Courtesy of the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York
In Health, Howard Beach ranked fifth, making it one of the highest-risk communities for children in the city in this category.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Howard Beach is becoming riskier for children, according to alarming new data in the latest edition of a report published by a leading NYC nonprofit child advocacy organization.
Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York recently released the 2018 volume of its “Community Risk Ranking” resource, an analysis that looks at 18 indicators across six domains of child well-being—Economic Security, Housing, Health, Education, Youth, and Family & Community—to determine where risks concentrate in the five boroughs. According to CCC, in order to identify communities where families are more likely to face risks, it ranked NYC’s 59 community districts from highest to lowest risk, within each domain and overall, and placed community districts into one of five risk categories: highest risk, moderate-high risk, moderate risk, moderate-low risk, and lowest risk.
“Knowing where disparities are declining or increasing helps community members, policymakers, service providers, and philanthropic organizations prioritize investments and develop new programs or initiatives to achieve better outcomes for children and families in the city,” CCC wrote in this year’s Community Risk Ranking.
For example, new overall risk ranking data show Howard Beach is becoming riskier for children. The South Queens Community finds itself among eight city districts with notable trends towards higher risk. In 2009, Howard Beach scored an overall 35 and was ranked moderate-low risk. However, in 2016 data pushed it down 11 spots overall and into a moderate risk/moderate-high risk ranking. The other seven districts trending toward higher risk are: East Tremont, Bronx; Pelham Parkway, Bronx; St. George, Staten Island; Flatbush/Midwood, Brooklyn; Flushing; Queens Village; and Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.
The Rockaways seem to be moving in the opposite direction overall as a district trending toward lower risk. In 2009, the Rockaways scored an overall 18. The district jumped to 29 in 2016 and into the moderate risk category from the moderate-high risk category.
In terms of specific domains, Howard Beach fared the worst in Health. It is the fifth-highest risk district out of the 59 community districts in the city when it comes to Health.
“A child’s physical, mental, and emotional health is critical to his or her overall well-being,” according to CCC. “The Health domain contains indicators that reflect both health outcomes and access to healthcare.” These indicators are infant mortality rate, low birthweight babies, children without health insurance.
“We hope the Community Risk Ranking inspires more community level work to identify solutions and improve outcomes in communities where risks concentrate,” CCC wrote. “All children in New York City must have the opportunities they deserve to be healthy, housed, educated and safe.”
For more information, visit cccnewyork.org.
