What's New on Compass

The following information highlights new content that is available on Compass and other external sites. Recently released studies, reports, and data pages can be found in each of the following categories:

Community Development	Community Living	Crime & Safety
Economy	Education	Enrichments
Environment	Health	Demographics

Community Development

59.6% (six out of ten) of Colorado's homeless are in households with children, and 28.1% of all homeless persons are children and teens, according to the 2008 Housing Colorado Facts Book [pdf]. (12/20/07)

Traffic congestion continues to worsen costing Americans more than $78 billion a year, according to researchers at the Texas Transportation Institute. See the newly released 2007 Urban Mobility Report [pdf] (September 2007) for information about wasted fuel, increases in commuter delay times, and potential strategies for reducing congestion. (10/22/07)

The Housing Colorado 2007 Facts Book [pdf] reports that currently 1 out of every 480 households in Colorado is entering into foreclosure, and 32% of Colorado renters are paying over 30% of their income towards rent.

(07/16/07)

Locked Out: Keys to Homeownership Elude Many Working Families with Children [pdf] (March 2006- Center for Housing Policy) - The current rate of homeownership for working families with children is lower than in 1978, according to this newly released study by the Center for Housing Policy. This trend, driven by soaring housing costs, higher health care bills and a rise in the number of single parents, is hitting western and minority working families the hardest. Center for Housing Policy staff say that the drop in family homeownership rates carries repercussions for children: studies show that children of homeowners are more likely to perform well in school and are less likely to have behavior problems.

Despite slow growth in jobs and travel, traffic congestion continues to worsen costing Americans more than $63.1 billion a year, according to researchers at the Texas Transportation Institute. See the newly released 2005 Urban Mobility Report (May 2005) for information about wasted fuel, increases in commuter delay times, and potential strategies for reducing congestion. (6/28/05)

The Multifamily Housing Vacancy and Rental Survey results are now available in a searchable database, which allows for comparisons of trend data from select areas throughout Colorado, including the Fort Collins/Loveland market. (Colorado Department of Local Affairs) (6/20/05)

National Campaign Against Hunger & Homelessness: Survey of Hunger & Homelessness in America, 2004 [pdf] (February 2005) - In every state surveyed, the number of people who requested emergency food and shelter increased, while resources decreased. Responses from nine Colorado cities were included, the closest being Greeley. (3/1/05)

Rural Seniors and their Homes [pdf] (September 2003) - this information sheet looks at the housing trends and issues that will be impacted by the dramatic increase in the senior population coming in the next decades. (Housing Assistance Council) (1/27/05)

Young Drivers (15-20) Involved in Fatal Crashes [pdf] (December 2004) - Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15 to 20 year olds in the United States. Colorado ranks 35th of 50 states for the rate of young driver involved in fatal crashes, and 27th for those young drivers who had ingested alcohol prior to a fatal crash. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) (12/29/04)

U.S. Conference of Mayors 2004 Homelessness/Hunger Survey [pdf] (December 2004) - This survey of 27 major cities revealed an overall increase in homeless numbers, emergency food requests, and need for housing. In Denver, the request for emergency shelter increased 20% from 2003 to 2004. (12/13/04)

2004 Urban Mobility Report [pdf] - (September 2004) Traffic congestion has grown everywhere in the nation, regardless of city size. Congestion occurs during longer portions of the day, delaying more travelers and goods than ever before. This study from the Texas Transportation Institute and the Texas A&M University System, tracks trend data from 1982 to 2002 for 85 urban areas. The Denver- Aurora area ranked 19th in delay time per traveler with 45 hours; Colorado Springs was 46th with 23 hours; and Boulder was 74th with nine hours. (9/13/04)

Loveland Homeless Youth: Point-in-Time Count/Survey Report, July 2003 [pdf] - According to this report, 78% of homeless Loveland youth are high school dropouts, while 36% have been away from home for six months or more. Additional results and recommendations for assisting these youth are included. (9/29/03)

Larimer County 2003 - Homelessness in Larimer County [pdf] - This report provides a picture of homelessness in Larimer County. Included in this description are a demographic profile, a listing of local services available to assist the homeless, and an indication of which resources are currently unavailable in our community. (5/19/03)

Multi-Family Housing Vacancy and Rental Survey - February 2003 by the Colorado Division of Housing - According to this new survey, the highest rental vacancy rates in the state can be found in Loveland (19.6%) and Fort Collins (13.7%). Combined, the two cities have a vacancy rate of about 16 percent, compared to the statewide average is about 11 percent. The average rent for an apartment in the Fort Collins/Loveland area is about $743, which can only be matched by towns like Steamboat and Aspen. (5/1/03)

Colorado's Housing Crisis Puts Children at Risk [pdf] - Published by the Colorado Children's Campaign and the Colorado Affordable Housing Partnership, this newly released study describes what happens to children when housing costs escalate, forcing families to face difficult decisions and dwindling options. (12/5/02)

