® N E W A R K Kids Count 2018 A City Profile of Child Well-Being Giving Every Child A Chance® Kids Count 2018 NEWARK A City Profile of Child Well-Being ACNJ Staff Advocates for Children of New Jersey would like to thank each of these individuals and agencies for their help and cooperation on this project: Cecilia Zalkind, President & CEO Peter Chen, Staff Attorney Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Roger Andoh Mary Coogan, Vice President Lana Lee, Media Relations Manager Newark Public Schools: Nayibe Capellan, Kate Fletcher, Brad Haggerty, Ana Osoria Sheldon Presser, Senior Policy Analyst Newark Police Department: Sergeant Todd Mazur Alana Vega, Kids Count Coordinator N.J. Department of Agriculture ACNJ Board of Trustees N.J. Department of Children and Families: Aziz Haidi, Brian Ross N.J. Department of Education: Tonya Hall-Coston, Ellen Wolock Officers: N.J. Department of Health: Steven Dunagan, Darrin Goldman, Andrea Mahon, Daniel Said Robert Sterling, Chair Susan E. Flynn N.J. Department of Human Services: Akosua Asante, Janet Taylor, Joanne Taylor, Gerard Thiers, Vice Chair F. Lee Forrester, J.S.C., Retired Jacqueline Tencza, Joseph Vetrano Gail Houlihan, Treasurer Laurence E. Fundler, Esq. N.J. Department of Treasury: Mario Zapicchi Vito Gagliardi, Ed.D. N.J. Juvenile Justice Commission: Joelle Kenney Sara Thom, Secretary Stuart Grant, L.S.W., A.C.S.W. U.S. Internal Revenue Service: Corsetta Wilson Members: Eileen Leahey A special thank you to the child care centers and Newark Public Schools staff who helped Darrin Anderson, Sr., M.S., Ph.D. Reginald Lewis arrange our focus groups and the Newark parents who graciously participated. John Boyne, L.C.S.W. Nicole McGrath, D.D.S. Brenda Considine Margaret McLeod Cynthia Crenshaw José Carlos Montes, M.Div. Lorraine D’Sylva-Lee Jennifer J. Robinson, Ed.D. Louise Eagle Kendell Sprott, M.D., J.D. Maurice Elias, Ph.D. Richard Trenk, Esq. Charles Venti ACNJ would like to thank The Fund for New Jersey, Greater Newark LISC and New Jersey 35 Halsey Street Health Initiatives, the statewide grant making program of the Robert Wood Johnson Newark, NJ 07102 Foundation, which along with the Victoria Foundation funded this year’s special section (973) 643-3876 on lead. (973) 643-9153 (fax) ® ACNJ acknowledges that the findings and conclusions presented in this report are those of [email protected] the author(s) alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the funders. For more information or to view other Kids Count data online, visit www.acnj.org Connect with us! Advocates for Children of New Jerseyis the trusted, independent voice Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/acnjforkids putting children’s needs first for more than 35 years. Our work results in better laws and policies, more effective funding and stronger services for children and Follow us on Twitter attwitter.com/acnjforkids families. And it means that more children are given the chance to grow up safe, View our videos at youtube.com/acnjforkids healthy, and educated. Advocates for Children of New Jersey © 2018 Table of Contents x | Special Section: Childhood Lead Exposure in Newark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1 | Demographics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Child Population, Total Births, Households Headed by One Parent 2 | Family Economic Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Economically Disadvantaged Children, Unemployment, Earned Income Tax Credit, Housing Costs 3 | Food Insecurity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Nutritional Benefits, School Breakfast 4 | Child Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Prenatal Care, Infant and Child Deaths, Health Insurance 5 | Child Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Children Under Supervision, Child Abuse and Neglect 6 | Child Care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Child Care Availability, Home Visitation Programs 7 | Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 School Enrollment, Chronic Absenteeism, State Assessments, High School Graduation 8 | Teens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Births to Teens, Teen Health, Juvenile Arrests, Juveniles in Detention Giving Every Child A Chance® | 1 Introduction How to use the Newark Data Book A few things to remember: For over 20 years, Advocates for Children of New Jersey has published the Newark Kids Count Data Book, a one-stop source for child well-being ■ Moments and Trends. data on the state’s largest city. Newark Kids Count includes the latest ACNJ collects and displays data for statistics, along with five-year trend data, in the following areas: multiple years including the most demographics, family economic security, food insecurity, child health, recent year available. The most child protection, child care, education and teens. recent moment may tell us one fact (such as the number of births in a given year), while the trend This year’s data book features a special section on childhood lead line tells us something else (births to teens declined over the exposure and prevention efforts in Newark. last five years). ■ Newark vs. Essex vs. New Jersey data.ACNJ compares Policymakers,including elected officials and government agencies, use Newark data to Essex County and New Jersey statewide data where the data to make informed decisions. available. These comparisons help tell whether trends are occurring Service providersuse the data to improve their response to emerging equally in all places (such as the unemployment rate, p. 21) or child-related issues in their communities or cities. whether trends are changing faster in one place (such as the number of foreign-born children, p. 15). Grant writersuse the data to write proposals and solicit support for programs that help children and families. ■ Calculations and Data Sources.When using this book, please take into account that some percentages and numbers are based on Concerned residents become better, more informed advocates using estimates. Smaller geographies, like cities, counties, or school dis- the data to identify and address problems facing children and families in tricts sometimes result in suppressed data or significant margins of their community. error. Additionally, certain indicators represent different points in time such as school years, fiscal years, or calendar years. Please re- view the data sources listed at the end of each section for further in- formation on individual indicators. Giving Every Child A Chance® | 3 Special Section 1 Demographics Childhood Lead Exposure in Newark Introduction Impacts of Lead Newark’s progress in reducing lead poisoning in children is a powerful State law now recognizes that children exposed to lead, even at low success story of advocacy, policy change and education. But Newark’s levels, are in danger of harmful mental and physical health outcomes. legacy of lead continues to leach into the Lead is a toxic metal that can cause lifelong harm to mental and bodies of its most vulnerable children. physical health. When young children are exposed at even very “My sister’s son got lead Newark has made progress towards reducing low levels, it can lead to impaired brain development that cannot poisoning. He was real the number of children exposed to lead. But be reversed. Children may not show symptoms until they are in hyperactive and it affected far too many children remain at risk of lead school, but child lead exposure has been linked with aggression, his learning. It happened exposure and more than a quarter of tested attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and poor memory. There two years ago, and now children continue to have some level of lead is no safe level of lead for children. they’re saying he has in their blood. Newark’s kids need extensive ADHD and it’s probably Because lead exposure may not come with immediate symptoms, targeted investment to end lead poisoning. the problem can fly under the radar. But every so often, the public because of the lead.” Although some programs exist to prevent or is reminded of the continued presence of lead. In early 2016, – Newark parent test for lead in Newark, families may not Newark public school buildings were found to have water sources take full advantage of these programs due with lead levels above the legal limit. This led to changes in state to limited community knowledge of these programs, the high cost of law and increased public awareness campaigns about lead. lead remediation and abatement and a lack of coordination with Notably, the State of New Jersey passed legislation that reduced the other programs. amount of lead needed to trigger medical case management to 5 micro- City officials, health care providers and community-based organizations grams per deciliter, in line with federal recommendations. The State need to develop a lead prevention strategy that contacts families and has also provided $20 million in additional funding for lead prevention children directly where they live, work, play and receive services. and treatment efforts, after underfunding these programs for years. [See page 5 for more details]. | acnj.org 4 Special Section: Childhood Lead Exposure in Newark | 1 Timeline of developments in lead poisoning and prevention 1978 1996 2000 2004 2004– 2016 2017 2015 Use of lead paint is New Jersey’s uni- A coalition of The State of New JANUARY: FEBRUARY: banned in the United versal lead screening New Jersey advocacy Jersey began funding Governor Christie Governor Christie States. Before 1978, law, which ACNJ groups, headed by the Lead Hazard After the fund was vetoes legislation signs legislation lead paint and helped to pass, the American Civil Control Assistance created, governors that would have added lowering the blood varnish were regularly required local health Liberties Union Fund, created by and state legislative $10 million into lead lead level requiring used in homes and departments to and ACNJ, began a legislation authored budgets diverted paint removal from health department businesses. Newark screen all New Jersey campaign to improve by Newark state money from the old housing. action to 5 micro- was home to many children for elevated lead screening rates. Senator Ronald Rice. Lead Hazard Control grams per deciliter MARCH: paint manufacturers blood lead levels. This coalition worked This fund used a tax Assistance Fund to and approves $10 Newark Public which regularly This year, lead was with state depart- on paint cans to pay pay for other govern- million in his budget Schools announces produced lead paint. finally banned ments, local health for lead removal ment programs. to help local health that 30 school build- from gasoline. departments, child and control projects. Between $77 and departments pay for ings recorded elevated care centers and That same year, New $154 million was the added costs of levels of lead in school health care providers Jersey published its diverted from the providing services to water supplies. to develop better lead poisoning fund, leaving it with these children. lead surveillance eliminationplan as only $23 million over OCTOBER: MARCH: and accountability required by the this 12-year period.1 Governor Christie Newark Public systems for doctors, Centers for Disease creates $10 million Schools announces hospitals, insurance Control and Preven- lead remediation pilot that its repairs and companies and tion (CDC). program to 8 non- replacements ensure local departments profit organizations that all students have of health. throughout the state access to safe and to remove lead from clean drinking water. 500 housing units. La Casa de Don Pedro received a grant to remediate homes in Essex County including Newark, East Orange and Irvington. Giving Every Child A Chance® | 5 Special Section: Childhood Lead Exposure in Newark Newark’s rates of lead exposure have Percentage of Children Under Age 6 with historically been above the state average Elevated Blood Lead Levels, 2016* and remain that way to this day. 6%_________________________________________________________________ As a result, the city has been the focal point for efforts to reduce lead poisoning 5%_________4_.7_%____________________4_._7_%_______________________________ and exposure. 4%_________________________________________________________________ 3%______________________________________________________2_.8_%_________ 2%_________________________________________________________________ 1%_________________________________________________________________ 0%_________________________________________________________________ Newark Essex New Jersey *Note:Elevated blood lead levels indicate children tested with 5 or more micrograms per deciliter. Percentage of Tested Newark Children 6–26 Months with Past Successes Elevated Blood Lead Levels (EBLL) Thanks to substantial state and federal investment, the number of children tested 8%_____________________________________________________________________________________________ with high levels of lead in their blood has 7%_____________________________________________________________________________________________ declined substantially since 2005. In the 5.9% 7.1% 6%_____________________________________________________________________________________________ year 2000, an advocacy coalition, led by 6.8% 6.1% 6.1% ACNJ and the ACLU, began a campaign to 5%_____________________________________________________________________________________________ ensure that all children in New Jersey are 5.3% 4%_____________________________________________________________________________________________ tested for lead. This led to the State creating 3.5% an information management system to 3%_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 2.4% track and monitor screening and treatment 2%____________________________1_._6_%______________________________________________________________ activities. Major state legislation in 2003 1.4% 1.3% 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% funded lead remediation and prevention 1%______________________________________________________________0_._8_%______________0_._8_%___________ efforts. Additionally, many New Jersey 0%_____________________________________________________________________________________________ municipalities received federal housing 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 grants to reduce lead hazards. Newark Percentage of Children with ≥ 5 micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood currently receives a federal Housing and Percentage of Children with ≥10 micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood Urban Development grant to reduce lead Note:Data on children tested with 5-9 micrograms per deciliter of lead in their blood were not collected before 2012. hazards in homes. In 2013, the New Jersey Department of Health changed its measure from children ages 6-29 months to children ages 6-26 months. | acnj.org 6 Special Section: Childhood Lead Exposure in Newark | 1 Notably, the number of children under Remaining Challenges ages 6-26 months tested with more than 10 micrograms per deciliter of lead in Despite the progress in Newark, the harmful effects of lead remain. Research shows that poverty and their blood declined from 5.9 percent old housing stock are strong indicators of lead risk.2 in 2006 to 1.0 percent Newark has high rates of both. As indicated in this year’s Newark Kids Count, in 2016. “This winter, my kitchen 37 percent of Newark families with children live under the poverty level. Additionally, window fell out. And we Newark has also seen a Newark’s housing stock is relatively old, with 73 percent of households living in homes decline in the number of put it back but the windows built before 1980, two years after lead paint was banned. children testing at the in my