2020
Select a topic to learn more:
Priorities
School Readiness
- Areas of Emphasis
- Children ages 0-8
- Summer loss
- Books in homes
- Volunteer reading opportunities
- Access to Pre-K
- Adult literacy
- United Way Action
- Conduct a sustainable, long-term community-wide effort to raise awareness of the importance of parents reading to and with their children in early childhood.
- Build awareness of the need to close the achievement gap between minority and low-income students and non-minority, more affluent students.
- Utilize successful parents to serve as mentors and role models to other parents.
- Target awareness efforts to reach private and home-based daycare providers.
- Continue and expand activities that promote the importance of proper social and emotional development to prepare children for school readiness.
Confronting Violence
- Areas of Emphasis
- Prevention and awareness
- Provide opportunities for parents to learn proper parenting skills and the importance of those skills in breaking the cycle of abuse.
- Build awareness of the difference between human trafficking and sex trafficking and the scope to which it now exists in the local area.
- Advocate for more training of professionals and awareness with the general public to recognize and understand how to take action related to sex trafficking.
- Available the lack of infrastructure of agencies and services currently available in the community that support foster children and foster parents.
- United Way Action
- Continue current awareness and advocacy efforts aimed at child abuse.
- Provide opportunities for parents to learn proper parenting skills and the importance of those skills in breaking the cycle of abuse.
- Build awareness of the difference between human trafficking and sex trafficking and the scope to which it now exists in the local area.
- Advocate for more training of professionals and awareness with the general public to recognize and understand how to take action related to sex trafficking.
- Available the lack of infrastructure of agencies and services currently available in the community that support foster children and foster parents.
Mental Health
- Areas of Emphasis
- Substance abuse
- Homelessness
- Infant and childhood mental health
- Substance abuse prevention for youth
- Adult education and treatment
- Lack of infrastructure
- United Way Action
- Continue current awareness and advocacy efforts aimed at child abuse.
- Provide opportunities for parents to learn proper parenting skills and the importance of those skills in breaking the cycle of abuse.
- Build awareness of the difference between human trafficking and sex trafficking and the scope to which it now exists in the local area.
- Advocate for more training of professionals and awareness with the general public to recognize and understand how to take action related to sex trafficking.
- Available the lack of infrastructure of agencies and services currently available in the community that support foster children and foster parents.
Indicators
We reviewed each of the following, respectively:
- Onset of prenatal care in the first trimester (per 1,000 births)
- Percent of babies born with low weight birth
- Infant death rate (per 1,000 deaths)
We reviewed each of the following:
- Retention (1st Grade), Non-Special Education
- Retention (Kindergarten), Non-Special Education
- Graduation Rate 4-Year Longitudinal Completion Rate (9-12)
- Annual Dropout Rate (9-12)
We reviewed the percentage of students at or above criterion in college readiness.
For economics, we reviewed the following indicators:
- Unemployment rate (Texas Workforce Commission)
- Percentage of children in poverty (U.S. Census)
- Percentage of adults in poverty (U.S. Census)
- Persons without health insurance (U.S. Census)
- Percentage of adults 25+ with at least high school education (U.S. Census)
- Percentage of adults 25+ with Bachelor’s degree or higher (U.S. Census)
We reviewed the following indictors to determine community safety:
- Rape rate (per 100,000 population)(UCR)
- Aggravated assault rate (per 100,000 population)(UCR)
- Family violence rate (per 100,000 population)(UCR)
Statistics
Learn about common issues that Lubbock faces and how United Way stands with our community.
Education
Start Smart Texas
"Children who reach fourth grade without being able to read proficiently are more likely to struggle academically and eventually drop out of school."
In 2019, Lubbock became one of 13 Texas cities that have joined the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (CGLR) collaborative in an effort to improve reading proficiency and early school success for children from low income families.
School Readiness
17.55% students were deemed Kindergarten ready in the 2018-2019 school year (out of 5,743 students assessed.)
High-quality preschool programs for 3 to 4-year-olds set children up for success. They lead to higher levels of educational attainment, career advancement, and earnings. Yet the price of infant care today is higher than public college tuition in most states.
The Early Learning Centers of Lubbock are the only childcare centers in Lubbock whose parent fees are based on a sliding fee scale, allowing for quality childcare to all parents and caregivers.
Economically Disadvantaged
Research shows growing up in poverty is one of the greatest threats to healthy childhood development.
In the 2018-2019 school year, Region 17 shows significant numbers of economically disadvantaged children. The current 63.2% rate is higher than the state average of 60.6%.
Educational Success
Region 17 falls 3-4% behind the average of students approaching grade level, meeting at grade level, and above grade level
On a positive note, there have been consistent improvements in graduation rates with 85% of students graduating on time in the 2016-2017 school year. (Kids Count)
During the 2018-2019 school year, Communities in Schools of the South Plains provided case management services to 2,350 at-risk students, with 100% staying in school, 94% improving in academics, and 99% promoted to the next grade.
Confronting Violence
Child Abuse & Neglect
In 2019, Lubbock County had 1,217 confirmed cases of child abuse or neglect. 5 victims lost their lives.
Of the 612 children served by CASA of the South Plains in 2019, 68% received ongoing counseling. 22% received trauma therapy and 27% were prescribed psychotropic medication. Through the Children's Advocacy Center's (CAS) forensic interviews, community outreach programs, and evidence-based trauma therapy, 5,976 children in the South Plains received support in 2019.
Prevention is the key to stopping child abuse and neglect before it occurs. The Parenting Cottage prevents child abuse and neglect through educational programs about school readiness. In 2019, they provided services to 420 individuals and families through their Parents as Teachers Program.
Sex & Labor Trafficking
With their sexual assault intervention and prevention programs, hotline call management, and community education program Voice of Hope helped 10,266 individuals in 2019.
Traffickers target youths in social media sites, schools, malls, parks, bust stops, shelters, and group homes. Runaway or homeless youth, as well as those with a history of physical and sexual abuse, may have an increased risk of being trafficked. Perpetrators most commonly form relationships with their victims before forcing them into trafficking.
Domestic Violence
Research shows growing up in poverty is one of the greatest threats to healthy childhood development.
In the 2018-2019 school year, Region 17 shows significant numbers of economically disadvantaged children. The current 63.2% rate is higher than the state average of 60.6%.
Road Safety
Lubbock County had a higher rate of alcohol-impaired driving deaths (35% of driving deaths) than Texas (28%) or the United States (11%) (Meadows.) The number of motorcycle traffic crashes in the Lubbock area totaled 127 which resulted in 10 deaths and 21 seriously injured.
Mental Health
Comprehensive Mental Health Needs
From December 2018 - July 2019, The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) conducted a comprehensive assessment of Lubbock's mental health needs -- and its capacity to meet them. Findings include (1) Lubbock County has 21 psychiatrists, or 6.9 per 100,000 residents (2 )There are no intensive outpatient treatment or partial hospitalization programs available to people with commercial insurance (3) There is no first episode psychosis (FEP) program to identify and treat people experiencing a psychotic disorder at the earliest possible point.
Youth & Mental Health
All 326 people age 0-17 years who were admitted to inpatient care were hospitalized outside of the Lubbock County area due to a lack of local treatment centers.
Staff at the Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center (LCJJC) identified mental health as the most significant challenge for children in the juvenile justice system. It is estimated that 70% of kids in the juvenile-justice system suffer from a serious mental health disorder.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)
ACEs increases the risk of health problems in adulthood. 61% of adults have at least one ACE and 16% have 4 or more types of ACEs.
ACEs are traumatic events that occur in childhood, including violence, abuse, and growing up in a family with mental health or substance use problems. These issues impact victims for the rest of their lives. Trauma changes the way the brain functions and affects the body's stress response. Preventing early trauma is key to improving adult health.
Find Health Resources
Lubbock Area United Way partners with non-profit organizations to provide the Lubbock Community with quality healthcare resources for all ages. Explore our community partners to learn more about United Way's programs that support the Lubbock area.
| Sources |
|---|
| 2019 County Health Rankings |
| American Community Survey |
| American Progress |
| American Red Cross, serving the Texas South Plains |
| Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock |
| CASA of the South Plains |
| Center for Disease Control |
| Change to Chill |
| Children at Risk |
| Children’s Advocacy Center of the South Plains |
| Communities in Schools of the South Plains |
| Early Learning Centers of Lubbock |
| Economic Policy Institute |
| Family Counseling Services |
| Federal Bureau of Investigation |
| Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas |
| Kids Count 2019 |
| KCBD News Channel 11 |
| Legal Aid Society of Lubbock |
| Literacy Lubbock |
| Lubbock Avalanche-Journal |
| Lubbock Children’s Health Clinic |
| Lubbock Economic Development Alliance |
| Lubbock National Bank, 2020 |
| Meadows Institute |
| National Alliance on Mental Illness |
| National Institute of Mental Health |
| Parenting Cottage |
| Point in Time Survey, 2019 |
| Polaris Project |
| RAMAR Communications/Fox34 |
| Salvation Army |
| Shared Hope International |
| Texas A&M University |
| Texas Department of Family Protective Services |
| Texas Department of Public Safety |
| Texas Department of State Health Services |
| Texas Department of Transportation |
| Texas Education Agency |
| Texas Family Code |
| Texas Health and Human Services Commission |
| Texas Workforce Commission |
| TIME Magazine |
| TX Center for the Advancement of Literacy & Learning |
| Upbring |
| U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics |
| Upbring |
| U.S. Census Bureau |
| United Way Worldwide ALICE Report |
| University of Pittsburgh |
| Voice of Hope |
| Women’s Protective Services of Lubbock |
| YWCA of Lubbock |
| Credits |
| Eugene Wang, Ph.D. , Consultant |
| Devin McCain, Community Impact Director |
| Amanda McAfee, Vice President, Marketing & Communications |
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