“Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed.”

President Abraham Lincoln

Facing Facts Forum 2008

Facing Facts 2008Public Forum

Santee-Lynches Regional COGJuly 30, 2009

Facing Facts 2008• 2006 The original tri-county report was completed by Santee-Lynches Regional COG and the United Way of Sumter, Clarendon and Lee Counties using the input of about 30 community and industrial leaders and concerned citizens who represented diverse segments of the three counties.

• 2008 Tri-county report Update (Facing Facts 2008) was completed.

• 2008 Separate Kershaw County report was completed as part of Facing Facts 2008 by Santee-Lynches Regional COG and the United Way of Kershaw County using the input of about 30 community and industrial leaders and concerned citizens who represented diverse segments of the county.

If we as a community know where it is

we need to go:

1) We as a community need to also understand where we are now; and …

2) In the process, identify and commit together to overcome the barriers that prevent us from achieving our common goals.

Risk factors contributing to readiness gaps#1 Disability: Primarily speech and language disorders, but also

mental, emotional, vision, hearing and learning disabilities. (Cause: Mostly Genetic, Partly Environmental.)

#2 Emotional/Behavioral Problems: Lack all the following on standardized measurement in Kindergarten: Self-control, social problem-solving, interaction with others, and self-concept. (Cause: Mostly Environmental, Partly Genetic)

#3 Low Literacy Skills: Low vocabulary, language skills and literacy experiences developed primarily at home with family. A direct result generally of a mother without a diploma/GED.

(Cause: All environmental)

#4 Poor: On Free Lunch (under 130% of poverty)

Source: S.C. Kids Count 2009

For every 10 kids in S.C.

4

2.1

1.3

Below Basic in 5th Grade

Far Below Basic in 5th Grade

Number in Top-3 risk factors (Disability, Emotional/Behavioral Problems, Low

Literacy Skills)

6

1.3

0.5

Below Basic in 5th Grade

Far Below Basic in 5th Grade

Number not having Top-3 risk factors (Disability, Emotional/Behavioral Problems,

Low Literacy Skills)

Source: S.C. Kids Count 2009

Source: S.C. DHEC, Division of Biostatistics, 2001-’07 data

Source: S.C. DHEC, Division of Biostatistics, 1997, 2003-’07 data

Impact of teen births & out-of-wedlock births• Teen births: Very high risk of mothers not earning H.S.

Diploma/GED, curtailing lifelong earnings potential

• Out-of-wedlock births: 1 in 3 mothers have less than H.S. Diploma/GED, curtailing lifelong earnings potential

-------------

• Significant economic strain – Family poverty, Medicaid dependent

• Poor levels of prenatal care received by mother

• Inadequate parenting skills (nurturance, discipline, teaching,

language use for skill development)

• Child-care dependent – An additional barrier to parent’s employment, job training, and/or continuing education

• Children more likely to perform poorly in school (i.e. “at-risk” of not graduating), engage in criminal activity, and become teen/out-of-wedlock parents themselves

Source: U.S. Census 2000

Area Minority childrenin single-parent families

White childrenin single-parent families

Clarendon 53.2% 17.9%

Kershaw 48.2% 18.5%

Lee 51.6% 18.1%

Sumter 49.0% 17.3%

STATE 52.0% 19.0%

Source: U.S. Census 2000

Single-parent families – Who’s affected?

Single-parent families & poverty

Area Children insingle-parent

families in poverty

Children inmarried-couple

families in povertyClarendon 42.7% 11.5%

Kershaw 30.4% 5.4%

Lee 39.9% 9.0%

Sumter 36.6% 7.2%

STATE 34.0% 6.2%

Source: U.S. Census 2000

Children 17-and-under in poverty

AreaMinority children

in poverty

White children in poverty

Clarendon 36.3% 12.1%

Kershaw 30.8% 10.3%

Lee 33.5% 1.9%

Sumter 32.0% 7.7%

STATE 31.9% 9.4%

Source: U.S. Census 2000

Source: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, 2002-’06 data

5-year summary of drug arrests in state by demographic (2002-’06)

• 45.8% African-American males

• 36.2% White males

• 11.0% White females

• 6.4% African-American females

• 0.5% Other races

Source: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, 2002-’06 data

WEIGHING THE COSTSINCARCERATION - VERSUS - EDUCATION

1 Adult Inmate 1 Juvenile 1 Student

incarcerated incarcerated

in state in state In State

$44.98/day $190/day $22.35/day

$16,462/year $34,200/year $8,159/year

THE DIFFERENCES

Adult Inmate/Student Juvenile/Student

Cost per day nearly double Cost per day more than

(1.77 times as expensive) seven times as expensive

Sources: Fiscal 2008 current operational expenses from S.C. Department of Corrections, S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice, and S.C. Department of Education

1 Studenteducatedin state

$25.39/day$9,268/year

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970-2008 data

Source: U.S. Census 2000

United Way

Common Good Forecaster

www.liveunited.org/forecaster

CONSIDER THESE OPPORTUNITIES …America After the Recession

“Think about the PC [laptops, cell phones], the kids who are growing up with this technology today are, most literally, having their brains wired by it. And your 20s are the most productive period for genius. We have barely begun to see the kinds of changes that are coming.”

Rick NewmanUS News and World Report – March 2009

Market Commentary“Where has all the money that has been taken out of the stock market gone? A big piece of it is in the money market funds. According to the latest data released by the FED on January 2, 2009 there is $3.2 trillion in retail and institutional money funds…”

“As the economy stabilizes and earnings recover, money markets have the potential to be a tremendous tailwind for financial markets.”

Scott & StringfellowPrivate Client Insight – Winter 2009

Revised July 27, 2009

Facing Facts Response Strategy Components

2018

2017

2016 __

2015 __

2014 __ ..

2013 __

2012 __ .

2011 __ ..

2010 __ ..

2009 __

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Key Economic Impact Events and Projected Start Dates

National Recession Recovery – 2010 Regional/ Local Recession Recovery – 2012 Global Economy/Trade related to modifications

and improvements to the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal to accommodate super container cargo ships -2014 (US)

Opportunity Timeline

.. Window of Opportunity

24 – 36 months to invest and build community consensus and institutional capacity necessary to overcome negative trends and to prepare to see and capture new economic opportunities.

.

Note: What happens in this 5-7 year period depends upon what happens in the window of opportunity. D

ates

Years

We are here

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS Successful Interaction Among 3 Key

Community Components Is Required to Generate Constructive Change: At-large community’s willingness to embrace

constructive change State and local public officials’ responsiveness to

the community’s desire for constructive change Openness to redesign and delivery of pivotal

programs and services; monitor outcomes

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW?

There is a clear need for a diversity of champions to lead our regional community in changing its present paradigm:– Black, Hispanic, and White Citizens– Men, Women, and Youth– Young and Old– Low Income and Wealthy

WHERE TO START? As a volunteer champion, know and understand

both the short- and long-term significance of the current numbers and trends.

As an important community component –determine to positively affect the climate of public opinion.

Network and sustain a dialogue with both non-elected and elected community leadership –agreement to support essential community values and necessary changes.

IN CLOSING … Your time investment and comments here

will be honored with a summary report of your individual table discussions.

A process-steering committee has been organized to help interpret and guide the community forum process.

Future forums will help improve returns back to the community of essential information needed to re-evaluate priorities.

Facing Facts 2008 reports and tonight’s presentation are available

for download on our Web site:

www.santeelynchescog.org