with the financial costs of
attending college and certificate programs.'2e
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 83
11
1
11
a Two-Pronged Approach to Raising Earnings:
ITake
? Boost Education and Improve Pay
1 When families earn too little to make ends meet, a host of well-being outcomes
suffer.The impact on children is particularly pronounced: research shows that
deep poverty in early childhood has immediate and Lifelong adverse effects,
including worse health, lower levels of educational attainment,and a greater
1' chance of living in poverty in adulthood.129 Two pathways are open to higher
earnings,and ideally Sonoma County will pursue both:
I .• Help more people bypass or exit low-paying sectors by getting more
��e� familieseducation.Sonoma County should focus on boosting educational
Woutcomes,starting with providing universal preschool and raising
earn too little t0 rates of high school completion,to make livelihoods more secure
1 make ends meet, and improve health.
a host of welt- • Ensure that all jobs, including those that do not require a college degree,
being outcomes pay wages that afford workers the dignity of self-sufficiency and the
e peace of mind of economic security. Not everyone v has an interest in
higher education or the opportunity, preparation, or aptitude for it,and not
everyone has the wherewithal to enter higher-paying fields.As discussed
earlier,fewer mid-level jobs are available today than in the past,and the
1 low-wage service sector is the country's fastest-growing job category.
While a job as a farmworker, a cleaner in a hotel or inn, or a laborer on a
construction site may be a stepping-stone for some,for many,jobs Like
these are long-term careers. Improving the pay and quality of such jobs,
which employ many working adults in Sonoma County's poorest tracts, is
central to improving well-being in those communities.
California's minimum wage will rise to$9 per hour in July 2014,and to$10
' in January 2016. In addition,several municipalities in Sonoma County have
introduced ordinances that raise the wage floor further.These important
steps should be built upon. In addition,the onus should not rest solely on the
111
government but also on employers to make all jobs"good jobs."
Also central to well-being is improving the quality of these jobs, not just by
providing benefits like sick leave, but by reducing the variability of work schedules.
Many low-wage workers not only work too few hours at one job to make ends
meet;they also have work schedules that change weekly.Some are even subject
1 to"on-call" schedules,where they call into see if they should come to work each
day.This variability makes it impossible to take second jobs or make financial
• plans,wreaks havoc on child care scheduling needs, and feels disrespectful and
disempowering—all factors that contribute to health-eroding chronic stress.
1
84 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
1
1
1::,:i,
AGENDA FO l ACTION
Conclusion Sonoma County is rich in organizations dedicated to improving life for its residents, 4A,4;,
particularly those who face high barriers to Living freely chosen lives of value andIA
opportunity.Working together,these public and private organizations can make areal difference.Population-based approaches,the mainstay of public health,offer .i
teat romise for loner, healthier, and more rewardin Lives for eve one. Makin9 P 9 g rY 9 �universal preschool a reality and redoubling antismoking efforts are high-impact
�
priorities that enjoy widespread popular support;setting concrete, realistic-but- J'-.
ambitious targets could galvanize collective action. Place-based approaches �• .
offer a way to address the multiple and often interlocking disadvantages faced by I"'�,.
families livingin low-scoringcommunities. Havingas a startingpoint aprocess i,,""'
l,�s..
in which residents themselves identify their top priorities and organizations and I�'`
then join together to help address them is an empowering approach that makes 'Y-
meaningful, lasting results more likely.
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A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 85
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Sonoma County Human Development Indicators .
Methodological Notes
00
"Notes
U ,
W
I N -Bibliography
z ,
K `;y.Jon, ,nty Census Tract Reference Map
I
1
I
-1
I
REFERENCES E ..
. i
Sonoma County Human Development Indicators
The following indicator tables were prepared using the latest available data on Sonoma County.
All data are standardized to ensure comparability.To create customized maps and interactive I
data charts for these indicators, go to:www.measureofamerica.org/maps.
HD Index by Race/Ethnicity and Gender i
1
i... LIFE AT LEAST GRADUATE OR I V
I
EXPECTANCY LESS THAN BACHELOR'S PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL: '
AT BIRTH 141514 SCHOOL DEGREE DEGREE ENROLLME HEALTH EDUCATION I
lyearsI 151 I%1 151 151 a• .. ..INDEX INDEX c.� i
California 5.39 81.2 18.5 30.9 11.3 78.5 30.502 6 35 5.04 4.79
Sonoma County 5.42 81.0 13.1 31.8 11,7 77.9 30,214 6.26 5.28 4.72
GENDER
1 Women 5.41 83.0 11.2 33.0 11.8 79.7 25,591 7.08 5.59 3.57
2 Men 5.30 78.9 15.2 30.6 11.7 76.1 34,219 5.36 4.96 5.59
RACE/ETHNICITY '
1 Asian Americans 7.10 86.2 12.9 44.4 15.4 95.5 32,495 8.44 7.64 5.23 '
2 Whites 6.01 80.5 4.7 38.0 14.0 76.7 36.647 6.05 5.92 6.06
3 African Americans 4.68 77.7 23.8 31.4 12.5 71.8 31,213 4.86 4.25 4.95
4 Latinos 4.27 85.3 43.6 7.7 1.9 77.4 21,695 8.03 2.37 2.43
HD Index for Peer Counties
LIFE AT LEAST AT LEAST GRADUATE OR
EXPECTANCY LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL BACHELOR'S PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL MF Ot;N
AT BIRTH HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA DEGREE DEGREE ENROLLMENT P.e1`a1N0`. HEALTH EDUCATION
(years) (SI I%1 SI 151 IS) IiO'2d:Unr.1I INDEX INDEX i -
United States 5.D7 79.0 13.6 86.4 29.1 10.9 77.5 30,155 5.43 5.06 4.71
California 5.39 81.2 18.5 81.5 30.9 11.3 78.5 30,502 6.35 5'34 4.79
RANK
1 Marin County 7.73 84.2 6.8 93.2 55.8 24.5 87.3 45,052 7.60 8.39 7.49
2 Santa Cruz County 5.79 81.9 14.0 86.0 38.3 15.2 80.6 30,525 6.63 5.94 4.79
3 San Luis Obispo County 5.60 81.1 8.7 91.3 33.5 11.8 81.6 29,582 6.30 5.91 4.58
• 4 Ventura County 5.59 82.3 17.3 82.7 31.6 11.1 78.8 30,738 6.79 5.15 4.84
5 Napa County 5.43 81.4 18.3 81.7 30.3 9.2 78.5 31,074 6.43 4.93 4.92
6 Sonoma County 5.42 81.0 13.1 86.9 31.8 11.7 77.9 30,214 6.26 5.28 4.72
7 Santa Barbara County 5.06 82.2 20.8 79.2 30.2 12.5 80.2 24,561 6.77 5.12 3.29
8 Monterey County 4.47 82.4 30.1 69.9 24.0 8.7 76.6 22,433 6.84 3.92 2.66
Sources:HD Index:Measure of America analysis of California Department Note:The"Tract all or partially within City"column on pages 92-93 identifies
of Public Health.Death Statistical Master File,2005-2011,and U.S.Census which incorporated city the tract is all or partially within the boundaries of,if
Bureau,American Community Survey,2012.Demographic Indicators by any.Tracts straddling one or more cities were grouped with the city in which
Census Tract:U.S.Census Bureau,Census 2010.Tract all or partially the largest share of their population lives.A blank cell indicates that the
within City:Missouri Census Data Center.MABLE/Geocorrl 2:Geographic tract is in an unincorporated part of the county or is part of a town.
Correspondence Engine.All other indicators:U.S.Census Bureau,American
Community Survey,2012 and 2008-2012. ,
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 87
I
r
HD Index by Census Tract
GRADUATE rl
FT...
LIFE LESS AT LEAST in PROfES- SCHOOL �r
EXPECTANCY THAN HIGH BACHELOR'S SIGNAL ENROLL- 1
AT BIRTH SCHOOL DEGREE DEGREE MENT � .-., HEALTH EDUCATION larnkr.
man) Imo! I�) 61 1°) =.1K4 . INDEX NGE I
California 5.39 81.2 18.5 30.9 11.3 78.5 30,502 6.35 5.04 4.79
Sonoma County 5.42 81.0 13.1 31.8 11.7 77.9 30,214 6.26 5.28 4.72
1 East Bennett Valley 8.47 82.0 0_5 58.6 24.0 90.2 68,967 6.67 8.75 10.00
2 Fountain Grove 8.35 82.0 4.2 56.6 24.6 88.7 67,357 6.68 8.38 10.00
S 3 Skyhawk 7.78 83.1 3.6_ 57.8 22.5 84.1 50,633 7.12 7.93 8.30
-
4 Annadel/South Oakmont 7.71 843 3.1 54.3 21.2 86.5 45,441 7.61 7.96 7.55_
5 Old Quarry 7.71 82.5 3.7 57.5 26.5 93.1 43,919 6.86 8.94 7.32
6 Rural Cemetery 7.67 83.6 3.4 48.0 25.7 92.5 43,240 7.35 8.44 7.21
7 Central Bennett Valley 7.63 85.7 6.3 40.8 15.8 89.4 44,564 8.21 7.26 7.42
I 8 Sea Ranch/Timber Cove
7.35 84.8 1.1 65.4 40.8 86.7 31,552 7.83 9.21 5.02
9 Cherry Valley 7.18 81.1 5.6 40.1 15.7 90.6 47,536 6.31 7.37 7.86
10 Sonoma Mountain 7.16 81.2 4.3 39.8 7.7 87.3 51,590 6.32 6.74 8.43
11 Windsor East _ 7.06 _ 83.3 7.2 40.5 13.7 81.9 45,526 7.22 6.40 7.56
12 Meadow 7.00 81.2 4.5 39.1 15.1 85.5 47,368 6.32 6.86 7.84
13 Petaluma Airport/Arroyo Park _--_� 6.98 82.4 5.0 36.9 8.4 88.3 44,504 6.82 6.71 7.41
14 Downtown Sonoma 6.95 80.4 4.3 52.3 19,7 86.1 42,835 5.99 7.71 7.14
15 Southwest Sebastopol 6.94 81.5 6.5 41.9 15.6 85.5 44,669 6.47 6.92 7.43
16 Gold Ridge 6.94 83.4 5.4 51.4 21.5 77.5 40,151 7.23 6.89 6.69
I' 17 Arnold Drive/East Sonoma Mountain 6.77 82.6 5.1 50.9 13.8 78.7 40,369 6.94 6.66 6.73
18 Central East Windsor 6.71 83.3 9.5 21.2 8.4 100.0 38,783 7.22 6.45 6.45
19 Larkfield-Wikiup 6.62 81.2 6.4 36.2 9.9 81.9 44,643 6.35 6.07 7.43
20 Sonoma City SouthNineburg 6.57 80.4 5.4 32.0 13.3 90.1 41,168 5.99 6.86 6.87
I
21 Southern Junior College Neighborhood 6.56 81.9 4.0 49.5 18.1 79.7 37,055 6.60 6.93 6.14 -
22 Jenner/Cazadero 6.55 84.8 4.7 35.9 12.1 80.2 35,000 7.83 6.07 5.74
23 Occidentat/Bodega 6.47 81.7 5.0 51.5 25.5 83.4 32,468 6.54 7.65 5.22
24 Fulton 6.46 812 12.2 30.2 7.1 89.2 41,465 6.34 6.12 6.92
I
25 Spring Hilt 6.45 77.1 8.2 45.7 15.3 86.4 46,214 4.62 7.08 7.67
26 Casa Grande 6.42 82.4 7.6 38.4 12.6 84.7 35,987 6.82 6.50 5.93
27 Montgomery Village 6.38 82.0 3.8 32.7 10.8 86.4 36,101 6.68 6.50 5.96
28 Hesset Community 6.37 81.3 7.7 34.0 12.1 83.1 39,743 6.37 6.13 6.62
I 29 Rohnert Park F/H Section 6.22 81.6 6.3 31.1 8.8 87.0 35,610 6.50 6.28 5.86
30 West Bennett Valley 6.17 81.6 6.6 47.5 18.8 72.4 36,145 6.50 6.06 5.96
31 Cameros Sonoma Area 6.15 81.7 8.3 39.6 12.1 92.3 30,052 6.55 7.22 4.68
32 Northeast Windsor 6.15 83.3 12.2 23.2 5.7 81.9 37,289 7.22 5.04 6.18
33 North Healdsburg - -___6.11_ 81.7 12.0 41.9 18.4 81.8 3Z928 6.56 6.44 5.32
34 Windsor Southeast • 6.11 79.6 11.1 16.6 5.6 94.2 40,145 5.66 5.97 6.69
35 Southeast Sebastopol -`T 6.10 79.2 7.3 36.0 15.0 78.9 41,014 5.50 5.97 6.84
36 West Windsor 6.07 82.0 15.0 32.0 8.2 80.6 37,695 6.65 5.31 6.26
37 North Oakmont/Hood Mountain 5.98 84.3 0.4 44.2 18.9 95.0 20,406 7.61 8.34 2.00
I38 North Sebastopol 5.84 82.1 8.0 39.5 16.4 75.1 31,627 6.69 5.79 5.04
39 East Cotati/Rohnert Park L Section 5.79 80.6 11.2 24.7 7.0 83.6 35,880 6.06 5.38 5.91
40 Sonoma City North/West Mayacamas Mountain 5.78 81.8 7.3 43.1 15.3 73.0 31,649 6.58 5.73 5.04
41 Grant 5.77 80.5 6.6 44.1 15.6 65.3 37,279 6.05 5.08 6.18
42 West Cloverdale 5.76 80.1 13.2 25.9 9.1 79.4 38,292 5.86 5.04 6.36
43 Rohnert Park M Section 5.75 81.9 5.9 28.3 7.0 85.0 30,179 6.61 5.91 4.71
44 Alexander Valley 5.73 82.1 17.8 32.1 13.2 79.2 32,303 6.72 5.27 5.19
45 Sunrise/Bond Parks 5.72 81.2 12.9 29.8 10.4 78.4 34,621 6.32 5.19 5.67
I
46 Piner 6.71 82.7 11.2 19.0 3.9 74.0 36,774 6.97 4.08 6.08
47 Laguna de Santa Rosa/Halt Road 5.69 82.0 18.4 30.6 9.3 81.5 32,231 6.66 5.23 5.17
48 Boyes Hot Springs West/Et Verano 5.68 83.0 26.0 29.8 11.5 85.3 29,824 7.10 5.31 4.63
49 McKinley 5.66 80.6 17.3 30.6 8.9 78.1 36,114 6.08 4.93 5.96
I50 Shiloh South 5.62 81.9 11.8 34.4 13.3 74.0 31,909 6.62 5.15 5.10
88 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
I
I
REFERENCES
1
1
California 37,253,956 18,517,830 18,736.126 25.0 11.4 5.8 12.8 37.6 3.6 40.1
I I
Sonoma County 483.878 237,902 245.976 22.0 13.9 1.4 3.7 24.9 3.9 66.1
1 East Bennett Valley 3.572 1,757 1,815 18.1 20.5 0.3 2.9 4.9 2.4 89.5 _ I
2 Fountain Grove 10,001 4,829 5,172 19.1 22.9 0.8 7.1 6.7 3.2 82.3
3 Skyhawk 8,365 4,156 4,209 22.6 17.2 0.6 4.9 7.2 3.1 84.2 i
4 Annadet/South Oakmont 3,324 1,451 1,8736.0 60.3 0.2 1.8 3.1 1.4 93.6 I
5 Old Quarry 4,552 2,251 2,301 22.2 15.4 0.6 2.7 7.5 3.2 86.0
6 Rural Cemetery 4,329 __1,928 2,401 17.5 26.2 0.5 2.1 6.3 3.3 87.8
7 Central Bennett Valley 3,563 1,721 1,842 20.3 19.3 1.8 2.3 10.8 4.3 80.8
8 Sea Ranch/Timber Cove _ 1,720 848 872 9.2 39.5 0.9 1.0 9.2 2.3 86.5
9 Cherry Valley 3,350 1,634 1,716 19.4 13.9 0.5 1.5 9.9 4.3 83.9
10 Sonoma Mountain 5,369 2,656 2,713 29.3 8.6 1.2 9.4 14,1 3.7 71.6
11 Windsor East 3,867 .1,899 1,962 27.2 12.1 0.4 2.6 16.0 3.7 77.3
12 Meadow 4,004 1,963 2,041 27.7 8.1 1.9 5.6 17.2 3.5 71.8
13 Petaluma Airport/Arroyo Park _ 4,325 2,137 2,188 23.8 10.5 0.6 4.9 15.4 4.0 75.1
14 Downtown Sonoma 3,678 1,659 2,019 17.9 23.6 0.3 2.8 14.4 2.1 80.4
15 Southwest Sebastopol 4,011 1,875 2,136 19.5 17.7 0.8 1.7 9.5 3.5 84.5
16 Gold Ridge 3,684 1.8847 1,837 16.6 17.4 0.7 1.6 10.3 2.9 84.6
17 Arnold Drive/East Sonoma Mountain 4,170 1,907 2,263 10.8 40.4 0.2 2.0 9.3 2.2 86.3
18 Central East Windsor 3,288 1,545 1,743 24.8 15.5 1.0 2.9 26.8 3.8 65.6
19larkfietd-Wikiup 5,271 2,619 2,652 21.9 16.5 0.6 2.7 20.5 4.3 72.0
20 Sonoma City SouthNineburg 4,505 2,040 2,465 18.1 29.6 0.6 2.7 13.9 2.1 80.8
21 Southern Junior College Neighborhood 3,527 1,596 1,931 14.8 17.0 1.8 1.9 11.8 4.2 80.3
22 Jenner/Cazadero 2,400 1,249 1,151 14.3 18.8 0.3 1.5 12.3 6.6 79.4
23 Occidental/Bodega 3,747 1,909 1,838 14.1 18.8 0.4 2.2 8.3 3.7 85.4
24 Fulton 5,234 2,569 2,665 23.8 10.4 2.5 6.0 19.5 4.1 67.8
25 Spring Hill 4,994 2,398 2,596 20.8 15.8 0.6 2.5 14.8 2.8 79.3
26 Casa Grande • 4,067 2,031 2,036 26.3 9.0 1.8 6.7 31.3 4.2 56.0
27 Montgomery Villar_ _ 5,219 2,427 2,792 19.5 14.4 1.2 2.6 12.0 5.0 79.2
28 Hesse Community 4,319 2,142 2,177 16.5 17.8 0.6 1.7 10.9 3.3 83.3
29 Rohnert Park F/H Section 5,174 2,579 2,595 22.7 9.9 1.3 5.9 15.3 4.6 72.9
30 West Bennett Valley 6,591 3,026 3,565 19.7 16.9 1.4 3.3 13.2 4.4 77.6
31 Cameros Sonoma Area 2,322 1,165 1,157 17.9 39.9 0.1 1.9 16.6 2.7 78.7
32 Northeast Windsor 3,239 1,610 1,629 26.8 11.8 0.7 3.1 26.9 3.4 65.8
33 North Healdsburg 5,421 2,649 2,772 22.7 17.1 0.8 2.1 25.8 2.9 68.4
34 Windsor Southeast 4,336 2,106 2,230 264 13.7 0.7 2.8 28.8 4.6 63.1
35 Southeast Sebastopol 3,840 1,806 2,034 17.2 18.0 0.7 1.7 8.9 3.6 85.1
36 West Windsor 9,648 4,862 4,786 30.2 7.2 0.7 3.3 35.9 4.2 55.9
37 North Oakmont/Hood Mountain _ 2,901 1,217 1,684 7.1 64.5 0.6 1.4 5.8 1.5 90.7 I
38 North Sebastopol 6,131 2,854 3,277 21.6 14.3 1.0 1.3 12.4 2.9 82.4
39 East Colati/Rohnert Park L Section 5,130 2,508 2,622 22.2 8.1 1.3 3.3 18.5 4.4 72.5
40 Sonoma City North/West Mayacamas Mountain 5,103 2,413 2,640 17.1 22.7 0.5 2.3 17.3 2.6 77.2
41 Grant 4,609 2,352 2,257 19.0 11.3 1.1 3.0 20.1 4.1 71.7
42 West Cloverdale 5,994 2,963 3,031 22.4 18.9 0.2 1.4 23.7 3.2 71.5
43 Rohnert Park M Section 6,382 3,122 3,260 22.2 4.2 1.6 7.5 16.4 4.6 70.1
44 Alexander Valley 3,729 2,003 1,726 18.3 16.0 0.3 0.6 29.6 2.2 67.3
45 Sunrise/Bond Parks 4,465 2,032 2,433 21.7 21.0 1.13 5.8 24.4 3.1 65.7
46 Piner 5,095 2,536 2,559 24.1 9.8 1.9 5.3 24.2 4.4 64.2
47 Laguna de Santa Rosa/Halt Road 6,669 3,273 3,396 22.8 14.1 1.3 5.1 24.5 4.2 64.9
48 Boyes Hot Springs West/El Verano 6,158 3,061 3,097 26.2 10.6 0.2 1.6 40.1 2.8 55.2
49 McKinley 4,904 2,416 2,488 23.2 9.6 1.5 1.9 31.0 3.6 62.1
50 Shiloh South , 5242 • 2,643 2,599 24.7 11.1 1.5 3.6 23.5 4.6 66.7
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 89
I
I I 1
HD Index byCensus Tract (continued)
GRADUATE 1
LIFE LESS AT LEAST OR PROFES- SCHOOL
EXPECTANCY THAN HIGH BACHELOR'S SIGNAL ENROLL- t' i '
firJ((
'' AT BIRTH SCHOOL DEGREE DEGREE HENT 'LIGATION Tj,,.:C.,
W421 !
