Kern County is a low income, rural community that is home to 245,124 children, ages 0-18. Of the children in the county, 5% are African American, 3% are Asian American, 53% are Latino, 36% are white, and 3% are of multiple or other ethnicities.

The following data represent key environmental influences and outcomes pertaining to children’s well-being in Kern County, from birth through adolescence.

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HOW TO USE THE DATA

  • Hover over any "i" icon to view a complete definition of the item.
  • Click on any indicator title to view the county’s performance on that indicator relative to other similar counties in terms of population density (i.e., rural or urban) and per capita income of families with children (i.e., low, middle and high income). This may help you to identify where best practices are being applied in counties like your own.
  • The complete methodology, including Notes & Sources, is available here.
   
    Low Medium High Trend   Latino White African American Asian Other
Children who report "very good" to "excellent health"   60%     -4%   47% 77% 52% 65% 34%
Children with health insurance   89%     +2%   84% 94% 100% 100% 70%
Children who see a dentist regularly   73%     -4%   56% 84% 76% LNE 85%
Newborns breastfed exclusively while in the hospital   23%     -3%   14% 45% 12% 20% 36%
Asthmatic children who do not visit the ER for asthma symptoms   73%     NA   66% 76% 67% 100% 92%
Adolescents not at risk for depression   74%     +8%   77% 83% 81% 85% 100%
Children within the healthy weight zone   64%     -2%   60% 71% 64% 76% 70%
Children who live within walking distance to a park, playground or open space     77%   NA   74% 77% 84% 78% 75%
Schools with nurses     5%   +89%   NA NA NA NA NA
Adolescents who feel connected to an adult       68% +3%   64% 74% 68% 64% 69%
Children who are supervised during after school hours       55% -1%   NA NA NA NA NA
Elementary and middle school students who feel safe in their school   68%     +2%   NA NA NA NA NA
High school students who feel safe and have not been victimized at school   25%     +12%   25% 29% 19% 32% 20%
Children who are safe on and around roads   76%     -5%   80% 75% 73% LNE 72%
Children in the child welfare system who are safe from repeat maltreatment   90%     +2%   91% 89% 89% 77% 100%
Adolescents who are substance-free       63% +5%   63% 59% 77% 78% 61%
Children and youth who are safe from homicide   84%     -5%   NA NA NA NA NA
Youth arrests for nonviolent crimes     94%   +1%   NA NA NA NA NA
Women who receive prenatal care by the end of the second trimester   96%     -2%   96% 97% 96% 97% 98%
Young children who are read to often     90%   -4%   90% 87% 100% 100% LNE
3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in preschool   29%     NA   28% 29% 40% LNE 28%
Children who miss no more than four school days due to illness       100% +3%   100% 100% LNE LNE 100%
Children who feel connected to their school     36%   +19%   32% 44% 28% 42% 34%
4th-graders who meet or exceed state standards in English Language Arts   43%     +34%   35% 59% 35% 59% 49%
8th-graders enrolled in Algebra   37%     +46%   37% 38% 27% 69% 17%
10th-graders who pass the English portion of the CAHSEE   70%     +23%   63%  83% 59% LNE 81%
NA - Not Available; LNE - Low Number Event