Merced County is a low income, rural community that is home to 79,004 children, ages 0-18. Of the children in the county, 2% are African American, 7% are Asian American, 62% are Latino, 26% 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 Merced 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"   63%     +3%   51% 78% 69% 61% 64%
Children with health insurance   93%     +1%   90% 97% LNE 89% 93%
Children who see a dentist regularly   75%     0%   75% 76% 89% LNE LNE
Newborns breastfed exclusively while in the hospital   28%     -2%   23% 45% 26% 15% 24%
Asthmatic children who do not visit the ER for asthma symptoms   72%     NA   73% 72% LNE LNE LNE
Adolescents not at risk for depression   72%     +2%   LNE 78% LNE 54% 100%
Children within the healthy weight zone   63%     +1%   60% 67% 62% 82% 65%
Children who live within walking distance to a park, playground or open space     71%   NA   67% 73% 72% 74% 72%
Schools with nurses     5%   -37%   NA NA NA NA NA
Adolescents who feel connected to an adult   61%     -3%   59% 71% 59% 52% 62%
Children who are supervised during after school hours       57% -5%   NA NA NA NA NA
Elementary and middle school students who feel safe in their school   68%     -1%   NA NA NA NA NA
High school students who feel safe and have not been victimized at school     27%   +26%   25% 29% 26% 33% 25%
Children who are safe on and around roads   73%     -6%   77% 71% LNE LNE LNE
Children in the child welfare system who are safe from repeat maltreatment   90%     +1%   91% 88% 86% LNE 93%
Adolescents who are substance-free     57%   -2%   57% 52% 60% 67% 55%
Children and youth who are safe from homicide     89%   -3%   NA NA NA NA NA
Youth arrests for nonviolent crimes   94%     0%   NA NA NA NA NA
Women who receive prenatal care by the end of the second trimester   93%     +3%   92% 95% 92% 93% 96%
Young children who are read to often       96% +26%   93% 99% LNE LNE 100%
3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in preschool   28%     NA   23% 31% 100% 51% 5%
Children who miss no more than four school days due to illness       94% -5%   88% 100% LNE 100% LNE
Children who feel connected to their school   32%     +13%   30% 33% 31% 34% 32%
4th-graders who meet or exceed state standards in English Language Arts   44%     +63%   40% 60% 38% 43% 63%
8th-graders enrolled in Algebra       57% +215%   52% 67% 47% 77% 26%
10th-graders who pass the English portion of the CAHSEE   69%     +23%    65%  81% 61% 57% 76%
NA - Not Available; LNE - Low Number Event