Rental Housing for America's Poor Families: Farther Out of ReachThan Ever - September 2002 - Published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, this newly released study indicates that Colorado continues to be one of the least affordable states in the nation for rental housing. The following link goes directly to wage/rent information for Colorado, Larimer County and the Loveland-Fort Collins MSA. According to this report, the current Housing Wage in Larimer County is $13.98 (for a two bedroom apartment) or 271% of Minimum Wage. (9/19/02)

New Measure - Affordable Rental Costs - Shows the average household rent in the Fort Collins/Loveland area. (9/16/02)

Big 10 Colorado Counties - How does Larimer County stack up? Find out in the 2002 Larimer County Index of Community Well-Being - Five reports scoring our quality of life in these focus areas: Basic Needs & Personal Safety, Self-Sufficiency & Stregthening Families, Advancing Health & Wellness, Nurturing the Next Generation, and Supporting Seniors & People with Disabilities. (10/31/02)

Larimer County Office on Aging: Index of Seniors' Well-Being - September 2002 - The number of seniors in Larimer County is expected to more than double in the next 20 years. This report studied seniors (60+) in several categories including economic status, health, disabilities, health care access, and risk behaviors. (10/23/02)

City of Fort Collins Trends 2000 [pdf] - This report, published in January 2002, assesses social and economic conditions within Fort Collins by tracking indicators in four key areas - Business, Labor and Income, Development Trends and Demographics. (2/15/02)

Out of Reach: America's Growing Wage/Rent Disparity - September 2001 Published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, this report illustrates the increasing difficulty of finding affordable housing in many parts America. The following link goes directly to wage/rent information for Colorado, Larimer County and the Loveland-Fort Collins MSA. According to this report, the current Housing Wage in Larimer County is $13.52 or 263% of Minimum Wage. (10/8/01)

Community Living

The most generous communities in the Northeast Region of Colorado included Estes Park and Loveland, according to The State of Giving, a Profile of Individual Charitable Giving in Colorado [pdf], published by Colorado Nonprofit Association in December 2007. Donors in Fort Collins gave a total of $96 million in 2005.

See this newly released report, Larimer County Strategic Vision Council - Community Goals - 2006-2009 [pdf], for the initial results of a visioning process facilitated by United Way of Larimer County and the Healthier Communities Coalition of Larimer County. (12/1/05)

Serving Country and Community: A Longitudinal Study of Service in AmeriCorps [pdf] (December 2004) - This study, by the Corporation for National and Community Service, found that service in AmeriCorps had favorable long term outcomes for members, including strong connections to their communities, continued public participation, and a positive impact on later employment. (2/4/05)

Larimer County Citizen Survey 2004 [pdf] - (July 2004) - the results of this mail survey, conducted by David I. Gilliland, Ph.D., indicate that citizens think the county is doing a good job of delivering the services residents find most important - those falling in the general categories of personal safety and health issues. (9/23/04)

2004 Loveland Quality of Life Survey - Released annually, this survey concentrates on the resident satisfaction of quality of life services such as community safety, arts and recreation, and city development among others. Overall, the response was positive for Loveland's quality of life. (9/22/04)

Volunteering in the United States, 2003 - According to this report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of people who participated in volunteer work rose from 59.8 million to 63.8 million, an increase of 6 percent, in the year ending September 30, 2003. Volunteerism among teenagers increased from 26.9 percent to 29.5 percent, during the same time. (12/29/03)

Larimer County 2003 - Local Service Needs Identified [pdf] - Staff from the Larimer County Department of Human Services, local non-profit agencies, and FirstCall, our community resource and referral agency, were asked to prioritize the most pressing service needs for our County. Not surprisingly, creating opportunities for residents in need of housing services was the top priority. See the report for additional information on local needs. (9/3/03)

2002 Loveland Community Survey - Residents' opinions of quality of life in Loveland improved considerably from 2001, while growth and traffic remained the top issues in this latest citizen's survey. In this latest version of the survey, Loveland residents answered questions about city services, quality of life, personal safety, and Internet usage, among other things. (1/21/03)

Crime and Safety

Colorado: Four Years Later, A Second Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service - Colorado [pdf] (January 2007) - This study, conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and U.S. Fire Administration, explores the current duties of Colorado fire services, personnel and equipment capabilities, and presence of service shortfalls. Statistics for fire services in other states are available for the 2004 and 2007 study. (8/30/07)

See Crime in Colorado 2005 (Colorado Bureau of Investigation, June 2006) for local crime statistics, including Larimer County arrests by law enforcement agency. (7/8/06)

The FBI's newly released Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, 2005 indicates that, while property crime decreased from 2004, overall violent crime in Fort Collins (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) increased 23%. (6/12/06)