I .:" 1,.,F:1 I _INDEX, I! 1, .
California 5.39 81.2 18.5 30.9 11.3 78.5 30,502 6.35 5.04 4.79
Sonoma County 5.42 81.0 13.1 31.8 11.7 77.9 30,214 6.26 5.28 4.72
51 Middle Rincon South 5.61 80.3 7.3 28.7 10.3 85.4 30,568 5.97 6.05 4.80
52 Miwok 5.59 80.9 16.7 26.2 5.1 82.1 34,119 6.22 4.97 5.56
53 Spring Lake 5.59 81.4 11.6 33.3 14.1 75.5 31,683 6.41 5.29 5.05
I' 54 La Te rce ra 5.58 78.8 16.4 25.9 4.7 86.9 36,216 5.35 5.42 5.98
55 West Sebastopol/Graton 5.58 84.1 14.4 45.1 16.1 61.2 30,518 7,54 4.41 4.79
1 56 Two Rock 5.55 82.4 9.6 32.3 12.0 72.2 30,949 6.85 4.93 4.89_
57 Boyes Hot Springs/Fetters Springs/Agua Catiente East 5.55 81.8 14.2 40.4 17.3 72.6 30,164 6.59 5.35 4.71
I 1 58 Dry Creek 5.55 81.9 11.5 45.0 20.5 67.0 30,375 6.61 5.29 4.76
59 Rohnert Park SSU/J Section 5.50 80.4 13.5 33.2 9.6 80.5 31,638 5.99 5.48 5.04
60 Old Healdsburg 5.43 82.4 8.3 37.0 15.6 66.2 29.912 6.85 4.78 4.65
61 Schaefer 5.39 78.2 13.3 22.8 5.8 75.1 40,322 5.10 4.34 6.72
62 Guerneville/Ria Nido 5.29 80.1 11.1 32.4 15.6 65.1 34,547 5.86 4.35 5.65
63 West Cotati/Penngrove 5.25 80.6 16.3 26.1 7.6 77.3 31,499 6.10 4.65 5.01
64 Northern Junior College Neighborhood 5.25 80.0 5.3 33.0 9.2 70.3 31,860 5.82 ' 4.84 5.09
65 Rohnert Park D/E/5 Section 5.21 81.4 12.6 21.2 7.9 83.4 27,294 6.42 5.18 4.02
66 Pioneer Park 5.20 81.2 15.0 19.1 5.4 71.1 34,083 6.34 3.70 5.56
67 Russian RiverValtey 6.19 79.9 8.2 37.1 16.5 68.1 30,431 5.77 5.02 4.77
68 Brush Creek 5.15 79.5 15.1 32.2 10.8 74.7 31,334 5.63 4.86 4.97
69 Cinnabar/West Rural Petaluma 5.10 78.9 9.5 32.3 9.8 67.5 34,010 5.36 4.39 5.54
70 Central Rohnert Park 4.96 78.0 10.8 28.4 7.0 71.8 33,509 4.99 4.44 5.44
I , 71 Kenwood/Glen Ellen 4.95 75.2 11.9 36.8 12.8 62.5 41,137 3.85 4.14 6.86
72 Wright 4.91 79.4 21.5 20.8 6.4 76.1 32,046 5.59 4.01 5.13
73 Central Windsor 4.84 79.6 17.2 22.4 8.5 73.2 30,436 5.66 4.09 4.77
74 Middle Rincon North 4.83 77.1 8.1 28.0 9.7 72.7 ' 31,947 4.63 4.75 5.11
I . 75 Olivet Road 4.82 80.5 12.3 22.0 7.4 78.2 26,118 6.03 4.71 3.71
76 Bellevue 4.66 81.0 25.4 13.0 4.6 78.5 27,511 6.27 3.64 4.07
77 Monte Rio 4.64 79.9 5.8 28.0 14.0 67.9 25,553 5.77 4.58 3.56
78 Lucchesi/McDowell 4.60 78.5 17.7 24.2 7.9 7.9.8 26,597 5.20 4.75 3.84
79 Forestville 4.57 79.7 7.2 35.0 15.6 53.8 26,561 5.72 4.15 3.83
80 Downtown Cotati 4.31
77.8 14.3 24.7 9.2 70.1 27,108 4.91 4.05 3.97
81 Kawana Springs 4.20 80.9 26.8 22.1 5.4 78.6 21,510 6.21 4.03 2.37
82 Central Healdsburg 4.14 79.3 22.7 23.0 9.3 67.1 25,463 5.56 3.32 3.54
I
83 Railroad Square 4.12 79.7 21.7 14.0 5.9 78.0 22,908 5.71 3.86 2.80
84 Downtown Rohnert Park 4.09 79.5 10.0 18.6 3.9 60.1 26,630 5.63 2.79 3.85
85 Coddingtown 4.08 78.9 21.4 16.5 4.7 75.6 24.114 5.38 3.69 3.16
86 Burbank Gardens 4.03 76.0 16.1 29.8 14.8 79.0 22,421 4.15 5.30 2.65
87 Rohnert Park B/C/R Section 3.97 80.4 10.0 28.7 _ 8.3 85.9 14,946 6.01 5.89 0.00
88 Comstock 3.90 78.0 33.0 8.4 3.2 81.2 25,000 5.02 3.29, 3.41
89 Taylor Mountain 3.90 77.1 23.2 13.1 2.9 71.3 27,688 4.62 2.97 4.12
90 Downtown Santa Rosa 3.89 75.5 8.4 30.1 7.4 75.2 22,628 3.98 4.97 2.72
91 East Cloverdale 3.79 80.1 30.3 12.4 2.9 63.5 25,721 5.86 1.89 3.61
I
92 Rohnert Park A Section 3.75 77.9 22.0 14.2 3.7 76.4 22,522 4.97 3.59 2.69
93 Bicentennial Park 3.73 77.0 26.6 21.5 5.0 71.2 24,760 4.58 3.28 3.34
94 West End 3.51 76.7 35.7 12.9 3.6 73.2 22,294 5.30 2.63 2.61
95 West Junior College 3.44 79.3 17.1 22.7 7.0 65.3 18,919 5.55 3.29 1.48
I I 96 Fetters Springs/Ague Caliente West 3.41 81.8 45.4 17.1 5.8 67.8 19,444 6.59 1.96 1.67
97 Sheppard 2.98 76.6 41.8 8.2 3.6 71.7 22,068 4.41 2.00 2.54
98 Roseland 2.95 77.1 40.8 14.4 4.1 65.4 21,883 4.61 1.75 2.49
99 Roseland Creek 2.79 77.1 46.1 8.6 4.3 66.2 21,699 4.61 1.33 2.43
I
I90 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
I
1
REFERENCES
California 37,253,956 18,517,830 18,736,126 25.0 11.4 5.8 12.8 37.6 3.6 40.1
Sonoma County 483,878 237,902 245.976 22.0 13.9 1.4 3.7 24.9 3.9 66.1
51 Middle Rincon South 4.178 1,994 2,184 24.1 9.4 1.8 4.4 16.8 4.9 72.1
52 Miwok 4,089 2,101 1,988 25.9 11.2 2.3 4.9 32.9 2.7 57.2
53 Spring Lake 6,978 3,218 3,760 20.4 19.2 1.8 3.4 18.0 5.3 71.5
54 LaTercera 4.307 2,143 2,164 21.1 14.6 1.5 3.8 19.6 3.0 72.1
55 West Sebastopol/Graton 5,327 2,647 2,680 17.6 16.8 0.4 1.5 14.2 2.9 81.0
56 Two Rock 5,151 2,674 2,477 21.9 12.1 1.2 1.2 14.5 3.2 79.8
57 Bayes Hat Springs/fettersSprings/AguaCaliente East 4,107 2,019 2,088 22.6 10.4 0.3 1.7 36.4 2.2 59.4
58 Dry Creek 2,597 1,367 1,230 16.2 21.1 0.4 1.0 18.1 2.2 78.3
59 Rohnert Park SSU/J Section 4,865 2,395 2,470 19.8 10.5 1.1 4.3 15.1 4.4 75.1
60 Old Healdsburg 3,760 1,819 1,941 19.5 16.4 0.5 0.7 19.5 1.9 77.4
61 Schaefer 5,547 2,797 2,750 22.9 7.8 1.6 5.3 21.0 5.8 66.3
62 Guerneville/Rio Nido 3,728 2,022 1,706 14.7 13.7 0.8 1.0 12.8 5.2 80.3
63 West Cotati/Penngrove 6,855 3,351 3.504 19.1 12.1 1.2 2.7 19.6 4.6 71.9
64 Northern Junior College Neighborhood 3.846 1,844 2,002 18.0 7.3 3.1 3.3 18.3 5.2 70.1
65 Rohnert Park DIE/S Section 4,796 2,221 2,575 16.3 19.3 1.5 5.0 14.5 4.2 74.8
66 Pioneer Park 4,037 1,926 2,111 23.7 11.5 3.0 5.9 27.0 4.3 59.7
67 Russian River Valley 4,092 2,015 2,077 15.9 16.5 0.7 1.1 10.9 3.5 83.8
68 Brush Creek 6,763 3,188 3,575 22.6 18.6 2.1 4.1 17.9 5.8 70.1
69 Cinnabar/West Rural Petaluma 3,483 1,731 1,752 19.4 16.1 0.3 1.9 14.8 3.5 79.5
70 Central Rohnert Park 3,636 1,749 1,887 19.0 12.8 2.1 4.2 19.3 5.3 69.1
71 Kenwood/Gten Ellen 5,283 2,692 2,591 13.6 17.2 1.1 2.5 11.7 2.8 81.9
72 Wright 11,010 5,638 5,372 26.5 6.4 3.6 8.2 37.9 4.9 45.3
73 Central Windsor 4,251 2.098 2,153 25.8 13.3 0.8 1.3 43.4 2.9 51.7
74 Middle Rincon North 3.603 1,753 1,850 22.0 • 18.0 1.8 3.4 15.7 5.0 74.2
75 Olivet Road 7,286 3,461 3,825 22.8 14.4 1.6 4.6 29.0 4.1 60.7
76 Bellevue 7.522 3,800 3,722 29.8 5.6 2.8 8.6 49.2 4.4 35.0
77 Monte Rio 3,490 1,867 1,623 11.4 15.6 0.4 1.3 7.7 4.8 85.8
78 Lucchesi/McDowell 7,249 3,542 3,707 21.1 17.5 1.2 3.3 32.9 3.0 59.6
79 Forestville 3,536 1,800 1,736 16.7 14.1 0.8 1.5 11.3 3.6 82.8
BO Downtown Cotati 3.413 1,641 1,772 20.4 10.1 1.6 4.0 18.6 5.1 70.8
81 Kawana Springs 7,306 3,690 3,616 29.8 4.9 2.8 6.6 51.0 4.2 35.4
82 Central Healdsbur9 4,147 2,128 2,019 24.9 11.1 0.3 0.7 49.8 2.3 46.9
83 Railroad Square 5,502 2,729 2,773 26.0 7.7 2.3 3.8 42.1 4.2 47.5
84 Downtown Rohnert Park 5,405 2,607 2,798 22.3 10.0 2.2 3.7 36.0 4.7 53.4
85 Coddingtown _ 6,594 3,226 3,368 26.5 8.6 2.7 4.9 42.7 5.7 43.9
86 Burbank Gardens 3,158 1,503 1,655 17.1 16.3 2.5 2.1 25.0 5.1 65.4
