2016 Connecticut Civic Health Index Report Overview

2016 CONNECTICUT CIVIC HEALTH INDEX REPORT: AN OVERVIEW

Service and Volunteering

In 2013…

27.8% of Connecticut residents volunteered!22nd CT’s ranking among the 50 states

To what extent are CT residents engaging in service to and with fellow community members?

3.3% decline since 2010

Group Membership

35.1% were members of a civic or community group!36th CT’s ranking

In 2013…

To what extent are CT residents joining organizationsor groups that meet on a regular basis?

1.8% decline since 2010

Social Connectedness

To what extent do CT residents trust, talk to, exchange favors with, and work with their neighbors in their communities?

Social Connectedness

In 2013, among CT residents….INDICATOR FINDINGS CT RANKING GAIN OR LOSS

SINCE 2010Trust their neighbors 61.9% 21st

No Data Available

Talk to their neighbors frequently

45.5% 11th

2.6% Gain

Work with their neighbors on community issues

8.6% 22nd

1.3% Gain

Exchange favors with their neighbors frequently

11.7% 33rd

2.9% Decline

Political ParticipationTo what extent are CT residents engaged politically--voting, meeting with office holders, attending rallies or public meetings, talking about politics, etc.?

Political Participation: Voting

ELECTION YEAR FINDINGS CT RANKING

GAIN OR LOSS

Voted in the 2012 Presidential Election

62.7% 26th

4.5% Decline

from 2008

Voted in 2012 Local Elections (always or sometimes)

63.5% 24th

Data Not Available

Voted in the 2014 Midterm Elections

46.7% 19th

2.6% Decline

from 2012

Political Participation: Interacting with Public Officials

In 2012, among CT residents…

10.5% 19th ATTENDED RANKINGPUBLIC MEETINGS

13.8% 19th CONTACTED RANKING A PUBLIC OFFICIAL

Political Participation: Talking about PoliticsIn 2013, among CT

residents…27.8% 29th TALKED WITH RANKINGFRIENDS AND FAMILYABOUT POLITICS

4.9% decline from 2011

Charitable Giving

To what extent are CT residents donating $25 or more to social or charitable causes? In 2013…

56.2% of CT residents donated $25 or more!

12th

CT’s RANKING

2.2% decline from 2010

Confidence/Trust in institutions To what extent do CT residents trust institutions such as schools, corporations, and the media?

88.1% Have some or a great deal of confidence in their public schools!

13 CT’s RANKING

63.9% in corporations. 36 CT’s RANKING

59.2% in the media. 12 CT’s RANKING

In 2013…

Disparities by Race & EthnicityThere are some evident disparities in civic participation in terms of race and ethnicity (percentages rounded-off):Group Voting

(2012 Pres. Election)

Volunteering (*Pooled data 2010, 2011, 2013)

Group Member-ship*(Religious)

Group Membership (*School or Community)

Group Membership (*Civic or Service)

Latinos 47% 17% 18% 18% 3%African Americans

62% 22% 25% 25% 4%

Asian Americans

Small Samp

le

20% 13% 20% 3%

Whites 66% 32% 16% 15% 10%

Disparities by Age

There are some evident disparities in civic participation in terms of age:Age Group

Voting in the2012 Presidential Election (of eligible voters)

Voting in local elections (2013) always or sometimes

Volunteering (2013)

Attending Public Meetings (2013)

18-24

39.8% 29% 20.2% 2.1%

25 & older

65.9% 67.5% 28% 11.8%

Where we gained ground…

Indicators and Details Percentage Gain

Working with neighbors to solve community problems (in 2013 compared to 2010)

1.3%

Talking to neighbors (in 2013 compared to 2010)

2.6%

Contacting a public official (in 2013 compared to 2010))

0.1%

Eating dinner with family frequently (in 2013 compared to 2010)

1.3%

Where we lost ground…Indicators and Details Percentage

DeclineVolunteering (2013 compared to 2010) 3.3%Group membership (in 2013 compared to 2010)

1.8%

Exchanging favors with neighbors (in 2013 compared to 2010)

2.9%

Voting in 2012 Presidential Elections (compared to 2008)

4.5%

Voting in 2014 Midterm Elections (compared to 2012 Midterms)

2.6%

Talking about politics with family and friends (in 2013 compared to 2011)

4.9%

Donating $25 or more to charity(in 2013 compared to 2010)

2.2%

• Youth civic participation (especially • voting among non-college youth)• Latino Voter Education and

Registration• Joining civic and community groups

(especially youth)• Volunteering• Exchanging favors with neighbors

Where should we focus our efforts?

Ms. Mary BuchananProject Manager

DataHaven Inc. and Co-author of the report

DataHaven2015 Community Wellbeing Survey

DataHaven2015 Community Wellbeing Survey

Our Website: http://ctdatahaven.org/

Wellbeing Survey results:http://ctdatahaven.org/reports/

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