D. Child Poverty

CHILD POVERTY

Child poverty has various negative effects on the physical and mental health of children. According to Orange County Children’s Partnerships (OCCP), poverty is linked to substandard housing, homelessness, inadequate nutrition, food insecurity, inadequate child care, lack of access to health care, and generally unsafe neighborhoods. The implications for children living in poverty include greater risk for poor academic achievement, school dropout, abuse and neglect, behavioral and socioemotional problems, physical health problems and developmental delays.

Evidently, poverty is a relevant indicator as it creates barriers to health promotion and management. The overall percentage of residents living in poverty in Orange County is 12.1%. Approximately 16.4% of children (ages 017) live in poverty, 5.3% of children live in deep poverty (<50% Federal Poverty Threshold) and 5.8% of Orange County children are considered homeless. 13

25.0%

Orange County Children Living in Poverty

20.0%

15.0%

16.9% 17.6% 17.6% 20.8% 20.3%

16.9% 16.4%

10.0%

5.0%

0.0%

2009-2013 2010-2014 2011-2015 2012-2016 2013-2017

Orange County California National

Source: United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2009-2017

13 U.S. Census Bureau, 2016 American Community Survey. As cited on www.kidsdata.org, a program of the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health. Retrieved 7/2019.