87 Rohnert Park B/C/R Section 6,143 2,670 3,473 13.2 4.2 2.1 6.4 16.6 5.5 69.4
88 ComstockY _ 5,114 2,574 2,54.0 30,2 7.2 4.2 7.6 52.7 4.2 31.2
89 Taylor Mountain 9,177 4,543 4,634 28,0 7.9 2.5 4.7 49.4 4.4 38.9 j
90 Downtown Santa Rosa 2,079 1,114 965 18.3 4.9 2.5 3.3 26.0 6.3 62.0 I
91 East Cloverdale 3,925 2,017 1,908 23.8 12.1 0.7 0.7 43.4 3.3 52.0
92 Rohnert Park A Section 4,587 2,310 2,277 22.6 6.9 2.6 3.2 32.0 4.5 57.7
93 Bicentennial Park _ 6,807 3,372 3,435 24.6 9.9 3.5 5.0 43.3 5.9 42.4
94 West End 6,827 3,550 3,277 26.8 7.4 2.1 2.4 53.2 3.7 38.6
95 West Junior College 3,004 1,765 1,239 13.6 10.8 3.5 4.7 22.7 5.3 63.8
96 Fetters Springs/Agua Caliente West 5,282 2,727 2,555 30,4 6.9 0.4 1.0 60.3 2.0 36.3
97 Sheppard 5,742 3,019 2,723 30.5 6.5 1.8 4.5 66.4 4.1 23.2
98 Roseland 4,046 2,192 1.854 31.4 4.9 1.3 2.8 65.2 3.2 27.5
99 Roseland Creek 4.716 2,414 2,302 30.8 5.6 1.9 4.9 59.2 4.2 29.9
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 91
. 'I
I
Ii
IOccupations by Census Tract
California 5.39 36.8 19.0 24.1 9.1 11.1
Sonoma County 5.42 33.4 21.3 25.4 10.1 9.8
1 East Bennett Valley 8.47 Santa Rosa 61.1 7.0 25.6 4.8 1.5
2 Fountain Grove 8.35 Santa Rosa 56.3 11.4 22.5 3.0 6.8
3 Skyhawk 7.78 Santa Rosa 57.7 9.7 21.5 2.3 8.9
I, 4 Annadel/South Oakmont 7.71 Santa Rosa 50.3 14.4 23.3 4.7 7.3
5 Old Quarry 7.71 Petaluma 56.4 13.0 20.9 3.2 6.6
6 Rural Cemetery 7.67 Santa Rasa 51.6 11.5 24.5 5.7 6.7
7 Central Bennett Valley 7.63 Santa Rosa 59.6 10.7 17.5 6.0 6.1
8 Sea Ranch/Timber Cove 7.35 58.2 20.5 16.1 4.2 1.1
9 Cherry Valley 7.18 Petaluma 52.3 8.0 26.0 • 8.9 4.8
IP 10 Sonoma Mountain 7.16 Petaluma 42.3 16.6 25.4 8.0 7.7
11 Windsor East 7.06 34.3 22.3 21.0 13.2 9.2
I12 Meadow • 7.00 Petaluma 37.8 22.7 24.3 4.3 11.0
13 Petaluma Airport/Arroyo Park 6.98 Petaluma 40.9 12.6 29.6 10.8 6.1
14 Downtown Sonoma 6.95 Sonoma 52.5 16.1 23.0 4.6 3.8
15 Southwest Sebastopol 6.94 Sebastopol 52.3 11.5 19.7 9.2 7.2
16 Gold Ridge 6.94 54.6 7.8 25.2 8.4 4.0 .
I17 Arnold Drive/East Sonoma Mountain 6.77 40.9 13.0 38.7 3.9 3.5
.'.
18 Central East Windsor 6.71 40.0 21.8 24.3 8.9 4.9
i, 19 La rkfie td-Wikiu p 6.62 40.3 13.4 33.0 5.8 7.5
20 Sonoma City SouthNineburg 6.57 Sonoma 39.0 15.0 32.7 10.9 2.4
I21 Southern Junior College Neighborhood 6.56 Santa Rosa 54.5 6.4 32.6 4.7 1.8
22 Jenner/Cazadero 6.55 40.3 12.2 23.6 16.0 7.9
23 Occidental/Bodega 6.47 50.1 20.2 16.2 7.4 6.1
24 Fulton 6.46 Santa Rosa 36.4 9.8 29.7 8.4 15.7
I. 25 Spring Hill 6.45 Petaluma 46.3 10.4 27.0 12.1 4.2
26 Casa Grande 6.42 Petaluma 27.4 20.9 33.5 9.8 8.4
27 Montgomery Village 6.38 Santa Rosa 38.8 12.2 35.7 6.1 7.2
28 Hassel Community 6.37 41.5 18.4 19.6 12.0 8.4
I29 Rohnert Park F/H Section 6.22 Rohnert Park 30.8 20.4 30.9 7.2 10.6
30 West Bennett Valley 6.17 Santa Rosa 43.4 21.1 26.8 5.2 3.6
31 Carneros Sonoma Area 6.15 46.8 13.5 27.6 6.9 5.1
32 Northeast Windsor 6.15 27.1 24.9 29.6 11.6 6.7
33 North Healdsburg 6.11 Healdsburg 46.4 17.9 18.2 14.1 3.4
34 Windsor Southeast 6.11 30.8 17.7 26.1 15.1 10.4
35 Southeast Sebastopol 6.10 Sebastopot 41.4 18.4 22.4 11.4 6.4
36 West Windsor 6.07 39.8 15.1 24.9 9.5. 10.7
37 North Oakmont/Hood Mountain 5.98 Santa Rosa 38.4 24.3 33.4 0.2 3.7
I 38 North Sebastopol 5.84 Sebastopol 43.3 18.5 23.4 6.0 8.8
39 East Cotati/Rohnert Park L Section 5.79 Cotati 37.5 15.4 29.7 10.0 7.4
40 Sonoma City North/West Mayacamas Mountain 5.78 Sonoma 35.9 27.9 2.4,8 6.4 5.0
41 Grant 5.77 Petaluma 40.8 17.4 27.8 8.1 6.0
I 42 West Cloverdale 5.76 Cloverdale 33.5 19.0 20.6 16.0 11.0
43 Rohnert Park M Section 5.75 Rohnert Park 34.7 21.4 27.8 5.6 10.3
44 Alexander Valley • 5.73 33.5 14.6 21.0 21.7 9.3
45 Sunrise/Bond Parks 5.72 Petaluma 33.1 21.6 30.4 9.3 5.6
I 46 Piner
47 Laguna de Santa Rosa/Hall Road 5.69 Santa Rosa 31.4 23.5 28.8 8.0 8.2
48 Boyes Hot Springs West/ElVerano 5.71 Santa Rosa 32.2
5.68
31.5 19.1 27.5
35.1
16.7 10.9 10.4
8.4
8.3
49 McKinley 5.66 Petaluma 31.2 23.9 22.3 15.4 7.2
111 50 Shiloh South 5.62 43.3 18.5 21.2 9.9 7.1
I92 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
I
I
111
REFERENCES
California 5.39 36.8 19.0 24.1 9.1 11.1
Sonoma County 5.42 33.4 21.3 25.4 10.1 9.8
51 Middle Rincon South 5.61 Santa Rosa 34.1 10.7 32.6 8.3 14.3
52 Miwok 5.59 Petaluma 27.2 23.7 28.3 10.9 9.8 _
53 Spring Lake 5.59 Santa Rosa 31.7 20.3 24.7 5.8 17.5
54 LaTercera _ 5.58 Petaluma 30.7 22.4 22.5 _ 17.8 6.7
55 West Sebastopol/Graton 5.58 40.2 11.8 25.2 9.8 12.9
56 Two Rock 5.55 36.8 15.2 25.5 16.0 6.6
57 Bayes Hat Springs/Fetters Springs/Agua Caliente East 5.55 35.9 22.3 21.2 14.7 5.9
58 Dry Creek 5.55 Healdsburg 45.7 12.3 15.5 15.7 10.9 •
59 Rohnert Park SSU/J Section 5.50 Rohnert Park 32.9 16.6 29.8 14.8 6.0
60 Old Healdsburg 5.43 Healdsburg 36.8 23.1 23.9 11.0 5.2
61 Schaefer 5.39 Santa Rosa 30.3 20.0 25.6 8.8 15.3
62 Guerneville/Ria Nida 5.29 39.5 19.9 22.4 11.8 6.4
63 West Cotati/Penngrove 5.25 Rohnert Park 37.3 17.3 25.3 11.8 8.3
64 Northern Junior College Neighborhood 5.25 Santa Rosa 29.3 27.5 23.6 9.4 10.2
65 Rohnert Park 0/E/S Section 5.21 Rohner!Park 30.4 25.2 24.6 12.6 7.1
66 Pioneer Park 5.20 Santa Rosa 32.6 12.1 30.5 12.7 12.0
67 Russian River Valley 5.19 37.3 16.9 28.1 11.2 6.5
68 Brush Creek 5.15 Santa Rosa 33.9• 18.1 29.2 5.8 13.0
69 Cinnabar/West Rural Petaluma 5.10 Petaluma 40.4 14.6 23.2 11.7 10.0
70 Central Rohnert Park 4.96 Rohnert Park 27.9 27.8 32.1 5.7 6.5
71 Kenwood/Glen Ellen 4.95 38.8 15.0 24.1 13.2 9.0 _
72 Wright 4.91 Santa Rosa 29.1 17.1 26.0 14.3 13.4
73 Central Windsor 4.84 34.4 23.1 27.1 8.7 6.6
74 Middle Rincon North 4.83 Santa Rosa 30.5 26.3 26.8 6.5 10.0
75 Olivet Road 4.82 Santa Rosa 35.0 16.8 27.6 7.7 12.9
76 Bellevue 4.66 Santa Rosa 20.0 23.5 26.2 17.3 13.0
77 Monte Rio 4.64 41.2 20.3 17.6 12.7 8.2
78 Lucchesi/McDowell 4.60 Petaluma 26.2 26.3 24.0 10.6 12.8
79 Forestville 4.57 33.8 24.3 25.4 6.1 10.3
80 Downtown Cotati 4.31 Cotati 35.1 15.6 23.8 14.6 10.8
81 Kawana Springs 4.20 Santa Rosa 22.7 32.7 23.4 5.5 15.7
82 Central Healdsburg 4.14 Healdsburg 21.7 21.7 23.3 14.7 18.7
83 Railroad Square 4.12 Santa Rosa 19.4 31.5 21.1 16.1 11.9
84 Downtown Rohnert Park 4.09 Rohnert Park 24,5 28.6 28.4 14.8 3.8
85 Coddingtown _ -� 4.08 Santa Rosa 19,5 29.2 26.8 14.8 9.8
86 Burbank Gardens 4.03 Santa Rosa 40.2 19.9 20.3 12.3 7.3
87 Rohnert Park B/C/R Section 3.97 Rohnert Park 33.2 22.4 26.8 9.2 8.4
88 Comstock 3.90 Santa Rosa 15.0 30.1 26.6 13.6 14.7
89 Taylor Mountain 3.90 Santa Rosa 21.2 23.0 26.2 20.4 9.4
90 Downtown Santa Rosa 3.89 Santa Rosa 21.3 28.6 26.8 12.6 10.7
91 East Cloverdale 3.79 Cloverdale 19,8 33.4 15.1 15.8 15.9
92 Rohnert Park ASection 3.75 Rohnert Park 23.4 28.9 27.9 6.2 13.6
93 Bicentennial Park 3.73 Santa Rosa 23.4 36.0 14.2 10.6 15.9
94 West End 3.51 Santa Rosa 18.5 22.4 28.7 12.4 18.0
95 West Junior College _ 3.44 Santa Rosa 29.8 22.4 22.3 9.2 16.3 I
96 Fetters Springs/Agua Caliente West 3.41 15.8 37.8 21.6 10.0 14.9
97 Sheppard 2.98 Santa Rosa 16.9 23.3 26.9 19.2 13.7
98 Roseland 2.95 Santa Rosa 172 13.5 26.2 27.6 15.6
99 Roseland Creek 2.79 Santa Rosa 11.3 24.2 26.0 14.3 24.2
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 93
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11
1, Housing and Transportation by Census Tract
I
California 54.0 46.0 3.0 2.9 10.5
I Sonoma County 59.9 40.1 2.6 2.7 11.2
1 East Bennett Valley 92.0 8.0 2.0 2.5 9.4
2 Fountain Grove _ 76.9 23.1 1.9 2.5 7.0
3 Skyhawk 81.8 18.2 2.4 2.5 10.3
I 4 Annadet/South Oakmont _ ---_ 85.1 149 1.9 1.8 122
5 Old Quarry 75.9 24.1 2.8 2.7 17.1
6 Rural Cemetery 71.1 28.9 2.0 2.3 4.0
7 Central Bennett Valley 80.8 19.2 2.9 2.2 8.8
I 8 Sea Ranch/Timber Cove 78.7 21.3 1.7 1.9 9.4
9 Cherry Valley 72.8 27.2 2.1 2.3 10.7
I 10 Sonoma Mountain 78.3 21.7 2.7 3.1 21.3
11 Windsor East 84.2 15.8 2.8 3.0 6.3
I 12 Meadow 80.0 20.0 3.6 2.7 8.7
13 Petaluma Airport/Arroyo Park 68.9 31.1 2.5 2.8 8.5
14 Downtown Sonoma 56.5 43.5 2.1 2.4 14.7
15 Southwest Sebastopol 67.5 32.5 2.0 2.6 5.0
16 Gold Ridge 71.0 29.0 1.9 2.6 8.1
I
17 Arnold Drive/East Sonoma Mountain 85.9 14.1 2.0 - 1.8 8.0
18 Central East Windsor 62.5 37.5 1.9 2.7 7.7
19 Larkfield-Wikiup 78.1 21.9 2.6 2.3 6.7
20 Sonoma CitySouthNineburg 52.5 47.5 1.8 2.3 14.6
I
21 Southern Junior College Neighborhood 39.7 60.3 • 1.9 2.3 6.9
22 Jenner/Cazadero 72.1 27.9 2.0 2.1 14.7
iiii 23 Occidentat/Bodega _ 78.7 21.3 2.2 2.0 13.2
24 Fulton 69.7 30.3 2.6 2.5 9.8
I RIP 25 Spring Hill 57.0 43.0 2.2 2.4 15.8
1 26 Casa Grande 66.8 33.2 2.7 2.8 19.8
27 Montgomery Village 64.4 35.6 2.3 2.6 11.0 -
28 Hassel Community 80.4 _ 19.6 2.4 2.3 12.4 _
I 29 Rohnert Park F/H Section 76.8 23.2 2.9 2.8 12.0
30 West Bennett Valley 58.1 41.9 2.3 2.3 10.3
31 Carneros Sonoma Area 67.8 32.2 2.8 2.5 7.7
32 Northeast Windsor 86.4 13.6 2.9 3.1 12.0
33 North Healdsburg 68.9 31.1 2.3 2.5 6.1
I34 Windsor Southeast 77.7 22.3 3.6 2.5 2.6
1 35 Southeast Sebastopol 64.9 35.1 2.0 2.6 10.3
{ 3b West Windsor 75.2 24.8 3.4 3.2 6.7
37 North Oakmont/Hood Mountain 70.5 29.5 1.4 1.6 5.3
I
38 North Sebastopol 50.7 49.3 2.1 2.3 8.0
39 East Cotati/Rohnert Park L Section 56.5 43.5 2.5 2.4 9.5
40 Sonoma City North/West Mayacamas Mountain 64.7 35 3 1.9 2.3 13.8
•
IIIII
41 Grant 38.1 61.9 2.0 2.4 9.6
42 West Cloverdale 77.3 22.7 2.6 2.6 7.2
43 Rohnert Park M Section 60.2 39.8 2.7 2.9 12.1
44 Alexander Valley 73.2 26.8 2.8 2.5 8.1
22.8
8.5
45 Sunrise/Bond Parks 76.2 23.8 3.0 2.2
46 Piner 55.1 44.9 3.2 2.7 ---
47 Laguna de Santa Rasa/Hall Road 83.1 16.9 4.3 2.6 5.4
48 Boyes Hot Springs West/El Verano 48.5 51.5 3.0 2.6 6.8
49 McKinley 48.2 51.8 2.6 2.7 11.6
50 Shiloh South 56.8 43.2 2.6 2.6 7.1
I ill,:
94 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
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I
REFERENCES
i
i Il
California 54.0 46.0 3.0 2.9 10.5
Sonoma County 59.9 40.1 2.6 2.7 11.2
51 Middle Rincon South 46.7 53.3 2.5 2.6 2.8
52 Miwok ----- 72.6 27.4 3.6 2.6 10.9
53 Spring Lake 43.2 56.8 2.4 2.3 4.4
54 La Tercera 88.7 11.3 _ 3.9 2.8 21.6
55 West SebastopoVGraton 74.2 25.8 2.4 2.3 15.9
56 Two Rock 59.0 41.0 2.6 2.6 10.2
57 Boyes Hot Springs/Fetters Springs/Agua Caliente East 69.8 30.2 2.8 2.3 12.6
58 Dry Creek 71.0 29.0 2.9 2.2 9.1
59 Rohnert Park SSU/J Section 73.3 26.7 2.0 3.0 11.3
60 Old Healdsburg 61.5 38.5 2.9 2.3 5.5
61 Schaefer 70.3 29.7 3.1 2.7 7.8
62 Guernevilte/Rio Nido 52.3 47.7 2.3 1.9 8.5
63 West Cotati/Penngrove 59.6 40.4 2.0 2.8 14.5
64 Northern Junior College Neighborhood 28.8 71.2 2.5 2.4 18.0
65 Rohnert Park D/E/S Section 53.2 46.8 2.4 2.6 16.7
66 Pioneer Park 58.6 41.4 2.0 2.5 3.0
67 Russian River Valley 79.7 20.3 2.2 2.2 6.3
68 Brush Creek 45.7 54.3 2.6 2.2 9.3
69 Cinnabar/West Rural Petaluma 60.4 39.6 2.5 2.6 17.8
70 Central Rohnert Park 59.9 40.1 2.7 2.1 17.2
71 Kenwood/Glen Ellen 66.5 33.5 1.9 2.1 16.1
72 Wright 58.0 42.0 3.1 3.1 10.6
73 Central Windsor _ 68.6 31.4 2.8 2.3 5.7
74 Middle Rincon North 72.5 27.5 2.8 2.3 8.6
75 Olivet Road 70.7 29.3 2.5 2.4 14.5
76 Bellevue 52.9 47.1 4.1 3.2 13.5
77 Monte Rio 52.5 47.5 1.9 2.1 16.3 _
78 Lucchesi/McDowell 60.2 39.8 2.4 2.9 14.8
79 Forestville 64.6 35.4 2.1 2.2 12.6
80 Downtown Cotati 56.4 43.6 2.3 2.4 11.2
81 Kawana Springs 47.4 52.6 3.4 3.5 7.1
82 Central Healdsburg 41.5 58.5 2.8 2.4 5.9
83 Railroad Square 48.3 51.7 3.2 2.5 14.5
84 Downtown Rohnert Park 29.2 70.8 2.2 2.5 5.7
85 Coddingtown 30.1 69.9 2.7 2.7 5.8
. 86 Burbank Gardens 39.3 60.7 2.4 2.3 4.7
87 Rohnert Park B/C/R Section 51.1 48.9 2.6 2.7 8.2
88 Comstock 43.5 56.5 4.1 3.0 11.0
89 Taylor Mountain 46.2 53.8 2.7 2.8 13.3
90 Downtown Santa Rosa 11.2 88.8 1.7 2.9 3.6
91 East Cloverdale 48.2 51.8 2.3 3.2 8.9
92 Rohnert Park A Section 44.4 55.6 2.6 3.5 11.6
93 Bicentennial Park 20.8 79.2 2.6 2.5 16.5
94 West End 55.2 44.8 3.2 2.8 6.9
95 West Junior College 59.6 40.4 2.8 2.0 12.6
96 Fetters Springs/Agua Caliente West 45.2 54.8 4.5 2.7 7.4
97 Sheppard 38.8 61.2 4.5 3.2 11.3
98 Roseland 40.7 59.3 4.0 _ 3.0 3.5
99 Roseland Creek 42.1 57.9 3.7 3.8 6.2
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 95
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Methodological Notes
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I
Human Development Between 2008 and 2012,the time period of data used in this report,
Human development is about what people can do and be.It is a sample of 33,718 people participated in the ACS from Sonoma
defined as the process of improving people's well-being and County,about 7 percent of all residents.The Census Bureau does
Iformally
expanding their freedoms and opportunities.The human development not publish response rates to the ACS for individual counties but
approach emphasizes the everyday experiences of ordinary people, in California overall response rates were at least 97.5 percent for
encompassing the range of factors that shape their opportunities the population in housing units and at or above 93.8 percent for the
and enable them to live lives of value and choice.People with high group quarters population each year of the survey.