house all need to be The most up-to-date science recognizes that even very small amounts of lead in a child’s new reference level of replaced. But they haven’t body can cause lifelong damage. The State of New Jersey has recognized this fact by low- 5 micrograms per done anything except wrap ering the blood lead level necessary to trigger state action, from 10 micrograms per deciliter. New Jersey the windows in plastic to deciliter to 5. This reflects federal CDC recommendations. only began tracking this keep the heat in.” But even below this 5 microgram per deciliter threshold, small amounts of lead can affect data in 2012 and the – Newark parent a child’s brain development, even impacting academic achievement in their teen years.3 new lower reference level took effect in 2017. Although the number of children with extremely high lead levels has declined over time, low-level exposure in Newark children remains pervasive. Roughly one quarter of Newark kids have Prior efforts to improve testing rates some detectable lead in their blood — below the legal limit but still impacting their development. have continued to show positive effects. Newark continues to have a high rate of Children who test in the 3-4 microgram per deciliter range are not required to receive additional children being tested for lead poisoning medical case management, but they are likely being exposed to lead in their environment. — 57 percent for children under age 6, and 59 percent for children 6-26 months. Percentage of Newark Children Under Age 6 with This is substantially higher than the state 3-4 Micrograms of Lead Per Deciliter of Blood rate for both age groups. 30%_____________________________________________________________________________________________ In short, Newark has continued testing a majority of children for lead in their 25%_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 29% 29% 28% blood, with fewer children being found 20%________2_6_%___________________________________________________________________________________ 24% with high levels each year. 15%_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 10%_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 5%_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 0%_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Data note: Data for this table was produced with a special data request from the New Jersey Department of Health. Data on the number of tested children in Newark with blood lead levels between 3 and 4 micrograms per deciliter was received on December 29, 2017. Percentages were calculated using the number of children tested as reported in annual statewide lead reports produced by the New Jersey Department of Health. Giving Every Child A Chance® | 7 1 Special Section: Childhood Lead Exposure in Newark Programs That Target Prevention When a child is tested for lead and has an elevated blood lead level, the well as free blood lead testing for children at its clinic. For information City of Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness begins a about these free services, call 1-800-734-7083. process to find the source of a child’s lead exposure and eliminate it. If the ■ The City of Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness lead source is found to be a home, the homeowner is required to abate or provides temporary lead-safe housing for families displaced by lead remove the lead. abatement work. Beyond this legally mandated abatement program, however, various ■ The City of Newark Water and Sewer Department provides free services for lead prevention exist throughout Newark: lead testing for water and is providing homeowners with a program ■ La Casa de Don Pedro has received a $1 million grant from the New to replace lead water lines for free. Residents who suspect their Jersey Department of Community Affairs to help get the lead out of water contains lead should contact the Department of Water 1- and 2-family homes in Newark. and Sewer Utilities at (973) 733-6303 or by e-mail at ■ The City of Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness [email protected] arrange to have their water tested for lead and/or get a service line inspection for free. provides free lead inspections to any family who requests them, as Newark completes its home investigations and abatements at a lower rate than other New Jersey health departments with high caseloads and similar demographics. Activity Status for Cases with Elevated Blood Lead Levels, 2016 Local Health Cases Investigation Investigation % Investigation Abatement Abatement % Abatement Department Referred Required Completed Completed Required Completed Completed Newark 86 38 6 16% 14 0 0% Jersey City 61 45 44 98% 18 6 33% Trenton 40 31 31 100% 24 3 13% Paterson 29 26 26 100% 15 8 53% Irvington 28 12 12 100% 9 1 11% Plainfield 25 19 18 95% 16 8 50% Note: Health departments may provide lead case management for cases outside their city limits. There may be multiple causes of this slow abatement rate. One obstacle is the impact of the cost of abatement on landlords, particularly those who own only a few properties. Other factors that can lead to a longer abatement process include difficulty in identifying absentee property owners and lengthy enforcement actions against property owners. | acnj.org 8