Office of Community Services:
Parish Profile Sources and Definitions

Overview

• Total Population 1990
  Source: United States Bureau of the Census, 1990 Census of Population, Summary Tape File 3A. Washington, D.C.
• Total Population Under Age 18 1990
  Source: United States Bureau of the Census, 1990 Census of Population, Summary Tape File 3A. Washington, D.C.
• Total Population Under Age 5 1990
  Source: United States Bureau of the Census, 1990 Census of Population, Summary Tape File 3A. Washington, D.C.
• Percent of Population Under 20 by the Year 2000
  Source: Population Projections to 2010 of Louisiana Parishes, Irwin, Michael D., Department of Sociology, Louisiana State University.
• Median Family Income 1990
  Source: United States Bureau of the Census, 1990 Census of Population, Summary Tape File 3A. Washington, D.C.
• Percent Children in Poverty 1990
  The poverty figures reflect individuals and families who fall below the federal poverty threshold. The poverty threshold represents an annual income level adjusted for family size which is three times the estimate of what that family spends on food in a year. The poverty threshold is revised annually to allow for changes in the cost of living as reflected in the Consumer Price Index. The average poverty threshold for a family of four persons was $12,674 at the time these figures were calculated. Poverty thresholds were applied on a national basis and were not adjusted for regional, state, of local variations in the cost of living.
  Source: 1994 Kids Count Data Book on Louisiana's Children. Agenda for Children and SUNO School of Social Work.
• Percent of Children in Female-Headed Families 1990
  Source: United States Bureau of the Census, 1990 Census of Population, Summary Tape File 3A. Washington, D.C.

Economic Well-Being

• Unemployment Rate February 1997
  All civilians 16 years old and over are classified as unemployed if they
  • (1) were neither "at work" nor "with a job but not at work" during the reference week, and
  • (2) were looking for work during the last 4 weeks, and
  • (3) were available to accept a job.

  Also included as unemployed are civilians who did not work at all during the reference week and were waiting to be called back to a job from which they had been laid off.
  Source: The Louisiana Labor Market Information, Louisiana Department of Labor, Research & Division.

• Percent Children Receiving AFDC 1996
  Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) is a cash assistance program that states administer under federal supervision for families with children who meet specific eligibility requirements. The benefit amount is determined by the number of family members and the family's countable income. These figures reflect the average number of children receiving AFDC benefits each month in fiscal year 1996 (July1, 1995 through June 30, 1996)
  Source: 1996 Kids Count Data Book on Louisiana's Children, Agenda for Children.
• Percent Children Receiving Food Stamps 1996
  The Food Stamp program is a federal public assistance program which provides food coupons which are exchanged for food. Households in Louisiana with gross income below 130% of the poverty level and net income below 100% of the poverty level may be eligible for Food Stamps. These figures reflect the number of children receiving Food Stamps each month, as well as the state average monthly coupon amount and household fiscal year 1996 (July 1, 1995 through June 30 1996).
  Source: 1996 Kids Count Data Book on Louisiana's Children, Agenda for Children.
• Percent Children Eligible for Medicaid 1996
  The Medicaid program provides medical assistance to low-income persons who are age 65 or over, blind, disabled, or members of families with dependent children or qualified pregnant women or children. Pregnant women and children under the age of 6 whose income unit is less than 133% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines and children age 6 or older whose income unit is less than 100% of the federal guidelines may be considered for Medicaid. These data reflect individuals under the age of 21 who were eligible for Medicaid in December 1996.
  Source: 1996 Kids Count Data Book on Louisiana's Children, Agenda for Children.
• Percent Children Receiving SSI 1995
  Source: The Office of Research, Evaluation and Statistics (ORES), Social Security Administration, http://www.ssa.gov/

Child Welfare

• Number of Children in Valid Abuse and Neglect Reports Per 1000 Youths 1996
  The number of children who have been abused or neglected as determined by the state's office of Child Protective Services in the 1996 fiscal year (July 1, 1995 through June 30, 1996). Some parishes do not have parish-specific data available. Valid cases of abuse and neglect in these parishes are reflected in the figures of other parishes of the same region as follows:

       			Assumption reflected in Lafourche data
       			Bienville        "      Webster data
       			Caldwell         "      Ouachita data
       			Cameron          "      Calcasieu data
       			Claiborne        "      Webster data
       			Jackson          "      Lincoln data
       			LaSalle          "      Catahoula data
       			Red River        "      Natchitoches data
       			St. Charles      "      St. John data
       			St. Helena       "      Tangipahoa data
       			St. James        "      St. John data
       			Tensas           "      Madison data
       			West Baton Rouge "      Iberville data
       			West Feliciana   "      East Feliciana data
  

  
  Source: 1996 Kids Count Data Book on Louisiana's Children, Agenda for Children.

• Number of Children in Foster Care Per 1000 Youths 1996
  The number of children who are the responsibility of the state in out-of-home placements during the last day of the calendar year as reported by Office of Community Services for fiscal year 1996 (July1, 1995 through June 30, 1996).
  Source: 1996 Kids Count Data Book on Louisiana's Children, Agenda for Children.

Maternal and Child Health

• Percent Births to Teens 1995
  Live births to women ages 19 and under as a percentage of all live births, 1995.
  Source: 1996 Kids Count Data Book on Louisiana's Children, Agenda for Children.
• Percent Low Birthweight Newborns 1995
  The number of births under 2500 grams (5.5 pounds) as a percentage of total births.
  Source: Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, Public Health Statistics.
• Infant Mortality Per 1000 Births 1991-95
  Five year average infant mortality rates per 1000 live births (number of deaths under one year of age per 1000 live births).
  Source: 1996 Kids Count Data Book on Louisiana's Children, Agenda for Children.

Education

• Number of Dropouts Grades 7-12 Per 1000 Students 1994-95
  Number of student dropouts in Louisiana Public Schools grades 7-12 per 1000 students enrolled in Louisiana Public Schools grades 7-12.
  Source: Louisiana Department of Education, One Hundred Forty-Sixth Annual Financial and Statistical Report, 1994-95, Bulletin 1472, Office of Research and Development, Bureau of School Accountability.
• Number of Suspensions Grades 7-12 Per 1000 Students 1994-95
  Number of student suspensions in Louisiana Public Schools grades 7-12 per 1000 students enrolled in Louisiana Public Schools grades 7-12.
  Source: Louisiana Department of Education, One Hundred Forty-Sixth Annual Financial and Statistical Report, 1994-95, Bulletin 1472, Office of Research and Development, Bureau of School Accountability.
• Number of Expulsions Grades 7-12 Per 1000 Students 1994-95
  Number of student expulsions in Louisiana Public Schools grades 7-12 per 1000 students enrolled in Louisiana Public Schools grades 7-12.
  Source: Louisiana Department of Education, One Hundred Forty-Sixth Annual Financial and Statistical Report, 1994-95, Bulletin 1472, Office of Research and Development, Bureau of School Accountability.
• Percent Public School Registration 1994-95
  Number of public school registrations as a percent of all registrations (public and nonpublic) in the same parish.
  Source: Louisiana Department of Education, One Hundred Forty-Sixth Annual Financial and Statistical Report, 1994-95, Bulletin 1472, Office of Research and Development, Bureau of School Accountability.
• Per Pupil Expenditures in Dollars Public Schools 1994-95
  Expenditures per pupil in the given parish.
  Source: Louisiana Department of Education, One Hundred Forty-Sixth Annual Financial and Statistical Report, 1994-95, Bulletin 1472, Office of Research and Development, Bureau of School Accountability.

Juvenile Justice

• Children in Custody/Under Supervision of the Office of Youth Development 1996 Per 1000 Youths
  This includes children in custody (in secure and non-secure placements); children under supervision (including Informal Adjustment Agreements), cases that were referred to the Office of youth Development but diverted from court, and cases still pending court action for fiscal year 1996 (July 1, 1995 through June 30, 1996). The state total presented in this book is greater that the sum of children in custody in each parish because the state total includes cases which don't have a parish of commitment. However, some parishes may have a probation office which operates independently of OYD, and therefore may have substantially more "youth in trouble" than reflected in these data.
  Source: 1996 Kids Count Data Book on Louisiana's Children, Agenda for Children.

Substance Abuse

• Admissions to Substance Abuse Programs Per 1000 Persons 1993-96
  Admissions to substance abuse programs per 1000 persons in the given parish. Admissions refers to the place of residence of the person admitted.
  Source: Louisiana Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of Prevention and Recovery From Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

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