I
levels of human development can invest in themselves and their For larger geographies,such as states and counties,the Census
families and live to their full potential;those without find many Bureau publishes one-year population estimates;hence any data
doors shut and many choices and opportunities out of reach. on Sonoma County and California contained in this report are
I
The human development concept was developed by the late calculated using the most recent available data,2012.However,
economist Mahbub ul Haq.In his work at the World Bank in the for smaller geographies,such as census tracts,one-year estimates
1970s,and later as minister of finance in his own country of are not available due to small population sizes.In this report,all
Pakistan,Dr.Haq argued that existing measures of human progress data for census tracts from the American Community Survey are
failed to account for the true purpose of development—to improve from 2008-2012.
I
people's Lives.In particular,he believed that the commonly used As with any data drawn from surveys,there is some degree of
measure of Gross Domestic Product failed to adequately measure sampling and nonsampling error inherent in data from the ACS.
well-being.Working with Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and other Thus,not all differences between estimates for two places or groups
gifted economists Dr.Haq published the first Human Development may reflect a true difference between those places or groups.
Report,commissioned by the United Nations Development Comparisons between similar values on any indicator should be
Programme,in 1990. made with caution since these differences may not be statistically
significant.Direct comparisons between estimates that are not
I
statistically significant at a 90 percent confidence level have been
The American Human Development Index
noted in the text.
The human development approach is extremely broad,
encompassing the wide range of economic,social,political, Health
I psychological,environmental,and cultural factors that expand or
restrict people's opportunities and freedoms.But the American A long and healthy life is measured using life expectancy at birth.
Human Development[HD)Index is comparatively narrow,a Life expectancy at birth was calculated by Measure of America
composite measure that combines a limited number of indicators using data from the California Department of Public Health,Death
I. into a single number.The HO Index is an easily understood Statistical Master File from 2005 to 2011 and population data
numerical measure that reflects what most people believe are the from the U.S.Census Bureau.Life expectancy is calculated by
very basic ingredients of human well-being:health,education,and Measure of America using abridged Life tables based on the Chiang
income.The value of the HD Index varies between 0 and 10,with a
methodology 130
1 score close to zero indicating a greater distance from the maximum
possible that can be achieved on the aggregate factors that make up Education
the index. Access to education is measured using two indicators:net school
I. enrollment for the population ages 3 to 24 and degree attainment
Data Sources for the population 25 years and older(based on the proportion of the
The American Human Development Index for Sonoma County adult population that has earned a high school diploma,a bachelor's
was calculated using two main datasets,mortality data from the I
degree,and a graduate or professional degree).All educational
California Department of Public Health and education,earnings, attainment and enrollment figures come from Measure of America
and population data from the U.S.Census Bureau.The American analysis of the U.S.Census Bureau,American Community Survey.
Community Survey[ACS),a product of the U.S.Census Bureau,is Five-year estimates spanning 2008-2012 were used for census
an ongoing survey that samples a representative percentage of the tracts,and single year 2012 estimates were used for county and
population every year using standard sampling methods. state estimates.
96 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
I
REFERENCES
income of roughly the same size.These tracts encompass all land within
A decent standard of living is measured using the median the county boundaries,including tribal lands.One additional census
personal earnings of all workers with earnings ages 16 and older. tract,numbered 9901,covers Sonoma County's coastal areas and
Median personal earnings come from the U.S.Census Bureau, has no inhabitants.In this report,these census-drawn tracts are
American Community Survey.Five-year estimates spanning discussed in the context of Sonoma County's neighborhoods.
2008-2012 were used for census tracts,and single-year 2012 Racial and ethnic groups in this report are based on definitions
estimates were used for county and state estimates. established by the White House Office of Management and Budget
[OMB)and used by the Census Bureau and other government
Calculating the American Human Development Index entities.Since 1997 the OMB has recognized five racial groups and
two ethnic categories.The racial groups include Native Americans,
Before the composite HD Index itself is created,an index is Asian Americans,African Americans,Native Hawaiians and Other
created for each of the three dimensions.This is done in order to Pacific Islanders,and whites.The ethnic categories are Latino and
transform indicators on different scales—dollars,years,etc.—into a not Latino.People of Latino ethnicity may be of any race.In this
common scale from 0 to 10.In order to calculate these indices—the report,these racial groups include only non-Latino members of these
health,education,and income indices—minimum and maximum groups who self-identify with that race group atone and no other.
values Igoalpostsl must be chosen for each underlying indicator.
Performance in each dimension is expressed as a value between 0
and 10 by applying the following general formula: Accounting for Cost-of-Living Differences
The cost of essential goods and services varies across the nation
actual value-minimum value and within distinct regions.However,these costs are often
Dimension Index= "10 higher
maximum value-minimum value 9
in areas with more community assets and amenities that are
Since all three components range from 0 to 10,the HD Index,in conducive to higher levels of well-being and expanding human
which all three indices are weighted equally,also varies from 0 to development.For example,neighborhoods with higher housing
10,with 10 representing the highest level of human development. costs—the major portion of cost of living—are often places with
The goalposts were determined based on the range of the higher-quality public services,such as schools,recreation facilities,
indicator observed on all possible groupings in the United States, and transport systems,and safer and cleaner neighborhoods.
taking into account possible increases and decreases for years to Thus,to adjust for cost of living would be to explain away some of
come.The goalposts for the four principal indicators that make up the factors that the HD Index is measuring.There is also currently
the American Human Development Index are shown in the table no nationwide measure,official or not,of the cost of living that
below.In order to make the HO Index comparable across place, could be used as a basis for adjusting for difference.The Consumer
the same goalposts are used in every application of the index.To Price Index(CPI),calculated by the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics
ensure that the HD Index is comparable over time,the health and (BLS),helps in understanding changes in the purchasing power
education indicator goalposts do not change from year to year of the dollar over time.The CPI is sometimes mistaken for a
while the income goalposts are only adjusted for inflation.Because cost-of-living index,but in fact it is best used as a measure of the
earnings data and the earnings goalposts are presented in dollars change in the cost of a set of goods and services over time in a
• of the same year,these goalposts reflect a constant amount of given place.Measuring differences across region and place is far
purchasing power regardless of the year,making income index more complicated.For example,the percentage of a budget spent
results comparable over time. on particular items can vary significantly(e.g.,air-conditioning in
MAXIMUM MINIMUM Texas versus Alaska).Collecting timely data on the prices of a wide
VALUE VALUE variety of goods and services in many different Localities is also very
Life expectancy at birth fyearsl 90 years 66 years costly and time consuming.Finally,cost-of-living variations within
Educational attainment score 2.0 0.5 compact regions,such as states or cities or between neighborhoods
Combined net enrollment ratio 1961 95 60 in the same urban area,are often more pronounced than variations
Median personal earnings 12012 dollars)* $64,687.83 $15,289.85
between states and regions.
*Earnings goalposts were originally set at$55,000 and$13,000 Unofficial measures such as the American Chamber of
in 2005 dollars. Commerce Research Association[ACCRA)Cost of Living Index are
regularly updated and widely cited.However,this index suffers from
several serious problems,chiefly that it only takes into consideration
Geographic and Population Groups Used in This Report the living costs incurred by urban households in the wealthiest
Census Tracts in Sonoma County:The ninety-nine census tracts fifth of the income distribution.The ACCRA index thus leaves out
used in this report were defined by the U.S.Census Bureau for the middle class,the poor,and residents of rural areas.Correcting
the 2010 Census.Each contains an average of 5,000 inhabitants, these omissions would be a costly and time-consuming exercise
enabling comparisons of neighborhoods that contain populations that has not,to date,been done.
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 97
1
I
I
Notes
I
1_,
1 Sonoma County Indicators 2013 Abridged 16"Parks&Facility Guide." 34 Lewis and Burd-Sharps,A Portrait of
Edition. California 2011.
17"California Healthcare Atlas."
2 Meara, Richards,and Cutter,"The Gap35 Lewis and Burd-Sharps,The Measure of
I
Gets Bigger."
18-Parks&Facility Guide." America 2010-2011.
3 Measure of America calculations of life 19 Hill and Johnson,Unauthorized 36 Lewis and Burd-Sharps,Halve the Gap
expectancy at birth for Sonoma County and Immigrants in California. by 2030.
i_. tracts
calcul ithin for other it use dta Califo nifor 00 -20unties 11;
20 Lewis and Burd-Sharps,The Measure of 37 Measure of America analysis of
onuse data for 2010-2012. America 2010-2011. data from the U.S.Census Bureau;
21 Homicide in California 2011. American Community Survey 2012
4 Lewis and Burd-Sharps,The Measure of PUMS Microdata;U.S.Census Bureau,
America 2013-2014. 22"California Department of Justice, American Community Survey,2012,5-year
Criminal Justice Statistics Center, estimates,table B02010.
5 Pickett and Wilkinson,The Spirit Level. Office of the Attorney General." 38-Disparities Dashboard."
6 With the exception of high school 23 Measure of America analysis of data 39
completion,these differences are not from the U.S.Census Bureau,American Ibid.
statistically significant. Community Survey 2012 PUMS Microdata. G0 Sonoma County Health Snapshot.
7 Drake,"Women Make Significant 24 Measure of America anal sis of data 41
Gains in the Workplace and Educational y Disparities Dashboard."
1 Attainment,but Lag in Pay." from the U.S.Census Bureau,American
Community Survey,2012,5-year 42 Giovino,"Epidemiology of Tobacco Use
estimates,table 802006. in the United States."
8 Measure of America analysis of data
from the U.S_Census Bureau,American 25 Wong et al.,"The Unusually Poor 43 State of Tobacco Control:California Local
I Community Survey,2012,5-year
Physical Health Status of Cambodian Grades.
estimates,table C23022. Refugees Two Decades after 44••
9 Measure of America analysis of data Resettlement." State Cigarette Excise Tax Rates."
from the U.S.Census Bureau,American26 Measure of America analysis of data 45 Tobacco Laws Affecting California.
I Community Survey,2012, 1-year from the U.S.Census Bureau,American 46
estimates,table 52403. Community Survey,2012,1-year Data from Sonoma County Department
10 estimates,table 52701. of Health Services.
Measure of America calculations of life
expectancy at birth for Sonoma County27 . 47 Measure of America analysis of data
Cigarette Smoking in the United
and tracts within it use data for 2005-2011 " from the U.S.Census Bureau,American
I. States.
while calculations for other California Community Survey,2012.
counties use data for 2010-2012. 28 Abraido-Lanza et al.,"The Latino •
Acevedo Garcia and Bates. 'Latino
11 The difference in the incidence of adult Mortality Paradox."
Health Paradoxes."
smoking between Sonoma and Napa is not 29 Abraido-Lanza,Chao,and Flbrez,-Do 49 Lleras-Muney, The Relationship between
statistically significant. Healthy Behaviors Decline with Greater Education and Adult Mortality in the United
12 Lewis and Burd-Sharps,The Measure of Acculturation?" States.
America 2010-2011. 30 Selected Cancer Facts—Sonoma County.I 5o U.S.Census Bureau,American
13 Lleras-Muney, The Relationship between 31 Chronic Disease Fact Sheet:Cancer. Community Survey,2010,1-year
Education and Adult Mortality in the United estimates,table S2301.
States. 32 Measure of America analysis of data
from the U.S.Census Bureau,American 51 California Department of Education;
I. 14 Cutler and Lleras-Muney,Education and Community Survey 2012 PUMS Microdata. California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement
Health. Data System ICALPADSI;Cohort Outcome
33 Measure of America analysis of data Summary Reports.
15"California Healthcare Atlas.- from the U.S.Census Bureau,2012
I American Community Survey 5-year
estimates,table 805003@.
I
98 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
I
I
REFERENCES
•
52 Measure of America analysis of data 67 Ibid. 82 Ibid.
from the U.S.Census Bureau,American •
Community Survey,2012. 68 Kerbow,"Patterns of Urban Student B3 Brady,"Commuting's Hidden Cost";
Mobility and Local School Reform." Sandow,"On the Road";Stutzer and Frey,
53 Lewis and Burd-Sharps,The Measure of „ -Stress That Doesn't Pay."
America 2013-2014. Earnings and Unemployment Rates by
Educational Attainment." 84 Sonoma County 2010-11 Economic and
54 Measure of America analysis of data Demographic Profile.
from the U.S.Census Bureau,American 70 Meara,Richards,and Cutler,"The Gap
Community Survey,2012,table C05006; Gets Bigger." 85 Sonoma County 2012 Crop Report.
American Community Survey 2012 PUMS 71 Sum,Khatiwada,and McLaughlin,"The 86"Statistics";"Sonoma County Wine
Microdata. Consequences of Dropping Out of High Facts from Sonoma County Vintners."
55 Lewis and Burd-Sharps,A Portrait of School." e7
Measure of America analysis of National
California 2011. 72 Bloom,"Programs and Policies to Assist Agricultural Workers Survey.
56 Lewis and Burd-Sharps,The Measure of High School Dropouts in the Transition to 88
America 2013-2014. Adulthood";Swanson,Special Education in Ibid.
57America;Bridgeland,Dilutio,and Morison, 89"Occupation Profile,California
"Education Budget—CalEdFacts." The Silent Epidemic;Barton,"One-Third Laho tlnfo."
58 Oakes et at.,Latino Educational of a Nation";Harding,"Counterfactual
Models of Neighborhood Effects." 90 Hayes,-If We Plant It,Will They Come?"
Opportunity Report.
59 73 Bridgeland,Dilulio,and Morison, The 91 Measure of America analysis of data
Betts,Rueben,and Danenberg,Equal Silent Epidemic. from the US Census Bureau,American
Resources,Equal Outcomes?
94 Community Survey,2012,5-year
60„ Measure of America analysis from estimates,Table 51902.
Data Dashboard";School Accountability "California Department of Education—
Report Card.Grant Elementary 2012-2013; DataQuest." 92
"California Department of Education— Reber Hart,"Oakmont Grows with the
Times."
DataQuest." 75"California Healthy Kids Survey
61 (WestEdl.- 93 Only the difference in white earnings is
School Accountability Report Card:El 76 statistically significant.
Verano Elementary School 2012-2013; Local Area Unemployment Statistics
"California Department of Education— Map."Rates are not seasonally adjusted. 94 Median earnings for African Americans
DataQuest." 77 in Sonoma are not,however,significantly
62Sonoma County indicators 2013 Abridged different from African American earnings
"El Verano to Expand Preschool Edition;Sonoma County Indicators 2014 in California or the nation.
Program I Sonoma Valley Sun." Abridged Edition.
63 Hart and Risley, The Early Catastrophe" 78"County Tracker 2013." 95 Measure of America analysis of data
from the US Census Bureau,American
64 Karoly,Preschool Adequacy and Efficiency 79 Measure of America analysis completed Community Survey,2012, 1-year
in California. for the 2013 Opportunity Index,www estimates,table B23022.
65 U.S.Census Bureau,American °PPortunityindex.org. 96 Budig and England,"The Wage Penalty
Community Survey,2012,5-year 8°Ibid. for Motherhood."
estimates. 81 Measure of America analysis of data 97 Baron and Bielby,"A Woman's Place Is
66 Rumberger et at.,"The Hazards of from the U.S.Census Bureau,American With Other Women";Williams,"Hidden
Changing Schools for California Latino Community Survey,2012,5-year Advantages for Men in Nursing."
Adolescents." estimates,table S0802. 98 Macpherson and Hirsch,"Wages and
Gender Composition:Why Co Women's
Jobs Pay Less?"
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 99
r
1
111'
1,
I
I
l 99 The difference between the median 111 Espinoza,High-Quality Preschool. t24 Bridgeland,Dilulio,and Morison,The
personal earnings of African AmericansSilent Epidemic:Perspectives of High School
12"California
and Latinos is not statistically significant. Healthy Kids Survey Dropouts.
(WestEd]";Sonoma County Child Care
10°Judson et al.,"Improving Care far the Trends. 125 Measure of America calculations
Lua Community." using U.S.Census Bureau,American
113"Occupation Profile,California Community Survey,2011,5-year estimates
101 Measure of America analysis of income LaborMarketinfo";"Estimates from the and 2005-2009 PUMS microdata.
tax statistics for Sonoma County from Occupational Employment Statistics
the California Franchise Tax Board 2011 Survey." 126 Lewis and Burd-Sharps,Halve the Gap
Annual Report.Data are for tax year 2010. by 2030:Youth Disconnection in America's
114"Adult Smoking Data-from the Cities.
102 Measure of America analysis of U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance
Census Bureau,American Community System";Selected Cancer Facts-Sonoma 127 Ibid.
Survey,2012,1-year estimates,table County.
128
B17005. Ibid.
115 Turnock,Public Health, Third Edition.
103 Bartels,"Economic Inequality and129 Harper,Marcus,and Moore,"Enduring
I
Political Representation." 176 Doll et al.,"Mortality in Relation to
Smoking." Poverty and the Conditions of Childhood";
Duncan and Brooks-Gunn,"Family
104 U.S.Census Bureau and U.S.Bureau of Poverty,Welfare Reform,and Child
Labor Statistics estimates of the Sonoma 117-California Health Interview Survey" Development."
' 118 labor force differ slightly.
State Excise Tax Rates on Cigarettes. 130 See Chiang, The Life Table and Its
105 Measure of America analysis of U.S. 119 Applications and Toson and Baker,"Life
Census Bureau,American Community Carpenter and Cook,"Cigarette Taxes Expectancy at Birth:Methodological
Survey,2012,5-year estimates,table and Youth Smoking." Options for Small Populations,"for more
I
DP03. 120 Hill and Johnson, Unauthorized information.
106 From"What is the self-sufficiency Immigrants in California.
standard?"at"The Center for Women's 121 Olds,"Preventing Crime with Prenatal
Welfare[CWWJ,The Self-Sufficiency and Infancy Support of Parents";Howard
I Standard."Sonoma County thresholds and Brooks-Gunn,"The Role of Home-
were calculated at"Self Sufficiency Visiting Programs in Preventing Child
Standard for California." Abuse and Neglect."
107 Sonoma County Indicators 2013 Abridged 122 Community Health Assessment Local
I Edition. Indicators calculated by Measure of
1oaPhysicians and Surgeons,All Other." America from California Longitudinal Pupil
Achievement Data System(CALPADSI,
1°9 California Employment Development "California Department of Education—
'''. Department,High Wage Occupations in DataQuest."
Santa Rosa Petaluma Metro Statistical 123 Lewis et at.,Goals for the Common
Area,first quarter 2013. Good:Exploring the Impact of Education.
I 11°Heckman and Masterov,-The
Productivity Argument for Investing in
Young Children";Campbell et al.,"Early
Childhood Investments Substantially
Boost Adult Health";Karoly and Bigelow,
I The Economics of Investing in Universal
Preschool Education in California.
•
I
I100 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
I
I
REFERENCES
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of Neighborhood Effects:The Effect Journal of Education for Students Employment Development
of Neighborhood Poverty on Dropping
Placed at Risk IJESPARI 1,no.2(1996): Department.Accessed April 16,
Out and Teenage Pregnancy." 147-69. 2014.http://www.labormarketinfo.
American Journal of Sociology 109,no. edd.ca.gov/cgi/databrowsing/
I 3(2003):676-719. occExplorerOSDetaits.asp?searchCrite
ria=child+care&careerlD=&menuChoic
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REFERENCES
e=&geogArea=0604000097&soccode=3 Sonoma County Health Snapshot.Sonoma "The Center for Women's Welfare(CWW),
99011&search=Explore+Occupation. Health Action.January 2008. The Self-Sufficiency Standard."
Olds,David L."Preventing Crime with Sonoma County indicators 2013 Abridged Accessed March 27,2014.http://www.
Prenatal and Infancy Support Edition.Sonoma County Economic selfsufficiencystandard.org/standard.
of Parents:The Nurse-Family Development Board.Spring 2013. html.
Partnership."Victims&Offenders 2, Tobacco Laws Affecting California.
Sonoma County Indicators 2014 Abridged
no.2(2007):205-25. Edition.Sonoma County Economic ChangeLab Solutions,2012.http://
s"Parks&Facility Guide."City of Santa Rosa Development Board,Spring 2014.
changelabsolutions.org/
Recreation&Parks,2014. changelabsolutions.orgfiles/
Sonoma County Office of Education,About documents/2012_CALawsBooklet_
"Physicians and Surgeons,All Other."U.S. Sonoma County Schools,accessed FINAL_20120515.pdf.
