2015 Community Impact Study

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United Way of the Brazos Valley brings the community together to find solutions that change peoples’ lives…

by advancing Education, Financial Stability, and Health.

June 2015, NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 Summary……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...……..3 Process……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4 Community Overview………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5 Community Indicators………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..8 Community Survey…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….10 Community Discussion………………………………………………………………………………………………………11 Trending Themes………………………………………………………………………………………………………………13 Recommendations……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..14 Financial Investment Strategy…………………………………………………………………………………………..16 Investment Timeline……………………………………………………………………………….………………………….18 Sources…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………......19

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United Way of the Brazos Valley extends our deepest appreciation to the following individuals for their assistance with the 2015 Community Impact Study.

Angela Alaniz Texas A&M University Center for Community Health Development Catherine Cole Texas A&M University Educational Administration & Human Resources Development Dustin Gist North Madison Church of Christ Albert Ramirez Burleson County Health Resource Commission

Alison Prince President and CEO Lindsey LeBlanc Vice President Community Impact Missee Mora 2-1-1 Manager Alaina Jalufka Resource Coordinator Obiajula “Ada” Ozumba Texas A&M University Intern Roselyn Thalathara Texas A&M University Intern

Bert Miller City of Navasota Honorable John Brieden Washington County Kathy Jones Burleson County Health Resource Commission Sherii Alexander Burleson County Health Resource Commission Honorable Charles Ellison Robertson County Honorable Byron Ryder Leon County

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Alsie Bond, Board Chair City of Bryan

John Flynn Prosperity Bank

General Joe Ramirez, Chair Elect Texas A&M University

Calaia Jackson, Bush School Fellow George Bush School of Government

Johnny Burns, Treasurer Lamar Advertising

Donnie Fowler Branch Banking & Trust

Andrew Hawkins, Secretary Hawkins Architecture, Inc.

Jeannie McGuire Project Unity

Doug French, Immediate Past Chair Stylecraft Builders

Greta Messarra-Woodward Edward Jones

Roberto Bendana, Shadow Board Member George Bush School of Government

Chace Murphy Atmos Energy

Rachel Boenigk Neutral Posture

Jarvis Parsons Brazos County District Attorney

Dia Copeland Community Volunteer

Jan Roe Community Volunteer

Russell Dempsey Express Employment Professionals

Roby Somerford KAGS

Dana Eckhart The Bank & Trust

Brad Wade Wells Fargo Bank

Debbie Eller City of College Station

Lynn Yeager The Prenatal Clinic

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United Way of the Brazos Valley brings the community together to find solutions that change peoples’ lives. We create impact through grants to twenty partner agencies and through investment initiatives in 2-1-1 Texas, Youth Leadership Cabinet, Financial Fitness, and Volunteer Brazos Valley. United Way seeks to further our investments and create lasting change in community conditions that will ultimately improve the lives of all community populations. The Community Impact Study engaged community members through targeted listening methods as part of United Way’s 2015-2020 Strategic Plan, specifically for United Way’s focus areas of Education, Financial Stability, and Health.

To develop priorities for the 2015-2020 Strategic Plan including a Community Impact Investment Strategy and align United Way’s work with community needs in the areas of Education, Financial Stability, and Health.

The Community Impact Study utilized community-wide information gathering and planning methods including: o Secondary data: Statistical information from community indicators using the Center for Public Policy Priorities’ (CPPP) Texas Regional Opportunity Index (TROI) and 2-1-1 Needs & Trends Analysis. o Focus Groups/Community Listening Sessions: Facilitated eleven groups representing crosssectors of the Brazos Valley to determine community needs and trends. Focus group attendees included 220 individuals including County Judges, nonprofit agency executives and staff, business leaders, high-school youth, and community volunteers. o Interviews: External and internal interviews with community key leaders, staff, board, and volunteers to gather details about United Way perceptions and aspirations in the Brazos Valley. o Community Survey: Data gathering to reach current and potential stakeholders through a community-wide survey.

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With the oversight of the Community Impact Study Steering Committee, United Way developed and implemented a six-month community feedback process: December 2015

Development of the Community Impact Study framework.