New projections from the Colorado Department of Corrections indicate that the State's adult prison population will increase 37.8% in the next seven years. This is a substantially higher growth rate than was projected last year, due primarily to increasing admissions. The number of Colorado female prison inmates is expected to increase 81.7%. (12/29/05)

The Colorado Bureau of Investigations' Crime in Colorado 2004 report indicates that, of the major crimes, Homicide and Motor Vehicle Theft had the largest percentage increases. See Agency Statistics for individual reports from Larimer County law enforcement agencies. (July 2005) (7/3/05)

Preliminary data from the 2004 Uniform Crime Reports [pdf] indicate that, with the exception of Forcible Rape, all categories of crime included in the report [Excel] decreased in Fort Collins. (6/20/05)

Does Parole Work? Analyzing the Impact of Postprison Supervision on Rearrest Outcomes [pdf] (Urban Institute - March 2005) - found that parole supervision has little effect on rearrest rates of released prisoners overall, although select groups, such as female offenders, did benefit. (4/12/05)

See two newly updated reports, Violent Victimization of College Students, 1995-2002 and Crimes Against Persons Age 65 or Older, 1993-2002 for information about the incidence and types of victimization for college students and seniors. (Bureau of Justice Statistics) (2/8/05)

Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2004 - A joint effort by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics, this annual report examines crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school. Among the findings are that between 1993 and 2003, the percentage of students in grades 9-12 who reported being in a fight anywhere declined from 42% to 33%. Data are presented from the perspectives of students, teachers, principals, and the general population. (12/23/04)

Methamphetamine Crisis in Larimer County [pdf] (August 2004) - Exact levels of methamphetamine use in Larimer County are unknown; however, many indicators of its prevalence can be observed. For information on the increasing social and economic costs of local meth use see this report from the Larimer County Health & Human Services Division. (8/2/04)

Probation and Parole in the United States, 2003 (August 2004) - This updated report by the Bureau of Justice, examines the number and characteristics of the Federal, State, and local adult correctional populations. From the 2002 to 2003 reports, Colorado had a 3.5% decrease in probation population and a 5.5% increase in the number of adult parolees. The nation as a whole experienced a 1.2% increase in Probationers, and a 3.1% in parolees. (8/2/04)

Profile of Jail Inmates, 2002 (August 2004) - Based on the 2002 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails (SILJ), an increase in drug offenders accounted for 37% of the growth in the nation's jail population. Additional findings comparing the 1996 and 2002 surveys indicate that 33% of inmates were on probation at the time of arrest, 25% were detained awaiting arraignment or trial (pretrial status), and 77% of convicted jail inmates were alcohol or drug-involved at the time of their current offense. On average, inmates were older than in 1996, and an increasing percentage of female inmates had violent offenses. (8/2/04)

Crime In Colorado 2003 - this annual report by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) contains state and local crime data. (7/8/04)

Therapeutic Foster Care for the Prevention of Violence [pdf] - Therapeutic foster care programs reduced violent crimes among adolescents ages 12-18 with a history of chronic delinquency an average of 70% compared with programs for youth in standard group residential treatment facilities, according to the findings of The Task Force on Community Preventive Services (an independent, non-federal task force appointed by the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). One study showed that for every dollar spent on therapeutic foster care for these youth, an estimated $14 was saved in court and corrections system costs. (7/1/04)

Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2003 - this collaborative report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics examines crime occurring in schools and on the way to and from school. It presents data from the perspectives of students, teachers, principals, and the general population, using a comprehensive array of sources. (11/5/03)

Probation and Parole in the United States, 2002 [pdf] - According to this new report by the Bureau of Justice, the total Federal, State, and local adult correctional population - incarcerated or in the community - grew by 150,700 during 2002 to reach a new high of more than 6.7 million. About 3.1% of the U.S. adult population, or 1 in every 32 adults, were incarcerated or on probation or parole at year-end 2002. (9/2/03)

Crime In Colorado 2002 - an annual report by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation containing state and local crime data. The 2002 state figures show double-digit percentage increases in homicides, rapes, burglaries and car thefts compared with 2001. (8/15/03)

New Measure - Domestic Violence - Is any physical or psychological harm experienced by one person from another with whom an intimate relationship is or has been shared. (9/16/02)

Fort Collins Build A Generation Risk Assessment 2001 [pdf] - This report describes risk factors facing Fort Collins area youth. (10/8/01)

Economy

The Geographic Distribution and Characteristics of Older Workers in Colorado: 2004 [pdf], a report released in March 2008 by Colorado Department of Labor & Employment, explains the statistics about older workers in Colorado in 2004 show this group’s proportion of the state’s labor force has increased. (6/5/08)

