Tips
for Data Interpretation and Use
Understand
What is Being Measured:
It
is important to understand what is being measured and how. Several
types of data information are available for each benchmark: numbers,
average annual numbers, county and state rates, percentage change
between years, base and recent data, and county rankings. A "key"
directing the reader to the various types of data information
is presented at the beginning of this Understanding the Data section.
(This county benchmark key is available online in pdf
format.) The Methodology and Sources later in this section
details what each benchmark means, what data is included and where
it is from.
Each
county benchmark and the rate of change calculated for each county
benchmark is rounded for presentation on the county pages. The
rounding may cause the results to vary from the rates which might
be calculated from the rounded numbers appearing on each county
page.
Beware
of Small Numbers:
County
populations vary significantly. Such variations should be considered
when interpreting the differences among counties. Be aware that
small counties may have a small number of events (e.g., child
deaths, arrests for violent crimes) which can cause rates to vary
consider-ably from year to year without reflecting real change.
For this reason, the benchmarks use three-year averages to improve
the reliability of rate comparisons.
Low
rates may appear in counties with large populations. Relying solely
on rates, without considering the numbers involved, may result
in overlooking locations which have large numbers of suffering
children.
Remember
the Uses and Limits of Data:
Benchmarks
provide important baseline information. Effective use of benchmarks
requires them to be under-stood in a broad context. They provide
one way to look at how children are doing in a county or state.
Benchmarks can provide the starting place to initiate dialogue
with others who share your interest. There are many important
perspectives required to piece together a complete picture. Collect
additional data and viewpoints to flesh out the most useful view
of child well- being in your own area.
Methodology
and Sources
Data
and information used in this Oklahoma KIDS COUNT Factbook came
from a wide variety of sources in Oklahoma and around the nation.
This section identifies the sources for the information found
in this document and the method used for computations where applicable.
There
is no agreement about the specific terminology or the number of
categories which should be used to classify race and ethnicity.
The categories listed in this report are the categories in the
sources relied upon for information. At times different sources
will use different categories to report racial characteristics.
Some indicators were not available by race at all. This makes
it difficult to look across the indicators by race. Persons within
each race or ethnic group are encouraged to re-title or refer
to the data in a manner which reflects their preferences.
Extreme
caution should be used when reviewing, using and comparing data
related to Hispanic populations. Some agencies count Hispanic
children as a race and others consider Hispanic to be a nationality
whose children can be any race (White, African American, Native
American, and so on). Of those counting Hispanic children as a
nationality, only a few maintain statistics on the proportion
of children who are Hispanic.
As
a result, when Hispanic is considered to be a race, data may appear
as follows:
White
70.0%
Native American 10.0%
American Indian 10.0%
Hispanic 5.0%
Asian 2.0%
Other 3.0%
TOTAL 100.0%
When
Hispanic is considered to be a nationality, data may appear as
follows:
Asian
2.0%
Other 4.0%
White 72.0%
Native American 11.0%
American Indian 11.0%
TOTAL 100.0%
non-Hispanic
95.0%
Hispanic 5.0%
TOTAL 100.0%
Child
Population is the total resident population under age
18 including dependents of Armed Forces personnel sta-tioned in
the area. Child population data for 1980 and 1990 for the state
and counties are counts from the 1980 and 1990 Census. Current
child population data for the state and counties is estimated
by the U.S. Bureau of the Census for 1998.
SOURCE:
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of the Population and Housing
1980, Summary Tape File 1A and 2B and U.S. Bureau of the Census,
Census of the Population and Housing 1990, Summary Tape File
1A and Summary Tape File 2B. Current population data provided
by the Oklahoma State Data Center, Planning and Research Division,
Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC), using U.S. Bureau of
the Census, Census of the Population and Housing 1980, Summary
Tape File 1A; U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of the Population
and Housing 1990, Summary Tape File 1A; and U.S. Bureau of the
Census, Population Estimates Branch, 1998.
