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Youth Need Data Methods, Limitations, and References

General information

Read the Data Analysis Overview for measuring youth need and planning readiness.

Youth Need Index

Methods

  • Indicators were selected to create a composite measure of youth vulnerability based on input from multiple subject matter experts.
  • Data were obtained from multiple sources (see below for more detail).
  • Indicators were weighted to create an index measuring youth vulnerability.
  • Data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.

Limitations

  • Limited data granularity of some indicators prevents more accurate spatial analysis.

Juvenile Probation

Methods

  • Data were obtained from San Mateo County Probation.
  • Address-level data of clients under 18 years were analyzed using a hot spot analysis technique to determine significant spatial clusters of high counts of clients.
  • Data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.

Limitations

  • Hot spot analysis was chosen to focus on areas with significant spatial clusters of high counts of clients with less attention paid to clients that live outside these clusters in the resulting map.

References

Youth Behavioral Health

Methods

  • Data were obtained from San Mateo County Health System, Behavioral Health & Recovery Services.
  • Address-level data of clients under 18 years were analyzed using a hot spot analysis technique to determine significant spatial clusters of high counts of clients.
  • Data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.

Limitations

  • Hot spot analysis was chosen to focus on areas with significant spatial clusters of high counts of clients with less attention paid to clients that live outside these clusters in the resulting map.

References

Child Abuse

Methods

  • Data were obtained from the California Child Welfare Indicators Project (CCWIP).
  • Child abuse allegations are reported to San Mateo County Human Services Agency, Child Protective Services, which then reports to California Department of Social Services.
  • Data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.

Limitations

  • Address-level data of child abuse allegations was not available from San Mateo County Human Services Agency due to data access restrictions. Therefore, data were aggregated by census tract.

References

Low Birthweight

Methods

  • Data were obtained from the California Department of Public Health.
  • Birth data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.

Limitations

  • Low birthweight is one indicator of many that can be used to measure infant well-being.

References

Reading Proficiency

Methods

  • Data were obtained from the California Department of Education’s California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) test.
  • Third grade reading proficiency data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.

Limitations

  • Standardized testing is a one-dimensional measurement of student reading proficiency.

References

Suspension

Methods

  • Data were obtained from the California Department of Education’s DataQuest.
  • Data were submitted and certified by local educational agencies and charter schools to the California Department of Education in the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System. 
  • Suspension data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.

Limitations

  • Suspensions is one indicator of many that can be used to measure disproportionality in student discipline.

References

Poverty

Methods

  • Data were obtained from U.S. Census Bureau’s 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates at American FactFinder.
  • Data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.
  • Data included the total population.

Limitations

  • Approximately 295,000 households are selected to participate in the annual American Community Survey, or less than 1 percent of all households in the U.S.
  • Data were estimated from survey responses.
  • Estimates have some chance of error.

References