The June 2007 study, The Role of Health Care and Social Assistance in Larimer County's Economy [pdf], highlights the growing impact of this industrial sector, which currently employs over 10% of the County's workforce. All major subcomponents of the health care industry added jobs in the period between 2001 and 2005, and are expected to continue adding jobs at a 3.6% annual rate over the next four years. (Dr. Martin Shields, regional economist employed by the Colorado State University Office of Economic Development and the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation, and David Keyser, research economist in the Department of Economics, Colorado State University) (8/21/07)

Overlooked and Undercounted: Struggling to Make Ends Meet in Colorado [pdf] takes a closer look at Colorado families whose income, while above the Federal Poverty Line, is not enough to pay for basic needs. (Dr. Diana M. Pearce, March 2007; prepared for the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute) (8/1/07)

According to the 2007 Colorado Business Economic Outlook, the Northern Colorado economy [pdf] (Larimer and Weld counties) continues to outpace the state in employment growth. Increases in the following areas account for about 85% of the new local jobs since 2001: accommodations and food services, finance and insurance, healthcare and social assistance, retail and construction. On the downside the local manufacturing sector continued its downslide. (December 2006) (12/5/06)

The High Cost of Being Poor [pdf] reveals that low-income Americans pay substantially more for goods and services like credit, home-ownership, banking, shopping, and medical debts than those who are financially stable. (Annie B. Casey Foundation, AdvoCasey, Winter 2005, Vol.7, No. 1) (6/21/06)

An August 2005 report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities suggests that the current economic recovery may not be all that promising. According to How Does This Recovery Measure Up?, wage increases and new jobs are lagging behind numbers from other recovery periods. (8/29/05)

A Profile of Older Workers in Colorado [pdf] - (January 2005) - In 2002, about 33 percent of working Coloradans were age 45 or older, an increase from 24 percent in 1994, according to this report from the United States Census Bureau. See the report for details on what industries are most affected by the aging workforce and demand and job stability for older workers. (3/1/05)

A new Harvard University study (February 2005), MarketWatch: Illness And Injury As Contributors To Bankruptcy finds that about half of the 1.45 million personal bankruptcies filed in 2001, cited medical causes for their financial problems. Most debtors with medical causes owned their home, were middle or working class, and had health coverage at the time of filing. (3/1/05)

Job Vacancy Survey (JVS) [pdf] - This semi-annual report contains detailed information about job vacancies, wages, skill requirements, and work experience in the Larimer/Weld region. Survey results indicated that occupations with the highest demand locally were Registered Nurses, Nursing Aides, Orderlies and Attendants. (Fall 2004 - Colorado Department of Labor and Employment) (2/4/05)

Married and Poor: Basic Characteristics of Economically Disadvantaged Married Couples in the U.S. [pdf], examines potential differences in qualities such as maritial stability, age, and ethnicity, between lower income and more affluent couples. This report is published by MRDC as part of the research phase of the Department of Health and Human Services' Supporting Healthy Marriage program. (2/4/05)

The 2005 Colorado Business Economic Outlook [pdf] - Colorado expects to show positive job growth for 2004 at approximately 9,300 jobs, according to this report released by the Business Research Division of the Leeds School of Business (University of Colorado at Boulder). The Outlook, in its 40th year of publication, provides observations and assessments for various regions and counties in Colorado for the coming year. Locally, the Industrial and Technology sector employment should increase in 2005 with the completion of both the new Owens-Illinois bottling facility and the Heska headquarters facility, the relocation of In-Situ headquarters to Fort Collins, and the planned new Group Publishing office building. (12/15/04)

Child Care Assistance Policies 2001-2004: Families Struggling to Move Forward, States Going Backward [pdf] - (September 2004) - Access to quality child care has been shown to be vital in helping low-income families move from reliance on public assistance to self-sufficiency. However, a comparison of state child care assistance policies in 2004 and 2001 reveals that many families now face increased barriers to affordable child care. Since 2001, many states have restricted eligibility for child care assistance, started long waiting lists of eligible families, required parents to pay more toward the cost of care, and failed to reimburse child care providers at rates consistent with rising costs. In 2001, only four Colorado counties had waiting lists for child care assistance; in 2004, 12 counties had waiting lists for assistance. (11/02/04)

Job Vacancy Survey (JVS) [pdf] - (September 2004) - Colorado Department of Labor and Employment) estimates that, during the one-month survey period, there were 54% more job vacancies in the Larimer/Weld region than the previous year, 60% of job vacancies required only a high school diploma or G.E.D., and the average wage of vacancies equaled $10.90 per hour. See this semi-annual report for detailed information and analysis on job vacancies, wages, skill requirements, and work experience. (9/17/04)

Economic Vitality and Sustainability Action Group (EVSAG): A Report and Recommendations [pdf] (July 2004) - Fort Collins' city council appointed a group of community representatives (EVSAG) to develop recommendations for enhancing the city's economic vitality and sustainability. Their work covered a broad spectrum of local issues such as global economic impacts on primary jobs, integrating economic vitality with environmental sustainability, and drawing multiple constituencies together to leverage resources. See the report for EVSAG's suggested strategies and tactics. (8/5/04)

Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2003 [pdf] - (Issued August 2004) This Census Bureau report indicates that nationally 35.9 million people lived in poverty in 2003, while 15.6 % of the population, or 45 million people, were without health insurance coverage. In comparisons of state and national averages, Colorado ranked 10th for Median Household Income, 15th in terms of numbers of residents without health insurance coverage, and 38th in a comparison of poverty rates (3 year averages). (8/29/04)

FDIC State Profile - Colorado [pdf] (July 2004) - According to this quarterly report, single-family mortgage foreclosures and personal bankruptcies are at their highest levels in a decade in Colorado. FDIC analysts also predict Colorado will not regain 2000 peak employment levels until 2005. (7/10/04)

The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2004 [pdf] (April 2004) - This updated report, prepared for the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, calculates the amount of money Larimer County families need to earn in order to make ends meet without public or private assistance. Basic costs of living are calculated for 70 different family types in all 64 Colorado Counties. (5/5/04)

2003 Citizen Survey Results (Fort Collins) - this report gives the results of a citizen survey conducted by the City of Fort Collins during October and November of 2003. Residents were asked to rate Fort Collins as a community, and the City's performance in various areas of service, long-term budget priorities and more. (3/6/04)

Compass Reports and Current Issues - Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Eligibility Reduction. This report, created by the Health & Human Services Division Compass team, describes the impacts and context of the January 1, 2003 reduction in CCAP eligibility, as well as providing resources to help address this issue. In this new section of Compass, HHS staff will continue to publish County reports highlighting current topics of interest. (1/21/03)

Child Care in Colorado: The Early Education of Our Children [pdf] - A Colorado KIDS COUNT Issue Brief. Research has demonstrated that high-quality early care and education programs have a positive influence on the development of children, especially children in poverty. Colorado needs more high-quality care and education (ECE). However, ECE is severly underfunded and many low-income parents are being priced out of care. (12/5/02)

An updated version of the Family Needs Budget [pdf] is now available. The new report is called the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado and contains basic needs budget information for 63 counties, including Larimer. The Standard uses a nationally tested model that incorporates the most reliable and accurate national and local data available to determine county-specific costs of basic necessities for eight different family types. (8/31/01)

Education

Measuring Up 2006 - (September 2006), a report produced by the National Center for Public Policy & Higher Education grades all 50 states in areas of performance related to higher education. According to the Colorado State Report Card [pdf], we have consistently been a top performer in the proportions of students taking and scoring well on college entrance exams. See the national and state reports for additional comparisons of preparation, participation, affordability, completion, benefits and learning. (8/14/07)

20% of Poudre School District children are in need of transportation to safe activities when they are not in school, according to this new report from the Healthier Communities Coalition of Larimer County [pdf]. (May 2007) (8/1/07)

According to the 2007 Kidscount in Colorado! [pdf], Larimer County youth (pg. 55) fair well in child and maternal educational achievement.

Proven Benefits of Early Childhood Interventions, recently released by the RAND corporation, found that early childhood intervention programs yield benefits in academics, behavior, delinquency, and labor market success. (6/12/06)

Success Stories: State Investment in Early Care & Education in Illinois, North Carolina, and Rhode Island [pdf] (Anne W. Mitchell, March 2005) examines the in-depth details of negotiation, leadership and coalition building of three diverse states efforts to provide comprehensive, high-quality early childhood care and education. (6/23/05)

Larimer County had mixed results on indicators of child well-being, according to the 2007 KidsCount in Colorado databook. Economic-based characteristics, such as number of children in poverty or receiving free school lunches, were rated slightly lower than last year's. At the same time, teen births decreased and educational achievement measures continue to be higher than the Colorado average. (6/20/05)

Early Childhood Care and Education: Effects on Ethnic and Racial Gaps in School Readiness [pdf] - According to this report posted on The Future of Children website, substantial increases in Hispanic and black children's enrollment in preschool may decrease the current school readiness gaps. See the Executive Summary [pdf] for highlights. (3/1/05)

Toward an Early Care and Education Agenda for Hispanic Children (Early Childhood Research & Practice: Fall 2004) - While Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group, especially among young children, this paper concludes that Latinos are underserved by early care and education programs. The last section addresses possible actions to improve these services for Latinos. (1/27/05)

Larimer County's 2003-2004 School Accountability Reports are currently available in a searachable database at the Colorado Department of Education. (12/28/04)

Colorado's School Readiness Indicators (December 2004) - This newly released report identifies Colorado indicators that reflect the school readiness of children, their families, their communities, and the schools they will attend. Colorado's indicator project is part of a 17-state collaborative funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the E. Marion Kauffman Foundation, and the Ford Foundation. Data from the other states' projects are also available. (12/23/04)

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2003 - (December 2004) - Offers international comparisons of fourth and eighth grade performances in mathematics and science. In mathematics, both United States fourth and eighth grade students scored higher than the international average. (National Center for Education Statistics) (12/22/04)

Exceptional Returns from Early Childhood Education [pdf] (October 2004) - According to this new report by the Economic Policy Institute, a high-quality, nationwide commitment to early childhood development would cost a significant amount of money up front, but would have a substantial future payoff. See the report for case-studies, estimated cost-benefits and crime reduction and the overall economic impact of early childhood education. (12/22/04)

The Teachability Index: Can Disadvantaged Students Learn? - (September 2004-Manhattan Institute) Students today are actually somewhat easier to teach than they were thirty years ago, according to this working paper. The report calculates three indexes of state educational achievement: student 'teachability', school performance, and school efficiency, or, which states get the best results for their education dollars. Colorado placed among the top five states on the 'School Performance Index', which examines actual student achievement compared to predicted 'teachability'. (9/20/04)

The 2004 KIDS COUNT Data Book (June 2004) - released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, reports that national trends in child well-being are moving in a positive direction, in general. Eight of 10 indicators of child well-being have improved nationally, corresponding to a six-year period of economic growth and significant expansion of public programs. Despite this news, the study cautions that nearly one in six young adults, ages 18 to 24, are not working, have no degree beyond high school, and are not enrolled in school. In addition to the report, customized graphs, maps, ranked lists, and state profiles can be generated through the online KIDS COUNT database. (6/7/04)

Local ACT Scores are consistently higher than state & national averages. Check out local school district scores from 1995-2001 on this new data page. (1/16/02)

Fort Collins Build A Generation Risk Assessment 2001 [pdf] - This report describes risk factors facing Fort Collins area youth. (10/8/01)

Enrichments

Arts & Economic Prosperity: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts Organizations and Their Audiences in Fort Collins, Colorado. This study provides compelling new evidence that the nonprofit arts are a $9.3 million industry in Fort Collins-one that attracts audiences, spurs business development, supports jobs, and generates government revenue. See related data on local Arts from Census 2000. (10/23/02)

How many people visited the Wellington Public Library in 1999? How many promoters of local entertainment events are there in Larimer County? How does the Larimer County Arts community compare to those in other Colorado counties? Take a look at Compass's newly expanded Arts & Culture section, containing information on our local libraries, performance artists and their venues. (1/16/02)

Environment

Since 1990, greenhouse gas emissions in Fort Collins have increased 81%, while the population has only increased 53% according to the City of Fort Collins 2003/2004 Climate Protection Status Report [pdf] (November 2005). Residents are fueling the increases by driving more and using more energy in their homes. (10/22/07)

Feeling the Heat: Global Warming and Rising Temperatures in the United States [pdf] states that the summer of 2006 was the second warmest on record for the contiguous United States. The report examines the long-term trend toward rising temperatures and extreme weather events resulting from global warming.(Alison Cassady and Emily Figdor of Environment Colorado Research & Policy Center, July 2007) (8/1/07)

Losing Ground: Colorado's Vanishing Agricultural Landscape [pdf] documents Colorado's loss of 1.26 million acres of agricultural lands since 1997. The report highlights the importance of productive agriculture to the rural economy, the environment, and to tourism. Agribusiness is a $16 billion sector of Colorado's economy, providing 13.2% of total jobs. (Environment Colorado Research and Policy Center - April 2006) (4/5/06)

Since 1990, greenhouse gas emissions in Ft. Collins have increased 81%, while the population has only increased 53% according to the City of Ft. Collins newly released 2003/2004 Climate Protection Status Report [pdf] (November 2005). Residents are fueling the increases by driving more and using more energy in their homes. (11/16/05)

Western Resource Advocates, Trout Unlimited and the Colorado Environmental Coalition just released a new report on how to satisfy demands for water along the Front Range for the next 25 years. Facing Our Future: A Balanced Water Solution for Colorado presents a balanced approach for increasing the Front Range's water supply faster with less harm to the environment and much less controversy than water projects have faced in the past. (7/18/05)

Pollution on the Rise: Local Trends in Power Plant Pollution [pdf] (January 2005) - Carbon dioxide emissions from the Rawhide Energy Station (located north of Fort Collins) increased 26% from 1995 to 2003, according to this study by the United States Public Interest Research Group. States were ranked according to the relative increase or decrease of emissions levels, with Colorado coming in 21st for carbon dioxide. (2/5/05)

Larimer County 2004 - Water Supply Issues [pdf, 65kb]) - As the population of the Front Range area increases, water shortages become a more serious problem. The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District estimates that Front Range communities will be using an additional 305,000 acre-feet in 30 to 60 years - this additional amount represents the average annual flow of the Poudre River! Larimer County 2004 - Water Supply Issues, a report by the Division of Health & Human Services, explores local efforts to ensure our future water supply. (9/15/04)

The Colorado Drought [pdf] (August 2004) - 2002 was the fourth year of drought for Colorado. Locally, Larimer County has continued to experienced much lower rates of increase in snow pack than in previous years. See this report for more information on the impact drought is having on wildfires, tourism and agriculture. (8/5/04)

Health

F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America [pdf] report includes national and state obesity trends and statistics. According to this report, Colorado has the lowest obesity rate in the United States. (August 2008) (8/21/08)

Report on Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities in the United States, 2006 [pdf] summarizes alcohol-related fatality statistics and sentencing strategies for "hardcore" drunk drivers. A total of 226 alcohol-related traffic fatalities were reported for Colorado in 2006, a decrease of 28.1% from 1996. (2/25/08)

Advancing Colorado's Mental Health Care [pdf] released in 2007 states that 1 in every 7 Coloradans do not receive the mental health care they need. This report explains the goals to improve the integration and coordination of mental health care services within Colorado communities. (2007) (2/14/08)

According to new report published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Whose Kids are Covered? A State-by-State Look at Uninsured Children [pdf], almost 15% of Colorado's 18-and-under population lack health coverage, making Colorado 43rd among U.S. states for this measure. (3/14/07)

Fewer people died of cancer in 2004 than in 2003, marking the second consecutive year that cancer deaths have declined, according to a new American Cancer Society report, Cancer Statistics 2007. [pdf](CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians) (1/24/07)

In this year's America's Health Rankings 2006, Colorado is ranked 16th out of the 50 states, with strengths in low rates of obesity, cancer deaths and sick leave days. The report, which is produced by United Health Foundation in partnership with the American Public Health Association & Partnership for Prevention, is a yearly assessment of the relative healthiness of the nation including individual analysis of each state. (12/5/06)

Gaps in Health Insurance: An All-American Problem [pdf] - (April 2006) 41% of working-age Americans with incomes between $20,000 and $40,000 were uninsured for at least part of the past year, according to the Commonwealth Fund's newly released report. In addition, one in five adults (under age 65) are currently paying off debt from past medical bills. (Charts - Powerpoint) (4/26/06)

Depression Among Adults (November 2005) According to this brief report, in 2004, 8% of adults (an estimated 17.1 million adults) said they experienced at least one major depressive episode during the previous year. The rate of reported illicit drug use was nearly twice as high among that group. (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration - SAMHSA) (2/3/06)

An Analysis of Recent Trends in Colorado's Public Mental Health System [pdf] (February 2005). This report covers different facets of Colorado's mental health service provision such as number of clients served, performance of service, and historical funding for services. Between 2001 and 2004, fewer clients were reported, funding has declined, and the severity of symptoms of those served has increased. (7/3/05)

According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Annual Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Productivity Losses - United States, 1997-2001, smoking cost the nation about $92 billion in the form of lost productivity from 1997 to 2001, up about $10 billion from the 1995-1999 losses. (July 2005) For more data about tobacco use, see the 2004 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), also from the CDC. (May 2005) (7/3/05)

United States Department of Health and Human Services: National Survey on Drug Use & Health, 2002-2003 (February 2005) - Colorado was in the top fifth among all states for illicit drug use among individuals 12 and older. When compared to surrounding states, Colorado also had the highest percentage of persons, aged 12 or older, using alcohol. (3/1/05)

Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Surveillance Report [pdf] looks at local maternal behaviors and experiences before, during and after pregnancy. (2/25/05)

Larimer County Births & Pregnancy Report, 2002 - 2003 [pdf] presents birth and fertility rates, and comparisons with Colorado. (2/25/05)

The Elimination of the Prenatal Presumptive Eligibility Program [pdf] explains the potential repercussions of discontinuing this Medicaid program. (2/25/05)

The Evaluation Report for the Nurse Family Partnership in Colorado [pdf], and the program's Annual Report [pdf], examine program outcomes and funding for Colorado sites, including Larimer County's nurse home visitation program. Significant outcomes from the evaluation include reductions in smoking during pregnancy and incidences of family/domestic violence, and high rates of initiating breastfeeding and infant immunization. (January 2005) (2/10/05)

Cancer Facts & Figures [pdf] (January 2005) - This report, released annually by the American Cancer Society, tracks national and state-wide cancer statistics. Colorado was estimated to have just over 16,000 new cancer cases for 2005. (2/1/05)

Predictors of the Onset of Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Heart Failure [pdf] (December 2004) - research published in the Amercian Journal of Cardiology indicates that social factors (living alone, alcohol abuse, etc.) and health status are predictive of the development of depression in outpatients with heart failure. (1/5/05)

Trends in U.S. Health Insurance Coverage, 2001-2003 (August 2004) - According to this report from the Center for Studying Health System Change, many people who recently lost employer insurance coverage appear to have transitioned to public coverage. The proportion of the under-65 population with Medicaid, SCHIP and other state coverage increased significantly from 8.9% in 2001 to 11.9% in 2003. (12/28/04)

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, results from the annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey indicate that from 2003 to 2004, there was an almost 7% decline of illicit drug use by 8th, 10th, and 12th graders combined. Trend analysis from 2001 to 2004 revealed a 17% cumulative decline in drug use, and an 18% cumulative drop in marijuana use. (December 2004) (12/28/04)

American's Health: State Health Rankings - A Call to Action for People & Their Communities [pdf] - (November 2004) - Colorado ranks among the top ten states for seven of the 18 individual measures of health in this report (see page 38 for Colorado's snapshot). However, one challenge for Colorado is its low access to adequate prenatal care with only 67.3 percent of pregnant women receiving adequate prenatal care. Colorado's combined measures of risk factors and outcomes indicate that the state's relative healthiness may remain steady or decline in future years if the risk factors are not addressed. (United Health Foundation, American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention) (11/09/04)

Senior Wellness Initiative Evaluation Report Summary [pdf] - (The Colorado Trust; 2004) - The number of seniors in Colorado communities continues to grow and is expected to double in the next 20 years. From 1996 to 2002, The Colorado Trust committed $1.3 million to the Senior Wellness Initiative. This evaluation report submits two community health promotion models, each specifically targeted for persons 65 and older. Both models are aim for a positive, measurable impact on the Healthy People 2010 goal that "annually 90% of older adults will participate in at least one organized health promotion activity." (11/02/04)

F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America - (October 2004) - According to this new report by the Trust for America's Health, almost 65% of the nation's population is either overweight or obese. Colorado ranks best in the nation for the lowest levels of adult obesity, as well as the lowest percentage of diabetes cases. The report contains recommendations for policies that may help reduce the obesity epidemic, as well as facts on what Colorado is doing. (10/21/04)

2003 National Survey on Drug Use & Health - This year's report by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) revealed some promising trends: youth use of Ecstasy and LSD dropped sharply, there were significant declines in past year and lifetime cigarette use among youths ages 12 to 17, and 20% fewer youth were "heavy users" of marijuana. On the other hand, the numbers of binge and heavy drinkers did not change between 2002 and 2003, 29% of youth and young adults (ages 12-20) drank in the month prior to the survey, and nearly 19.2% of those were binge drinkers. Additionally, the non-medical lifetime use of prescription pain relievers showed a 5% increase for adults, and over 10% of full-time workers were characterized with alcohol or drug abuse/dependence. (9/17/04)

Pregnant Women in Substance Abuse Treatment: 2002 [pdf] - (September 2004) According to this report by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), pregnant women entering treatment were most likely to report methamphetamine/amphetamine or cocaine/crack as their primary substance of abuse. Nationally, of all treatment admissions for women of childbearing age, 4%, or 15,300, were pregnant. (9/13/04)

Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans - (August 2004) - this report, published jointly every five years by the Department of Health and Human Services & the Department of Agriculture, provides advice on good dietary habits and serves as the basis for Federal food and nutrition education programs. Public comments are being accepted until Monday, September 27, 2004 and can be submitted at www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines. (9/13/04)

Larimer County 2004 - West Nile Virus [pdf] - Updated information about the incidence of West Nile virus locally. (posted August 2004) (8/12/04)

Women's Health - This new Compass health page presents data on breast, cervical, and uterine cancer incidence and mortality in Larimer County. Links to resources, and additional information on health issues and data specific to women are included. (10/17/03)

West Nile Virus: Larimer County 2003 [pdf] - An information sheet containing data about the incidence of West Nile virus locally and related links. (10/9/03)

Larimer County 2003 - Current Issues in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Funding [pdf] - This new Compass report examines the alarming lack of funding for providing these services in our community and suggests some ways to take action. (4/11/03)

Demographics

America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2007 [pdf] describes population, family and social environment, health care and other topics as it relates to children in America. For example, in 2005, 20% of our nation's school-age children spoke a language other than English at home. (July 2007) (8/14/07)

Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Outcomes at Age 19 (May 2005) is a study of how successfully youth aging out of foster care transition into adulthood. The results suggest these youth face adulthood with educational deficits, mental health problems, economic insecurity, victimization, and early child-bearing. Executive Summary (Chapin Hall Center for Children, University of Chicago) (8/9/05)

According to the National Research Center's report Strengths and Needs Assessment of Older Adults in the State of Colorado [pdf] (September 2004), 49% of older adults in Larimer County said their physical health was at least a "minor" problem for them, close to one-fifth said that depression was a problem for them, and 18% provided care for one or more family members or friends on a regular basis. At the same time, half of all older adults in the county reported volunteering, and about 75% received "a lot" of social support from their families. See the report for additional survey results, including comparisons to other Colorado regions. A statewide version [pdf] is also available. (12/28/04)