Early
Childhood County Index combines the ranks of seven
individual indicators for each county to assess the relative improvement
the county needs to achieve in order to provide the best start
for its youngest citizens. All indica-tors were given the same
weight, making no attempt to judge relative importance. Taken
together, these indicators provide a comprehensive picture of
a county's early childhood status in a manner which can be ranked,
updated and tracked from year to year. Individual rankings are
based on the following seven indicators related to early childhood
care and education:
Population
of Young Children Birth Through Age Five (1998) –
identifying counties with the largest numbers of infants, toddlers
and preschool children
SOURCE:
Data provided by Oklahoma State Data Center, Planning and Research
Division, Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC), using U.S.
Bureau of the Census, Population Estimates Branch, 1998.
Required
Immunizations Which Have Been Completed by Age Two
(1995) – measuring the provision of preventive health services
to infants and toddlers in the community
SOURCE:
Data provided by PLUTO, Oklahoma State Department of Health
(OSDH): Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. [NOTE: Counties without local
health departments were assigned the state immunization rate
for comparison purposes].
Elevated
Lead-based Poisoning Tests per 1,000 Tests Administered
(1994 - 1997) – measuring community environmental hazards
dangerous to young children
SOURCE: Data provided by Family Health Services,
Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH): Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Births
to Mothers Under Age 20 per 1000 Live Births (1998)
– counting children born into the community less likely
to have adequate emotional and financial resources
SOURCE:
Data provided by Family Health Service, Oklahoma State Department
of Health (OSDH): Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Inadequate (late, little or no) Prenatal
Care (1998) – counting pregnancies in the community
likely to result in health problems for the babies
SOURCE:
Data provided by Family Health Service, Oklahoma State Department
of Health (OSDH): Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Licensed
Child Care Slots per Child Under Age 6 with Working Parents
(2nd Quarter, 2000) – measuring the availability of licensed
child care in the community
SOURCE:
Data provided by Planning and Research Unit, Office of Finance,
Department of Human Services (DHS): Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Poverty
Among Children Under Age Five
(1997, estimates) – a measure of the presence of very poor
infants, toddlers and preschool children in the community
SOURCE:
Data provided by the Oklahoma State Data Center, Planning and
Research Division, Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC), using
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates
Program: State and County Income and Poverty Estimates - 1996
and U.S. Bureau of the Census, Small Area Income and Poverty
Estimates Program: State and County Income and Poverty Estimates
- 1997. [NOTE: 1997 poverty for children under age five was
estimated by applying the percent difference between 1996 poverty
among those under 18 and under age five to the 1997 poverty
under age 18 in each county.]
Children
in Poverty
counts the related children under age 18 who live in families
with incomes below the U.S. poverty threshold (poverty income
guidelines). Related children are the children related to the
"family headÓ by birth, marriage or adoption and include
relatives such as nieces and nephews. Children under age 18 who
do not live in a household where they are related to the head
of the household are not included in this analysis. The Poverty
Income Guidelines, as defined by the U.S. Office of Management
and Budget, are based upon the amount of money that is required
to purchase a nutritionally adequate diet. A family is classified
as poor if its income falls below this minimum standard. Data
counts poor children calculated as a percent of all children.
SOURCE:
Data provided by the Oklahoma State Data Center, Planning and
Research Division, Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC), using
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates
Program: State and County Income and Poverty Estimates - 1997.
Low
Birthweight Infants are live births weighing under
5.5 pounds (2,500 grams). Very Low Birthweight
Infants are live births weighing under 3 pounds, five
ounces (1,500 grams). The data is reported by place of mother's
residence, not place of birth. Births count both the total resident
live births and the low-weight births and compare two three-year
periods (1984 through 1986 and 1996 through 1998), resulting in
a three-year rate. Race is reported as White, Black and American
Indian. Other races are included in numbers and calculations for
White. Beginning in 1989, the "race of childÓ was redefined
to reflect the mother's race. State totals may vary from the total
of all the counties since state totals may include births for
which the county of residence was unknown. Beginning in 1998,
information on the ethnicity of the mother allows display of low
birthweight rates for the Hispanic population. Level
of Prenatal Care addresses the timing and amount of
medical care and monitoring an expectant mother receives. Levels
of care include: adequate (the recommended level of care beginning
in the first trimester with ten or more visits), intermediate
(care beginning in the first trimester with four through nine
visits OR care beginning in the second trimester with four or
more visits), early (care beginning in the first trimester), late
(care beginning in the third trimester with one or more visits),
little (care beginning in the first or second trimester with one
through three visits), and no care. Rates are calculated as percentages
of all live births. Births count both the total resident live
births and the level of care for the three-year period from 1996
through 1998, resulting in a three-year rate.
SOURCE:
Data provided by Family Health Service, Oklahoma State Department
of Health (OSDH): Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Infant
Mortality is death occurring to an infant under 1 year
of age. The data is reported by place of mother's resi-dence,
not place of birth or death. Rates are calculated per 1,000 live
births. The data counts the total resident live births and the
deaths for two three-year periods (1984 through 1986 and 1996
through 1998), resulting in a three-year rate. Race is reported
as White, Black and American Indian. Other races are included
in numbers and calculations for White. Beginning in 1989, the
"race of child" was redefined to reflect the mother's
race. State totals may vary from the total of all the counties
since state totals may include births for which the county of
residence was unknown.
SOURCE:
Birth and mortality data provided by Family Health Service,
Oklahoma State Department of Health(OSDH): Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Births
to Young Teens
are live births which occur to mothers ages 15 through 17. The
data is reported by place of mother's residence, not place of
birth. Births count the total resident live births to mothers
in this age group for two three-year periods (1984 through 1986
and 1996 through 1998). Rates are displayed as births per 1,000
females between ages 15 through 17. Base female teen population
data for the state and counties is the midpoint between the 1980
and 1990 Census populations. Current population for the state
is estimated by the U.S. Bureau of the Census and adjusted by
the Oklahoma State Data Center, Planning and Research Division,
Oklahoma Department of Commerce to arrive at 1996 through 1998
estimates of females between the ages of 15 through 17 for the
state and each county, resulting in three-year rates. Race is
reported as White, Black and American Indian. Other races are
included in numbers and calculations for White. Beginning in 1989,
the "race of child" was redefined to reflect the mother's
race. State totals may vary from the total of all the counties
since state totals may include births for which the county of
residence was unknown.
SOURCE:
Birth data provided by Family Health Service, Oklahoma State
Department of Health (OSDH): Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Population
data provided by the Oklahoma State Data Center, Planning and
Research Division, Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC), using
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of the Population and Housing
1980, Summary Tape File 1A; U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census
of the Population and Housing 1990, Summary Tape File 1A; U.S.
Bureau of the Census, Population Estimates Branch, 1996; U.S.
Bureau of the Census, Population Estimates Branch, 1997; and
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Population Estimates Branch, 1998.
Child Abuse and Neglect means
harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare by a person
responsible for the child's health or welfare. Abuse includes
sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or non-accidental physical or
mental injury. Sexual Abuse includes rape, incest and lewd or
indecent acts or proposals by a person responsible for the child's
welfare. Sexual Exploitation includes a person responsible for
the child's welfare allowing or encouraging a child to engage
in prostitution or pornography or engaging in child pornography.
Neglect means failing to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter
or medical care. 10 O. Supp. 2000 sec. 7102. Data includes reports
of suspected abuse or neglect for which there were formal investigations
and, of those, the number for which abuse or neglect was confirmed.
The data compares child abuse and neglect confirmations for two
three-year periods (Fiscal Years 1984 through 1986 and Fiscal
Years 1997 through 1999). Rates are displayed as confirmations
per 1,000 children (under age 18). Base child population data
for the state and counties is the midpoint between the 1980 and
1990 Census populations. Current child population data for the
state and counties is estimated by the U.S. Bureau of the Census
for 1996, 1997 and 1998. Race is reported as White, Black, Indian,
Hispanic, Asian and Other/Unknown. Hispanic children, for the
purposes of this data, are counted as races, rather than as ethnic
groups preventing precise racial comparisons between this data
and other data in the Oklahoma KIDS COUNT Factbook.
SOURCE: Child abuse and neglect data provided
by the Division of Child Welfare, Oklahoma Department of Human
Services (DHS): Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Population data provided
by the Oklahoma State Data Center, Planning and Research Division,
Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC), using U.S. Bureau of
the Census, Census of the Population and Housing 1980, Summary
Tape File 1A; U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of the Population
and Housing 1990, Summary Tape File 1A; U.S. Bureau of the Census,
Population Estimates Branch, 1996; U.S. Bureau of the Census,
Population Estimates Branch, 1997; and U.S. Bureau of the Census,
Population Estimates Branch, 1998.
Child
Deaths
are the number of deaths of children from ages 1 through 14. Teen
Deaths are the number of deaths of youth from ages
15 through 19. The data is reported by place of residence, not
place of death. The data counts deaths from all causes. The data
compares the death rates for two three-year periods (1984 through
1986 and 1996 through 1998), resulting in three-year rates. Rates
are displayed as deaths per 100,000 children from ages 1 through
14 and deaths per 100,000 teens from ages 15 through 19. Base
child population data for the state and counties is the midpoint
between the 1980 and 1990 Census populations. Current child population
data for the state and counties is estimated by the U.S. Bureau
of the Census for 1996, 1997 and 1998 and adjusted by the State
Data Center to arrive at a current estimate of the number of children
from the ages of 1 through 14. Current teen population data for
the state is estimated by the U.S. Bureau of the Census for 1996,
1997 and 1998 and adjusted by the State Data Center to arrive
at a current estimate of the number of teens from the ages of
15 through 19. State totals may vary from the total of all the
counties since state totals may include deaths for which the county
of residence was unknown. Cause of Death
measures the percent of deaths that are caused by diseases, accidents
and violence. By definition, deaths by violence include murder,
suicide and deaths that occur during legal interventions. Race
is reported as White, Black and American Indian. Other races are
included in numbers and calculations for White.
SOURCE:
Death data provided by Family Health Service, Oklahoma State
Department of Health (OSDH): Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Population
data provided by the Oklahoma State Data Center, Planning and
Research Division, Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC), using
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of the Population and Housing
1980, Summary Tape File 1A; U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census
of the Population and Housing 1990, Summary Tape File 1A; U.S.
Bureau of the Census, Population Estimates Branch, 1996; U.S.
Bureau of the Census, Population Estimates Branch, 1997; and
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Population Estimates Branch, 1998.
High School Dropouts count
youths of any age who quit school without graduating. The data
presents the number of high school drop-outs for a three-year
period (School Year 1996/97 through 1998/99). The data also presents
the total number of high school drop-outs who are under the age
of 19. High School Dropout Rates
compare number of high school drop-outs under age 19 to the enrollment
in grades 9 through 12. School officials in Oklahoma are required
to notify the State Department of Education of the name, address,
race and age of any pupil dropping out of school. 70 O.Supp. 1996
sec. 35e(A). Race is reported as White, Black, Indian, Asian and
Hispanic. There is no provision for reporting other races. Hispanic
children, for the purposes of this data, are counted as a race,
rather than an ethnic group pre-venting precise racial comparisons
between this data and other data in the Oklahoma KIDS COUNT Factbook.
SOURCE:
Data provided by the Office of Accountability, Education Oversight
Board: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Juvenile
Violent Crime Arrests count arrests of youth from the
ages of 10 through 17 for violent offenses (homicide, forcible
rape, robbery, or aggravated assault). The annual arrest figures
include all arrests for violent offenses dur-ing the year, including
repeated arrests of the same indi-vidual for different offenses.
Rates compare the number of arrests of youth ages 10 through 17
for violent offens-es (homicide, forcible rape, robbery, or aggravated
assault) to all children ages 10 through 17 and is report-ed as
a rate per 100,000 youths. The data compares juvenile violent
crime rates for two three-year periods (1990 through 1992 and
1997 through 1999). Base child population data for the state and
counties is the 1990 Census population. Current child population
data for the state and counties is estimated by the U.S. Bureau
of the Census for 1997 and 1998 and adjusted by the State Data
Center to arrive at an estimate of the number of children from
the ages of 10 through 17. Increases in the number of arrests
may reflect increases in juvenile crime, changes in police activity
and changes in public policy. While policies and practices regarding
juvenile arrests may vary from county to county and city to city,
it is widely believed that the policies are more consistent for
violent crimes than for less serious crimes. Data collected counts
juveniles by age or by race, but age and race cannot be compared.
Race is reported as White, Black, Indian, and Asian. There is
no provision for reporting other races. Hispanic Origin is counted
separately and as an ethnicity, not as a race. Oklahoma KIDS COUNT
reports juvenile violent crime arrest data on a state and county
basis. Several counties reported no juvenile violent crime arrests
in the years included in the Oklahoma KIDS COUNT Factbook.
SOURCE:
Arrest data provided by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
(OSBI): Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Population data provided by
the Oklahoma State Data Center, Planning and Research Division,
Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC), using U.S. Bureau of
the Census, Census of the Population and Housing 1990, Summary
Tape File 1A; U.S. Bureau of the Census, Population Estimates
Branch, 1997; and U.S. Bureau of the Census, Population Estimates
Branch, 1998.
Additional
References
W.
Steven Barnett. (1996). Lives in the Balance: Age-27 Benefit-Cost
Analysis of the High Scope Perry Preschool Program. Ypsilanti,
Michigan: The High/Scope Press.
Carnegie
Foundation. (1994). Starting Points.
The
Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2000). KIDS COUNT Data Book:
State Profiles of Child Well-Being. Baltimore, MD.
The
Annie E. Casey Foundation. (1999). KIDS COUNT Special Report:
The Right Start: Conditions of Babies and Their Families in America's
Largest Cities. Baltimore, MD.
Early
Learning, Later Success: The Abecedarian Study.
Fight
Crime: Invest in Kids. (2000). American's Child Care Crisis: A
Crime Prevention Tragedy.
Governor's
Task Force on Early Childhood Education. (December 13, 2000).
Report and Recommendations for Oklahoma Infants, Toddlers and
Preschool Children (from Birth through Age Four) and their Families.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
S.
Helburn, ed. (1995). Costs, Quality and Child Outcomes in Child
Care Centers: technical report. Denver, CO.: Department of Economics,
Center for Research in Economic and Social Policy, University
of Colorado.
R.
Maynard, Ed. (1996). Kids Having Kids, A Special Report on
the Costs of Adolescent Childbearing. Robin Hood Foundation:
New York, New York.
National
Council of Jewish Women. (1999). Opening a New Window on Child
Care: A Report on the Status of Child Care in the Nation Today.
New York, New York: NCJW.
The
Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. (1999). Oklahoma
KIDS COUNT Factbook: 1999. Oklahoma Department of Commerce,
Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, S Design, Contracts
& Consultation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation: Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma. OICA: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Oklahoma
State Bureau of Investigation. (1998). Uniform Crime Report. Oklahoma
State Bureau of Investigation: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Rima
Shore. (1997). Rethinking the Brain: New Insights into Early
Development (Executive Summary). New Yor k, New York: Families
and Work Institute.
Southern
Institute for Children and Families. (April 2000). Child Care
in the Southern States: Expanding Access to Affordable Care for
Low-Income Families and Fostering Economic Development.
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