Bureau of Labor Statistics,accessed April 22,2014.https://www.scoe Toson,Barbara,and Allan Baker."Life
April.22,2014.http://www.bls.gov/oes/ .org/pub/htdocs/aboutschools.html Expectancy at Birth:Me:hodological
CURRENT/oes291069.htm. Sonoma County 2010-11 Economic and Options for Small Populations."
Pickett,Kate,and Richard Wilkinson.The Demographic Profile.Chico,CA:Center National Statistics Methodological
Spirit Level:Why Greater Equality for Economic Development,2010. Series 33(2003).
Makes Societies Stronger.New York: Sonoma County 2012 Crop Report.Office of Turnock,Bernard J.Public Health:What It is
Bloomsbury,2011. the Agricultural Commissioner,June and How It Works.3rd ed.Sudbury,MA:
Reber Hart,Dianne."Oakmont Grows with 2013. Jones and Bartlett,2004.
the Times."Accessed March 27,2014. "Sonoma County Wine Facts from Sonoma University of Wisconsin Population Health
http://sonoma.towns.pressdemocrat. County Vintners."Accessed March 27, Institute."County Health Rankings 4
com/2013/08/news/oakmont-grows- 1
2014.http://www.sonomawine.com/ 2013."Accessed January 16,2014.
with-the-times/. files/press/Sonoma-County-Wine- http://www.countyhealthrankings.org.
Rumberger,Russell W.,Katherine A. Facts.pdf. U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics."Earnings
Larson,GregoryJ.Palardy,Robert K, "State Cigarette Excise Tax Rates." and Unemployment Rates by
Ream,and Nina C.Schleicher."The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Educational Attainment."Department
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www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/ .gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm.Report 1,no.2(October 1998). factsheets/pdf/0097.pdf.
Sandow,Erika.-On the Road:Social U.S.Census Bureau.American Community i
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Distances to Work,"2011.http:// Washington,D.C.:Federation of Tax Public Use Microdata sample.
Administrators,January 2014,
www.diva-portal.org/smash/record. —American Community Survey.2006-
jsf?pid=diva2:415050. State of Tobacco Control:California Local 2010,5-year estimates. `
School Accountability Report Card:El Verano Grades.American Lung Association in _ American Community Survey.2007-
Elementary School 2072-2013.Sonoma California,2014. 2011,5-year estimates.
Valley Unified School District,2013. "Statistics."Sonoma County.Accessed _American Community Survey.2008-
http://sonoma-valley.schoolwisepress March 27,2014.http://www. 2012,5 year estimates.
.com/reports/2013/pdf/sonoma-valley/ sonomacounty.com/articles/media/ I
sarce_en_49-70953-6052260e.pdf. statistics. American Community Survey.2010,
School Accountability Report Card:Grant Stutzer,Alois,and Bruno S.Frey."Stress 1-year estimates.
Elementary 2012-2013.Petaluma City That Doesn't Pay:The Commuting —Census 2000.Census Summary File 1
Elementary School District,2013. Paradox."Scandinavian Journal of (SF 11100-Percent Data. I
http://www.petalumacityschools.org/ Economics 110,no.2(June 1,2008): _ Census 2010.Census Summary File 1
perform/SARC2013/GrantElementary- 339-66.
English.pdf. (SF 1]100-Percent Data.
Sum,Andrew,Ishwar Khatiwada, Williams,Christine L."Hidden Advantages
Selected Cancer Facts—Sonoma County. and Joseph McLaughlin."The for Men in Nursing."Nursing i
California Cancer Registry,October Consequences of Dropping Out of High Administration Quarterly 19,no.2
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"Self-Sufficiency Standard for California," High School Dropouts and the High
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2013. 5(October 2011):876-82.
I
A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY 2014 103 . I
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I HD Index by Census Tract
California 5.39 51 Middle Rincon South 5.61
Sonoma County 5.42 52 Miwok 5.59
1 East Bennett Valley 8.47 53 Spring Lake 5.59
2 Fountain Grove 8 35 54 La Tercera 5.58
3 Skyhawk 7.78 55 West5ebastopol/Groton 5.58
4 Annadet/South Oakmont 7.71 56 Two Rock 5.55
5 Old Quarry 7.71 57 Boyes Hot Springs/Fetters Springs/Aqua Caliente East _ 5.55
6 Rural Cemetery '_ 7.67 58 Dry Creek _ 5.55
7 Central Bennett Valley
7.63 59 Rohnert Park SSU/J Section 5.50
8 Sea Ranch/Timber Cove 7.35 60 Old Healdsburg 5.43
9 Cherry Valley 7.18 61 Schaefer 5.39
10 Sonoma Mountain 7.16 62 Guerneville/Rio Nide 5.29
11 Windsor East 7.06 b3 West Cotati/Penngrove 5.25
12 Meadow 7.00 64 Northern Junior College Neighborhood 5.25
I I 13 Petaluma Airport/Arroyo Park 6.98 65 Rohnert Park D/E/S Section__- 5.21
14 Downtown Sonoma 6.95 66 Pioneer Park 5.20
15 Southwest Sebastopol 6.94 67 Russian River Valley 5.19
16 Gold Ridge 6.94 68 Brush Creek 5.15
17 Arnold Drive/East Sonoma Mountain 6.77 69 Cinnabar/West Rural Petaluma 5.10
111 18 Central East Windsor 6.71 70 Central Rohnert Park 4.96
19 Larkfield-Wikiup 6.62 71 Kenwood/Glen Ellen 4.95
20 Sonoma City SouthNineburg 6.57 72 Wright 4.91
21 Southern Junior College Neighborhood 6.56 73 Central.Windsor 4.84
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22 Jenner/Cazadero. 6.55 74 Middle Rincon North 4.83
23 OccidentaVBodega 6.47 75 Olivet Road 4.82
24 Fulton 6.46 76 Bellevue 4.66
25 Spring Hill 6.45 77 Monte Rio _-- 4.64
P26 Casa Grande 6.42 78 Lucchesi/McDowell 4.60
27 Montgomery Village 638 79 Forestville 4.57
28 Hessel Community 6.37 80 Downtown Cotati 4.31
29 Rohnert Park F/H Section 6.22 81 Kawana Springs 4.20
30 West Bennett Valley 6.17 82 Central Healdsburg 4.14
31 Carneros Sonoma Area 6.15 83 Railroad Square 4.12
32 Northeast Windsor 6.15 84 Downtown Rohnert Park 4.09
33 North Healdsburg 6.11 85 Coddingtown 4.08
34 Windsor Southeast 6.11 86 Burbank Gardens 4.03
35 Southeast Sebastopol 6.10 87 Rohnert Park B/C/R Section 3.97
36 West Windsor 6.07 88 Comstock 3.90
37 North Oakmont/Hood Mountain 5.98 89 Taylor Mountain 3.90
38 North Sebastopol 5.84 90 Downtown Santa Rosa 3.89
111 1 39 East Cotati/Rohnert Park L Section 5.79 91 East Cloverdale 3.79
r 40 Sonoma City North/West Mayacamas Mountain 5.78 92 Rohnert Park A Section 3.75
41 Grant 5.77 93 Bicentennial Park 3.73
42 West Cloverdale 5.76 94 West End 3.51 _
II 43 Rohnert Park M Section 5.75 95 West Junior College 3.44
44 Alexander Valley 5.73 96 Fetters Springs/Agua Caliente West 3.41
45 Sunrise/Band Parks 6.72 97 Sheppard 2.98
46 Piner 5.71 98 Roseland 2.95
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47 Laguna de Santa Rosa/Hall Road-- 5.69 99 Roseland Creek 2.79
48 Boyce Hot Springs West/El Verona 5.68
49 McKinley 5.66
50 Shiloh South 5.62
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104 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES
ii
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Sonoma County Census Tract Reference Map 1
Label numbers indicate rank on the American Human Development Index
Santa 66g I
HD INDEX ��.\\ 46 9 68 51 '. I.
.� �� Rosa
1.1 6.58-8.47 , .c..........____...,--,„,,� N ,. /.:
®5.79-6.57 ,. ,� — B5 I �_'
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4.32-5.43 ‘ 3- :6
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h, ti._ 72 r
J r 76
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36 50 �Xz, N,
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77a TiF�
l 47 . �\
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23 1 � 29 30 1, \ I
•Bodega Bag ti]4 ',117,'.
%,•• •...,_- 145
84`;5�Roh5eert Park �`
{� J `,.. CotOtl,•" t 6.57 40
63 ! : Sonoma
8N-Lo \ •� I
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14
(Tomal-s
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fr • I
Petaluma kr
63 � 't 31
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r t''
2 1
l\ 0\ 10 / 20 Miles
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I
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES:
I A PORTRAIT OF SONOMA COUNTY
IWhile many measures tell us how the county's economy is doing,
A Portrait of Sonoma County tells us how the county's people are doing.
(ii.ijEci
•4
East Bennett Valley A full decade separates
I has the highest well- the life expectancies
11111tbeing levels,and nearby of the top and bottom
Roseland Creek census tracts.
4:41----., . ..00110,,
Il has the lowest.
I - .
t
t •
I
In Forestville, Latino residents earn
the school enrollment rate about$11,000 less than
is 54 percent,compared Asian Americans and
I
to 100 percent in Central $15,000 less than whites.
East Windsor.
Map over 30 indicators for Sonoma County at www.measureofamerica.org/maps
I
ABOUT THE REPORT ABOUT THE AUTHORS
I A Portrait of Sonoma County is an in-depth look at how residents of Sarah Burd-Sharps and Kristen Lewis are co-directors of Measure of
Sonoma County are faring in three fundamental areas of life:health, America and co-authors of The Measure of America series of national,
access to knowledge,and living standards.It examines disparities within state,and county reports.They both previously worked on human
the county among neighborhoods and along the lines of race,ethnicity, development issues in countries around the world.
I and gender.In partnership with over sixty organizations and elected `-
officials,the Sonoma County Department of Health Services initiated this
ABOUT THE PROJECT a
report to provide a holistic framework for understanding and addressing o
complex issues facing its constituency.For more information about theMeasure of America of the Social Science Research Council provides
I
report and findings,please contact infofnsonomahealthaction.org. easy-to-use yet methodologically sound tools for understanding the Si
distribution of well-being and opportunity in America and seeks to a
v
ABOUT THE DESIGN foster greater awareness of our shared challenges and more support N
for people-centered policies. ©
I
Humantific is an internationally recognized SenseMaking for
ChangeMaking firm located in New York and Madrid. 1 ;,
tJ S S R C www.measureofamerica.org
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