January 2015

Steering Committee formed. Collection of secondary data started.

February 2015

Formation of focus group and community survey questions. Identification of key community leaders throughout the Brazos Valley to participate in focus groups.

March-April 2015

Focus groups conducted throughout the Brazos Valley region.

April 2015

Analysis of secondary data and community focus groups.

May 2015

Results compiled and submitted for review to the Community Impact Study Steering Committee, Community Impact Committee, and United Way Board of Directors.

June-July 2015

Strategic planning goals and objectives developed by United Way Board of Directors utilizing data from Community Impact Study.

August 2015

Community Impact Study report published for public release.

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The Brazos Valley, home to 335,237 residents, is comprised of seven counties including Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, and Washington. Brazos County is the most populated with 62% of the population residing there. Government is the leading employer across the Brazos Valley with over 30% of total employment. Other leading industries include Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; Education and Health Services; and Leisure and Hospitality.

Population by County 2014 Census Estimates

16,500 4.9% 13,861 4.1% 16,861 5.0%

34,438 10.3%

27,172 8.1% 17,253 5.2%

Brazos County Burleson County Grimes County Leon County 209,152 62.4%

Madison County Robertson County Washington County

The 2014 U.S. Census estimates that 49% of the Brazos Valley region is female while 51% is male. According to the 2011 Census estimates, 52% of the Brazos Valley region is between the ages of 25 and 44 while 15% of residents are 65 years and above. The majority of the population in Rural Brazos Valley (Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, and Washington Counties) is 45 years and above while the majority of the population for the Brazos Valley Region (Rural Brazos Valley plus Brazos County) is 44 years and below.

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According to the 2014 Census, the Brazos Valley region is made up of 60% white, 22% Hispanic or Latino, 13% Black or African American, and 5% of the population is classified as Other. This compares to the state of Texas at 44% White, 38.4% Hispanic, 12.4% Black or African American, and 5.2% classified as Other.

Race Distribution of the Brazos Valley Region 2014 Census Estimates

6.5 11.3 24.5

57.7

1.4 12.7 19.6

66.3

Due to the presence of Blinn College and Texas A&M University, the Brazos Valley has a unique standing on Education. Brazos County has the largest percentage of residents age 25 or older with Bachelor’s Degrees or Higher (38.8%) followed by Washington County (23.5%). Compared to the state of Texas, Burleson, Grimes, Madison, and Robertson Counties have high percentages of residents with less than a high school education.

White

Hispanic

1.4 16.5

1.8 7.5 14

22.6

59.5

Black

Other

1.4 20.3

1.2 21.3

2 18

21.8

19.2

14.9

56.5

58.3

65.1

76.7

5.2 12.4 38.4

44

Educational Attainment of the Brazos Valley Region Percent of Persons Age 25+, Census Estimate 2009-2013 Less than High School

High School Graduate or Higher

Bachelor's Degres or Higher 11.6

11.1

14.8

12.5

15.8

66.1

67.4

68.1

66.3

60.5

21.5

17.1

21.2

23.7

38.8

23.5

26.7

57.4

54.5

19.1

18.8

46.2 15

22.3

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A family of four living in Median Household Incomes of the Bryan/College Station needs $55,356 annually, Brazos Valley Region 2.4 times more than the Census Estimates 2009-2013, USD Federal Poverty Rate1, $60,000 $51,900 to get by in this area. $45,651 $44,452 $44,858 $50,000 $43,994 $41,732 $40,601 This includes providing $38,310 $40,000 health insurance for the $30,000 entire family and does $20,000 not account for emergency savings or $10,000 retirement contributions, $0 something many of our local families never reach. Fifty-two percent of jobs do not pay enough for this family to maintain the basic essentials. In fact, the Census estimates that the median income for the Brazos Valley Region is $42,799. Across the seven-county region, median household incomes ranged from $38,310 in Brazos County to $45,651 in Burleson County. 1

Federal Poverty Rate: a measurement of income used to determine eligibility for federal programs and poverty status.

Housing consistently ranks as a top community need in the Brazos Valley as housing costs continue to rise. Since 2010, the average sales price for a home in Bryan/College Station has risen from $171,400 to $202,900 in 2014, an 18.38% increase, while median incomes have increased less than 2%. A concerning factor across the Brazos Valley is the disparities between median home values. Median home values range from $77,400 in Robertson County and $151,400 in Brazos County, compared to the State of Texas at $128,900.

Median Value of Owner-Occupied Housing Units 2009-2013 Census $160,000 $140,000 $120,000 $100,000 $80,000 $60,000 $40,000 $20,000 $0

$151,400

$147,800 $128,900

$92,900$90,300$94,200 $87,800 $77,400

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Benchmarks across the Brazos Valley region were analyzed using the Center for Public Policy Priorities’ Texas Regional Opportunity Index (TROI). Statistics from each county representing United Way’s impact areas of Education, Financial Stability, and Health were ranked under data on community indicators. Scores of 1 ranked lowest across the seven counties on a community health indicator obtained from the TROI Report; this was deemed an area of greatest concern for the county. Scores of 7 ranked highest across the seven counties on a community health indicator; this became area of relatively less concern. A weighted average of each ranking was taken for each county under each impact area and community indicator subsets.

Community Indicators in United Way Impact Areas (1 being area of greatest concern-negative, 7 being area of least concern-positive)

Brazos

Burleson

Grimes

Health

5.40

4.10

4.05

3.10

3.70

2.40

5.25

Nutrition Insurance

3.80 7.00

4.60 3.60

3.90 4.20

4.00 2.20

5.20 2.20

2.00 2.80

4.50 6.00

Financial Stability

4.18

4.38

2.74

4.70

4.03

3.32

4.59

Credit & Debt Economic Development & Jobs Family Budget Savings & Assets

4.08

4.33

1.83

5.00

4.58

3.58

4.58

4.75

5.00

1.75

4.00

4.25

3.50

4.75

2.70 7.00

5.30 1.00

4.10 4.00

5.20 4.50

3.80 2.50

3.00 3.00

3.90 6.00

Education

4.60

3.51

3.16

3.33

4.05

4.06

4.71

K-12th Post-Secondary

5.33 3.50

3.43 3.55

2.53 3.73

2.97 4.63

4.90 3.00

4.20 4.18

4.63 4.32

Overall Average

4.73

4.00

3.43

3.71

3.93

3.26

4.85

Impact Area

Leon

Madison

Robertson

Washingto n

█ Scores ≤3.50, area of highest concern █ Scores >3.50 and ≤4.00, area of moderate concern Among the seven counties, Grimes and Robertson Counties consistently scored lowest across all impact areas. Washington and Brazos Counties scored the highest of the seven counties across all impact areas.

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o High uninsured rates were a concern in Burleson, Leon, Madison, and Robertson Counties. o Access to food, evident by high school-lunch enrollment rates and high “food desert” areas, was a need in Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, and Robertson Counties.

o High childcare and housing costs were a concern in Brazos, Madison, Robertson, and Washington Counties. o Underbanked household rates were significant in Brazos, Madison, Robertson, and Washington Counties. o High unemployment and low business establishment rates were areas of need in Grimes, Madison, and Robertson Counties.

o Low SAT/ACT success and participation rates were evident in Grimes, Leon, and Robertson Counites. o Low two-year college graduation rates among full-time students showed in Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Madison, Robertson, and Washington Counties. It is expected that Leon County was the only county with non-significant graduation rates due to low enrollment rates from that county offsetting the statistic.

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The Community Survey was distributed through community forums, groups, and individuals including faith-based organizations, social service providers, and health fairs. A total of 99 respondents participated in the four-question survey, which ranked priorities in community goals in Education, Financial Stability, and Health.

o Kindergarten Readiness ranked as the top Education priority for 38.8% of respondents. o High School Success ranked as 21.21% of respondents’ top priority and 46.46% respondents’ second priority. o Access to Community Programs and Resources most frequently ranked as third priority. o Workforce Development ranked as fourth priority for the majority of respondents.

o Safety Net Services (i.e. food, shelter, clothing, and transportation) ranked as the top Financial Stability priority for 61.22% of respondents. o Financial Stability including financial education and asset savings ranked as the second priority for the majority of respondents.

o Access to Health Services for low-income, high-risk, or uninsured individuals and families ranked as the top Health priority for 67.71% of survey respondents. o Improving Health and Safety Outcomes such as disease prevention and personal safety ranked as second priority for the majority of respondents.

Respondents were asked to select one impact area to hypothetically donate $100 towards, if only one impact area could be prioritized. Education was chosen by 43.2% of respondents.

Top Priority for $100 Hypothetical Donation 50.00% 40.00%

43.20% 37.23%

30.00% 20.00% 19.14% 10.00% 0.00% Education

Financial Stability

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Health

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Responses from eleven focus groups were compiled to determine the top five community themes in the Brazos Valley. Research found that many responses fell into multiple impact areas such as job training in both Education and Financial Stability goals. The following question responses were determined to be the top priorities across the seven-county area.

1. Help: providing help to communities, people helping people, helping hand, helping agencies, helping all 2. Community: giving back, meeting needs, cooperating with community, representation 3. Fundraising: donations, as United Way goal, value as fundraising organization, payroll deductions 4. Resources: for information/data, through 2-1-1, resourceful as an organization, central connecting point 5. Giving: to organizations, to the community, through organizations

1. Vocational/technical training: access to certifications, apprenticeships, hands-on training. options for non-college bound students 2. Early childhood education: introduction and expansion of pre-kindergarten programs, kindergarten readiness, early reading and literacy skills 3. Parent education skills: classes or programs, parental involvement with children, teen parenting 4. Workplace readiness/development: soft skills i.e. communication, writing skills, customer service 5. Bilingual skills: English Second Language courses, multi-lingual resources

1. Basic financial education: budgeting, savings, checkbook balancing, credit card use, debt management, home ownership, youth education 2. Transportation: basic needs, access, availability, affordability, need for funding 3. Jobs: access, living wage, underemployment 4. Workplace training: ethics, development, job entry skills 5. Housing: affordability, safe

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1. Preventative health education: birth control, attitudes and behaviors towards substance abuse, HIV/AIDS rates, dental/vision, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder 2. Cost/affordability of healthcare, especially for low-income: cost and access to insurance, medical bills, access to prescriptions including birth control, immunizations 3. Mental health: access to resources such as counseling, support services, education and awareness, youth education 4. Medical transportation: to Bryan/College Station from rural counties, to specialists 5. Misuse of Emergency Department: use as Primary Care for chronic disease management

1. Inter-organizational partnerships: to work more effectively together 2. Education:

increase

high

school

graduation

rates,

literacy

skills,

access

to

vocational/technical schools, interactive educational programs and activities, after-school programs 3. Community awareness of resources: education, navigation and connection 4. Transportation accessibility: to resolve medical needs with qualified drivers/vans 5. Parental involvement: engagement with their children, parenting skills

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Trending Themes developed from the top five priorities in the Community Discussion groups throughout United Way’s impact areas of Education, Financial Stability, and Health. While these originated from Community Discussion responses, it is important to note that many of these priorities were found in the community indicator and secondary data research as top community needs for the Brazos Valley.

o Limited awareness of local social service provider projects o Need for coordination of services and efforts

o Lack of parental involvement in children’s school and extracurricular activities

o Lack of access to adequate vocational and technical training o Need for workplace readiness skills including communication, ethical training, and other soft skills

o Youth and children need training on financial skills o Basic education on budgeting, savings, debt and credit management

o High misuse of the Emergency Department o Education around chronic health condition management and prevention

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o 2-1-1 Texas/United Way of the Brazos Valley o Center for Community Health Development, Texas A&M Health Science Center, School of Rural Public Health o Center for Public Policy Priorities, Texas Regional Opportunity Index o Center for Public Policy Priorities, Better Texas Family Budgets o Real Estate Center, Texas A&M University o Texas Workforce Commission, Labor Market & Career Information Department o U.S. Census Bureau, 2014

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909 Southwest Parkway East College Station, TX 77840 979-696-GIVE www.uwbv.org

June 2015, NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE