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Data and Sources:
ESSENTIAL NEEDS
- 41% of central Iowa renters are housing-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on rent.
- Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year estimates,
2018-2022 - 36% of children in central Iowa who are food insecure are not eligible for nutrition assistance.
- Source: Feeding America
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
- Nearly half of central Iowans are not financially stable.
- Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year estimates,
2018-2022
- 75% of central Iowa children under the age of 6 have all parents and/or caregivers in the workforce.
- Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year estimates,
2018-2022 - In central Iowa, 46% of individuals have household incomes below the ALICE stability threshold.
- Source: United for ALICE
EARLY CHILDHOOD SUCCESS
- 65% of Iowa children age 3 and under do not receive developmental screenings.
- Source: National Survey of Children’s Health - Kindergarten readiness dropped 14% among central Iowa children over the last 6 years.
- Source: Iowa Department of Education - Iowa ranks #1 in the nation for the percentage of households in which all parents or caregivers of young children are in the workforce.
- Source: Kids Count
EDUCATION SUCCESS
- 24% of central Iowa students are chronically absent from school. This number increases to 36% for students from lower-income backgrounds.
- Source: Iowa Department of Education - Since 2014 the percentage of youth who report having a caring adult in their life has dropped from 90% to 75%.
- Source: Iowa Youth Survey - More than 25% of central Iowa graduates do not have a plan beyond high school. For students from lower-income backgrounds, the number increases to nearly 40%.
- Source: Iowa Department of Education
HEALTH & WELL-BEING
- 57% of youth in Iowa do not receive the mental health services they need.
- Source: Mental Health America - In Iowa, there are 570 individuals for every 1 mental health provider.
- Source: Mental Health America - 44% of Iowa adults with mental illness receive no treatment at all.
- Source: Mental Health America - Children relying on Medicaid wait an average of 12 weeks for an appointment with a new mental healthcare provider.
- Source: Blank Children’s Hospital, UnityPoint
INCREASING FOOD SECURITY
- In central Iowa, 10% of the population is food insecure, including 14% of children under age 18 — nearly 23,000 children.
- Source: Feeding America
CREATING YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES
- In central Iowa, 6.6% of youth ages 16-19 are disengaged from school or work.
- Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year estimates,
2018-2022
ADDRESSING CHILDCARE CAPACITY
- The median hourly wage for a childcare employee in the metro area is only $11.72.
- Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - Individuals working in childcare earn $4,500 below the living wage in central Iowa.
- Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - In Polk County, there is only 1 licensed childcare slot for every 2 children.
- Source: Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral