Valley CARES Quality of Life Report executive summary

8/7/2019 Valley CARES Quality of Life Report executive summary

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Valley CARESQuality of Life Report

2010Summary Report

A Community Initiative of the Valley Council for Health & Human ServicesTracking quality of life in the Valley

to build a better future for all our residents


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

The Valley Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The Quality o Li e IndicatorsCreating a Community Context that Allows Residents to Thrive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Providing Education & Training or Li e Long Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Preserving the Natural Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Ensuring Resident Sa ety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Promoting Social & Emotional Well Being . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Advancing Community Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

O ering Arts, Culture, and Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Fostering Community Relations and Engagement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

For a list of individual indicators for each topic, please see Appendix A of the full report.

ACkNOwLEdgEmENTSThe Valley Council or Health & Human Services grate ully acknowledges generous support or the ValleyCARES initiative in the orm o grants, in-kind donations, dues, and sta time rom the ollowing:

The Valley Community Foundation The Community Foundation or Greater New Haven The Valley United Way The Katharine Matthies Foundation, Bank o America, N.A., Trustee Naugatuck Valley Health District Yale-Gri n Prevention Research Center Birmingham Group Health Services, Inc. Gri n Hospital The WorkPlace, Inc. Valley Council or Health & Human Services Member Agencies

In addition, we would like to thank the many individuals who assisted in the creation o this report bygathering and sharing in ormation, photographs, and ideas, including Yasemin Kavak (Research Assistant, YGri n Prevention Research Center) and representatives rom:

Valley Council Task orces, Committees, and Member Agencies Valley Town Governments, Regional Councils o Governments, and Valley Service Providers State o Connecticut Departments and Agencies


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For ore in or ation about Valley CARES or toshare your ee bac re ar in the report, please

contact:

Beth Patton Co er orbeth.co er or @yale ri nprc.or

203-732-1265 x.224

mary S. Nescottnescott@b health.or203-736-2601 x.390

INTROdUCTIONThe Valley Council or Health & Hu an Services is a partnership network o non-pro t health and humanservice agencies serving the residents o the Lower Naugatuck River Valley. Our mission is to improve qualityo li e by working collaboratively to identi y and respond to community needs. In order to better ul ll ourmission, in 2007 the Council began planning an initiative to track key indicators o community wellbeing, nownamed Valley CARES (Co unity Assess ent Research & E ucation or Solutions) .

The word cares has several di erent meanings. Frequently, we use it to describe how we nurture or look a terthe things we value. We also may use the word cares to re er to our concerns or worries in li e. TheValley CARESinitiative is about each o these meanings o cares .

What do Valley residents value as important contributors to their wellbeing and quality of life? What are they

already doing to nurture the things they value? What are the cares or concerns that need to be addressed inorder to build an even better quality of life for all Valley residents?

The Valley Council is delighted to o er the rstValley CARES Quality o Li e Reportto the Valley community. Wehope it will serve as a resource to help make our Valley an even better place to work and live than it already is.

The Valley CARES Task orce, with the input o Council members and community partners, guided the creationo this report and all aspects o the Valley CARES initiative. We invite you to become involved by reading thereport, celebrating the Valleys strengths, and joining us in the search or solutions to community challenges.

The V alley CaReS T aSkfoRCe

Current and past Task orce members include: Beth Patton Comer ord, MS, Yale-Gri n Prevention Research Center (Task orce Co-Chair) Mary S. Nescott, MPH, Birmingham Group Health Services, Inc. (Task orce Co-Chair) Heidi Zavatone-Veth, PhD, Valley Council or Health & Human Services (Valley Council Coordinator) Karen N. Spargo, MA, MPH, Naugatuck Valley Health District Jesse Reynolds, MS, Yale-Gri n Prevention Research Center Tara Rizzo, MPH, Gri n Hospital Susan Nappi, MPH, Gri n Hospital (currently Yale University) Ann Harrison, The WorkPlace, Inc. (currently Work orce Alliance)

The Valley Council for Health & Human ServicesB uilding P artnershiPs to s trengthen C ommunity s erviCes


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I you cant measure some you cant understand it; i understand it, you cant cocant control it, you cant im

~ H. J. Harr

V alley CaReS G oalS

Valley CARESdraws on lessons learned rom past Valley community assessment e orts and the manysuccess ul community indicator projects throughout the United States and world. Its main goals are:

1. To track in ormation about quality o li e so that the Valley community can see what aspects o community li e have gotten better over time and what areas may need improvement.

2. To share in ormation about Valley quality o li e with community service providers, leaders andresidents so that they can become involved in guring out how to build an even better uture or ourresidents.

The long-term goal is not to compare the Valley to other communities but to serve as a yardstick ormeasuring progress within the Valley over time. We hope that this in ormation will become a resource or alwho care about the Valley and its residents.

The challenge or us as a Valley community will be to nd ways to connect what we know about peoplescares with a vision or how to improve the community and a roadmap or getting there. We imagine an on-going process o eedback between community in ormation, refection, and action.

Co unity In or ation

Update in ormation aboutValley quality o li e to

assess progress

Co unity Refection

Engage communityresidents, leaders & service

providers in analyzingin ormation and designing

action plans

Co unity Action

In ormation helps in ormcommunity planning,philanthropic giving,

volunteerism, advocacy &other action

The Valley CARES project provides current in ormation about the state o our well beinThis vital in ormation will encourage community involvement and help us address our p

~ James E. CohenPresident/CEO

Valley Community Foundat


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The Q ualiTy of l ife indiCaToRS and RepoRT

Community indicators are one way to measure the quality o li e in a community. For this rst Valley CARESReport, we have included indicators or 8 areas that contribute to community wellbeing. Thesu ary versiono the report provides an overview o the key ndings or each quality o li e area. Theullreport providesgreater detail or each o the indicators as well as sources or additional in ormation and areas in which wewould like to improve our understanding.

This rst Quality o Li e report is a starting point in an on-going e ort to create an indicators report that providesa use ul snapshot o li e conditions in the Valley. The Task orce selected the indicators based on several actorsincluding: the current availability o reliable in ormation, the likelihood that the in ormation can be tracked overtime, and the relevance o the in ormation or community action.

Many o the indicators in this report come rom in ormation gathered and analyzed by public and privateagencies in the region and state. Sta rom the Yale-Gri n Prevention Research Center compiled the secondary-source indicators data. In order to ll gaps in existing in ormation, the Valley CARES Task orce also commissioneda community survey o 400 randomly selected residents o the 6 Valley towns. (Appendix B o the ull reportgives urther in ormation about the indicators data collection process and its limitations.)

p aRTiCipaTe in The SeaRCh foR SoluTionS To CommuniTy n eedS

Indicators on their own cannot ully explain why a community changes or what should be done to makeimprovements. The next step will be community involvement in analyzing the indicators and designingpotential solutions to identi ed challenges. We invite you to visit the Valley Council website or updates onways to share your ideas, input, and energy or building an even better Valley.

go to .valleycouncil.or or lin s to: Summary report (electronic) Full report (electronic) Community survey results Ways to get more information about

Valley quality of life & share your ideasfor community improvement

Collecting local data to in orm the community about issues o concern and opportunities is vitalThe Community Foundation or Greater New Haven. Its one o the reasons why we are proud tothe Valley CARES project, which is a model that we hope will be replicated or the beneft o othour service area. The data produced can be used to not only guide community leaders in their plancivic engagement e orts but also to help our donors make wise philanthropic decisions.

~ Priscilla CannySenior Vice President, Grantmaking & Strategy

The Community Foundation or Greater New Haven, and President, DataHa

Indicators alone probalittle di erence but [...combined with e ectivadvocacy and action, alon a community vision,make a major di eren

~ David


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THE VALLEY COmmUNITY

GeoGRaphy

The towns located in the Lower Naugatuck River Valley have been shaped by a common geographic locationalong key waterways and transportation routes in south central Connecticut. They share a history rooted inthe waves o immigrants who settled in the region to work in its manu acturing centers. While there is nouniversal agreement on a de nition o the Valley,

this report ollows a common local understanding byincluding 6 municipalities in its de nition: Ansonia,Beacon Falls, Derby, Ox ord, Seymour, and Shelton.

Although the Valleys residents o ten describe a senseo common identity, governmental agencies and non-governmental service providers carve up the Valleyregion in di erent ways. These many understandingso the Valley community make it more di cult togather in ormation about the Valley and to coordinatecommunity planning or the region.

The V alley p opulaTion

Between 2000 and 2009, the Valley populationincreased by almost ve percent, reaching anestimated 103,754 residents (Sources: US Census2000; CERC 2010-2009). According to a recentDemographic Snapshot Report, the populationgrowth rate is expected to slow in the upcomingyears (Claritas 2009).

Valley Population by A e group2009

Valley Ansonia Beacon Falls derby Ox or Sey our SheltonAge Group # Residents (%) # Residents # Residents # Residents # Residents # Residents # Residents

< 18 23,689 (23%) 4,170 1,345 2,583 3,173 3,596 8,822

18-64 65,517 (63%) 11,496 3,788 7,954 8,226 10,137 23,916

65+ 14,548 (14%) 2,742 572 1,995 1,160 2,224 5,855

Total 103,754 18,408 5,705 12,532 12,559 15,957 38,593Source: CER


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Valley Population by Ethnicity/Race2009

Valley Ansonia BeaconFalls derby Ox or Sey our Shelton CT

Ethnicity/ Race % % % % % % % %

White/European American 90% 83% 93% 86% 94% 91% 92% 79%

Black/A rican American 4% 9% 3% 5% 2% 3% 2% 9%

Asian Paci c 3% 2% 2% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3%

Native American


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Creating a Community Context thatAllows Residents to Thrive

Vision for the Valley A community that provides all residents with access tothe housing, transportation, and economic opportunities

that will enable them to create a good quality of life

How Are We Doing? An Overview

QUALITY OF LIFEThe vast majority o Valley residents describe their quality o li e in a positive way, but some communitymembers do not share in this sense o overall wellbeing.

93% o Valley residents surveyed view theirquality o li eas good or very good, while about8%--close to 1 out o every 10 residents--said that their li e quality is poor or very poor.

Ho is your overall quality o li e?

HOUSINgHousing a ordability has become an increasing concern in the Valley, although the economic recession hasled to a recent drop in home prices.

Between 2000 and 2007, ho e prices in the Valley rose at a aster pace than household incomesputting home ownership out o reach or more people; the recent drop in housing prices may not beenough to make homes more a ordable in the current economic climate.

There are 853 governmentally-assisted a or able housin units or the elderly and 1,300 unitsor amilies in the Valley. A 2004 study o housing a ordability in the Valley ound a substantial g

between the availability and the need or a ordable housing options or residents.

60%

70%

60%

40%

50%

60%

70%

33%

60%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

33%

60%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

33%

60%

6% 2%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Very good Good Poor Very poor

33%

60%

6% 2%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%


33%

60%

6% 2%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%


Source: Valley CARES Community Survey


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For our community to bhealthy, we must all woto assure that every resiequal access to the basiblocks that construct a gquality o li e.

~ Karen N. S Director o Health, N

Valley Health

TRANSPORTATIONTransportation needs continue to have a signi cant impact on quality o li e in the Valley. Long commutes andlimited public transportation options shape many peoples daily lives and their access to work and services.

When asked about their co utin patterns , a quarter or more o residents in Valley towns said in2000 that they commuted 30 minutes or more to work; a minority o workers (11--15%) reportedriding to work in a non-single occupancy vehicle such as mass transit or a car pool.

Recent studies highlight the need to improve public transportation options in the Valley. The number o ass transit rides provided by the Valley Transit District (VTD) dropped between 2008 and 2009, due

in part to reductions in state unding. Fixed route bus service in the Valley towns continues to be limited.

ECONOmIC OPPORTUNITY Even though Valley income levels rose over the past decade, increasing numbers o residents do not haveaccess to the economic opportunities needed to build a strong quality o li e.

me ian househol inco e levels increased since 2000, but Valley towns di ered considerably inwhether their income levels ell above or below Connecticuts median o $68,055 in 2009.

The une ploy ent rate in the Valley has risen substantially since 2005, reaching an annual averageo 8.0% in 2009 and almost 9% through September o 2010, with even higher levels in some towns.

Une ploy ent Rates in the Valley

Although the current ederal de nition o poverty underestimates the percentage o residents acingeconomic hardship, the Valleyspoverty rate in 2000 was 4.7% o the overall population. At thattime, 10% or more o children were living in poverty in several Valley towns. It is likely that the povertyrate has risen sharply in recent years, as is true in the state.

The percentage o a ilies quali yin or ree or re uce price lunchin Valley school districtsincreased in the past decade, an indication o growing economic hardship. In 2007-2008, about 2 outo 10 Valley public school children (19%) met the income requirement or ree/reduced price lunch.In some districts, the level reached 40% or more o students.

4.8%4.3% 4.4%

5.6%

8.0%

8.9%

4.9%4.4% 4.6%

5.6%

8.2%

8.8%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

10%

Valley

CT4.8%4.3% 4.4%

5.6%

8.0%

8.9%

4.9%4.4% 4.6%

5.6%

8.2%

8.8%

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

10%

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010*

Valley

CT

Source: CT Dept. o Labor


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Providing Education & Training forLife Long Success


EARLY CHILdHOOd EdUCATIONMany Valley children bene t rom early childhood education opportunities, yet some amilies may acechallenges in accessing these resources.

When asked i there is su cientchil care an preschool availability in the Valley, 59% o parentswith children under 18 living at home who participated in the Valley CARES survey reported that theare enough services. However, 32% o those parents indicated that they did not know i there areenough childcare and preschool resources.

In 2007, the number o Valley children enrolled in theCare 4 ki s chil care assistance program(703) was higher than in previous years. However, we do not know enough about the gap betweencurrent enrollment levels and the need or childcare assistance within the community.

The percentage o kindergartners withpreschool experience has been increasing in some Valleytowns. Yet, in the 2007-2008 school year most o the Valley school districts had not reached the stategoal o 90% preschool experience. In 4 out o the 6 districts, the percentage o kindergartners withpreschool experience was at or above the state level.

Percenta e o Chil ren Enterin kin er arten ith Preschool Experience

Vision for the Valley A community that provides access to high quality education and training opportunities for its residents

from early childhood throughout adulthood

62%

79%

69%

100%

86% 89%

79%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

62%

79%

69%

100%

86% 89%

79%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Ansonia BeaconFalls*

Derby Oxford Seymour Shelton CT

Source: CT Dept. o Education; *Beacon Falls in Regional District 16


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Education is or improvlives o others and or community and world b you ound it.

~ Marian Wright E

PUBLIC SCHOOL PERFORmANCEWhile school per ormance is close to the state level in many Valley districts, a sizeable number o students donot meet Connecticuts targets or elementary learning and high school graduation.

The percentage o 4th graders meeting the state goal in rea in per or ance , a strong indicator o school readiness and success, ranged between 40% and 60% in Valley school districts in the 2007-2008 school year compared to a state level o 56%.

While the state is currently working to improve the measurement o hi h school ra uation anrop out rates , 2007-2008 data show that 4-year high school graduation rates in most Valley school

districts reached or exceeded the state rate. Nevertheless, between 3% and 9% o students in theClass o 2007 dropped out o school.

Cu ulative 4-Year Hi h School gra uation & drop Out Rates

POST-SECONdARY ANd AdULT EdUCATIONWhile many Valley adults continue education and training a ter high school, access to college education, adulteducation, and job training continues to be di cult or some in the Valley community.

When asked about their post-secon ary e ucation plans , between 73% and 89% o Valley highschool graduates said they planned to pursue urther education, which is increasingly important inimproving peoples opportunities or obtaining employment.

According to 2009 statistics about a ult e ucational attain ent , the percentage o adults 25 andover who have Bachelors degrees was lower in the Valley than in the state, ranging between 20%and 35% or the Valley towns compared to 36% or Connecticut.

When asked about a ult e ucation & ob trainin availability in the Valley, 42% o residentssurveyed stated that there are enough adult education services while 46% said they did not know.28% o respondents said existing job training services are su cient but 51% did not know.

9%3% 3% 7% 7% 6%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

88% 97% 96% 92% 93% 93%

9%3% 3% 7% 7% 6%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Ansonia Beacon Falls Derby Seymour Shelton CT

Graduation Rate Drop Out Rate

Source: CT Dept. o Education; Ox ord data not available


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Conserving the Natural Environment

Vision for the Valley A community that conserves its natural resources sothat the environment is safe, clean, and available for

the enjoyment of residents for generations to come


LANd USE & QUALITY The Valleys natural environment and its residents bene t rom land that has been dedicated as openspace within the 6-town region. Due to the Valleys manu acturing history, some o its land may requireenvironmental remediation in order to make it sa e or new development.

The Valley region has an estimated 5,594 acres o open space ; this accounts or close to 8% o theValleys total acreage but land dedicated to open space is not evenly distributed across the Valley towns.

A 2004 State o Connecticut inventory identi ed 21Bro n el sites , land that may be contaminatedwith hazardous substances, within the Valley. Additional sites are included in the Department o Environmental Protections list o potentially contaminated sites.

AgRICULTURAL RESOURCESThe Valleys agricultural resources infuence quality o li e or residents through their impact on the local osupply and the physical environment.

According to the 2007 Agricultural Census, there were 55 ar operations located in the Valley zipcodes. The Connecticut Department o Agriculture Farmland Preservation program lists 3 arm sitesin the Valley that participate in this state program to slow the loss o Connecticut armland; addition

arm conversation e orts are sponsored by towns and other organizations. The Valley currently has 3 ar ers ar ets (Derby, Seymour, & Shelton) and one co unity

ar en.

ENERgY USEValley residents and businesses rely to a large extent on non-renewable energy sources that contribute toenvironmental pollution, but there are some e orts to change these energy use patterns.

As was true or the state o Connecticut, the most commonly usedho e heatin uel source among

Valley households in 2000 was uel oil, ollowed by natural gas, electricity, and liquid petroleum gas Each o the three transit services that provide bus service in the Valley has plans to purchaselo

e issions public transit vehicles in the upcoming years in order to reduce diesel emissions andthereby improve air quality and public health.


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Be good to the land andwill be good to you.

~ Phillip Jam Founder o Jones Fa

ENVIRONmENTAL CONSERVATION mEASURESMany Valley residents are taking measures to conserve resources and the natural environment, yet localtowns, businesses, and organizations can urther improve their conservation e orts.

When asked about househol conservation easures , Valley survey respondents most commonlyreported recycling (87%), ollowed by reducing home energy consumption (54%) and growing orpurchasing ood locally (21%). Additional residents stated they drove less or purchased a more uele cient vehicle (15%), reduced use o harm ul chemicals (11%), and enrolled in a clean energyprogram or purchased alternative energy products (5%).

In 2009, Valley towns recycled less than a quarter o the solid waste they generated, with most townsalling considerably below that level. Thus, the Valleysunicipal recyclin rates ell well below the

states goal o a 40% rate and below the 25% statewide rate.

Percenta e o municipal Soli waste Recycle

17%

23%

10%

12%10%

15%

20%

25%

8%

17%

23%

10%

12%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Ansonia Beacon Falls Derby Oxford Seymour* Shelton

Source: CT Dept. Environmental Protection; *data not reported or Seymour


14/2414.


SAFETY IN THE COmmUNITY Crime is less common in the Valley region than in the state as a whole, but not all residents eel sa e in theirneighborhoods.

In 2006, the Valleys total cri e rate o 1,621 crimes per 100,000 ell considerably below the statecrime rate, however there are substantial di erences in crime rates across the Valley towns.

When asked about nei hborhoo sa ety , 88% o residents surveyed reported eeling somewhat orvery sa e walking in their neighborhood in the evening, but nearly 1 in 10 residents elt somewhat orvery unsa e.

Ho sa e o you eel al in in your nei hborhoo in the evenin ?

70%

80%

67%

50%

60%

70%

80%

67%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

67%

21%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

67%

21%

6% 3%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Very safe Somewhat safe Somewhat unsafe Very unsafe

67%

21%

6% 3%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%


67%

21%

6% 3%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%


SAFETY IN THE FAmILY ANd HOUSEHOLdAlthough rates o violence against community members like women, children, and the elderly are not higherin the Valley than in the state, some residents still su er rom violence caused by people they know and witwhom they live.

Although cases o amily and domestic violence are typically underreported, 519a ily violenceinci ents were reported in the Valley in 2008. Close to 900 Valley residents used o estic violenceservices provided by a local program (The Umbrella).

In 2008, the state reported 164 cases o substantiated chil abuse & ne lect and 15 cases o el erabuse & ne lect in the Valley; the actual requency o such abuse may be higher.

Keeping Residents Safe

Vision for the Valley A community that ensures that residents feel safe withintheir homes and their neighborhoods and that provides

them with knowledge, tools, and services to protect themselves from violent and accidental injury



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ACCIdENTAL INjURY Valley residents take measures to prevent accidental injury, but more can be done to avoid injuries related tothe use o motor vehicles, bicycles, and rearms.

In 2007, there were over 700 otor vehicle acci ents with a reported injury or atality that occurredin Valley towns, showing that motor vehicle accidents continue to be an important preventable causeo injury and death in the region.

When asked about their in ury prevention practices, 96% o residents surveyed indicated that theyalways wear a seatbelt. O those who provided valid responses to questions about helmet use and

rearms sa ety, 63% said they always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or motorcycle and 71%said they always lock rearms in a secure location.

Reporte In ury Prevention Practices

The sa ety o the peopsupreme law.

~ Cicero

96%

63%

71%

37%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

96%

63%

71%

4%

37%

29%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Always wear seat belt Always wear helmet Always lock firearms

Yes No



16/2416.


COmmUNITY SOCIAL SERVICE NEEdSWhile the proportion o Valley community members with mental health concerns appears similar to that in thstate and nation, emotional health issues a ect quality o li e or many residents.

Co unity a areness o service resources is considerable, with 68% o residents surveyedstating that they were somewhat or very aware o where to nd assistance. Nevertheless, 20% o respondents said that they were not at all aware o where to turn or help or amily needs.

In the 2009 calendar year, the top co unity service requests to the 2-1-1 In oline rom theValley United Way region included requests or help with utilities/heat, housing/shelter, and publicassistance. Requests or these services increased rom the previous year, as did those or ood and

nancial assistance. Outpatient mental health care, substance abuse services, and health supportiveservices also ranked in the top 10 service requests.

mENTAL HEALTHWhile the proportion o Valley community members with mental health concerns appears similar to that in thstate and nation, emotional health issues a ect quality o li e or many residents.

Nearly 1 in 5 Valley adults surveyed (19%) reported experiencing e otional istress that a ectedtheir ability to unction in the past year. In a 2009 survey, 17% o Valley middle and high schoolstudents said that they had elt sad or hopeless almost every day or two weeks in the past year.

Experience ental health issues that a ecte ability to unction or ore than 2 ee s in past year

For the period rom 2005 to 2007, the Valleys age-adjusted death rate romsuici e (9.2 suicide deathsper 100,000) was higher than the rate reported or the state (7.4 suicide deaths per 100,000).

Promoting Emotional and Social Wellbeing

Vision for the Valley A community that promotes the emotional and social wellbeing of residents by evaluating and addressingtheir mental health concerns, reducing risk factors suchas substance abuse, and ensuring access to quality

mental health & social services

19%

Yes

No

19%

81%

Yes

No



17/2417.

Most o us spend moretaking care o our physthan our mental health ethough the two go hand

Mental Health o

SUBSTANCE USE & ABUSESubstance use and abuse continues to have a signi cant impact on the emotional and social wellbeing o many Valley adults and young people.

When asked how serious o a problemille al ru sare in the Valley, 82% o residents surveyedstated that illegal drugs are a somewhat or very serious problem.

The number o substance abuse relate hospital visits to Gri n Hospital demonstrates the personaland nancial impact o substance abuse. In the past 3 years, about 3% o emergency room visitswere substance abuse related, with close to 1,000 such visits per year. In the 2009 scal year, about12% o all inpatient hospitalizations were related to substance abuse.

When asked about the social & health concerns acin schoolchil ren , survey respondents withchildren under 18 at home most commonly identi ed drugs (49%) and bullying (26%). Parentalconcerns about bullying are supported by the 2009 Valley Substance Abuse Action Council (VSAAC)student survey in which 45% o Valley middle and high school students reported that they had beenbullied at least once.

Surveys o Valley middle and high school students demonstrate that youth substance use is common,particularly in the case o alcohol and marijuana. For most substances, usage rates increase markedlybetween middle school and high school.

Percent o mi le & Hi h School Stu ents Reportin Substance Use in Past 12 months

43%

62%

36%30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

15%

1% 1% 1% 5%

43%

19%

2% 2% 7%

62%

36%

4% 2%

13%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Alcohol Marijuana Cocaine/Crack Heroin Prescription Drugs

7th Grade 9th Grade 11th Grade

Source: Valley Substance Abuse Action Council


18/24


19/2419.

HEALTH ANd ILLNESSWhile most residents surveyed consider their health to be good, considerable numbers have common healthconditions that may contribute to the leading causes o death in the Valley.

Over 90% o survey respondents rated their overall health as good or very good, yet substantialpercentages also reported a health con ition or ris actor such as high cholesterol (37%), arthritis(28%), high blood pressure (27%), or diabetes (14%).

Rates o HIV/AIdS, and sexually trans itte iseases are lower in the Valley than in the state. Therate o asth a-relate e er ency visits varies by Valley town but is lower than Connecticuts rate.

The Valleys rates o heart isease an cancer eaths remain high, exceeding the Healthy People2010 targets. The 2006 cancer death rate was also higher than the states rate.

HEALTHY BEHAVIORS ANd PREVENTIVE HEALTHMany Valley residents report that they practice health-promoting behaviors. However, there is room orimprovement, especially in the areas o smoking, home radon testing, body weight, and physical tness.

13% o Valley Adults surveyed reported currentlys o in ; just under hal o those said they plan toquit. In 2009, 40% o 11th grade students in Valley public schools reported having smoked.

57% o survey respondents said that their homes had not undergone testin or ra on, a naturallyoccurring gas that is the second leading cause o lung cancer. Over 30% o respondents stated thatthey did not have a carbon onoxi e etector in their homes or were unsure i they did.

In 2007-2008, less than hal o Valley public school students passed thechil rens physical tness tests. Most residents surveyed reported that they usually practicehealthy eatin habits . However, only

30% said that they get 30 minutes o moderate physical activity 5 times or more per week. Survey results suggest that over 20% o Valley adults have abo y ass in ex that is considered to

be in the obese range, similar to the obesity level ound in a 2009 statewide survey.

A ult Bo y mass In ex

Health is a state o comphysical, mental, and sowellbeing, and not mereabsence o disease or in

~ World Health Organiz

37%40%

23%

41%38%

21%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

37%40%

23%

41%38%

21%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Normal Overweight Obese

Valley Connecti cu t

Source: Valley CARES Community Survey, CT BRFSS


20/2420.

Offering Arts, Culture, and Recreation

Vision for the Valley A community that provides its residents withopportunities for meaningful participation in arts,

culture, and recreation activities


ARTS, CULTURE, & RECREATION RESOURCESThe Valley region enjoys many resources or arts, culture, and recreation activities, but not all residents utilizthem requently.

The Valley is home to 45 municipal and state public par s ; all o the Valley towns also have al intrails.

In 2000, an arts and cultural inventory identi ed a wide variety o arts an cultural resources in theValley but this inventory has not been updated in the past 10 years. At that time, the Valleys arts andcultural resources included 11 arts organizations, 172 individual artists, 28 per orming groups, 17per ormance venues, 7 visual arts venues, and numerous estivals.

When asked about their use o arts, culture & recreation resources in the Valley, 44% o residentssurveyed reported that they used local recreation resources somewhat or very o ten in the past year.A quarter (27%) said that they used arts and culture resources in the Valley somewhat or very o ten.

Ho o ten have you use Valley arts, culture, & recreation resources in the past year?

30%

23%

32%

21%

26%

47%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Recreation

Arts and Culture

14%

30%

23%

32%

1%

6%

21%

26%

47%

1%0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Very often Somewhatoften

Not veryoften

Never Don't Know

Recreation

Arts and Culture



21/2421.

People who cannot fnd recreation are obliged slater to fnd time or illn

~John Wana

PUBLIC LIBRARIESMany residents utilize the diverse resources provided by the Valleys public libraries, which now includecomputers with Internet Access and educational programs or adults and children.

The availability an use o library resources has grown in the Valley as it has in the state. In 2008-2009, the average number o library visits increased in most libraries, though the rates varied by town.Computer use and program attendance have also grown in many Valley libraries.

Avera e Nu ber o Library Visits Per Person

4.4

7.0

9.0

4.4

6.6

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

4.4

3.3

7.0

3.4

1.9

9.0

4.4

6.6

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Ansonia BeaconFalls

Derby DerbyNeck*

Oxford Seymour Shelton CT

Source: CT Public Libraries-A Statistical Pro le;*Derby Neck is a regional association library


22/2422.


POLITICAL PARTICIPATIONSubstantial numbers o Valley residents do not participate in the political process.

In 2009, voter re istration levels ranged between 53% and 69% o residents in Valley towns,

leaving a sizeable percentage o community members ineligible to participate in elections. Fewer than hal o registered voters vote in elections in the 2009 municipal races. Higher

percentages o eligible voters participated in the 2008 presidential elections, although the Valleysnational voting rate ell below the statewide level.

Percenta e o Re istere Voters Participatin in Recent Elections

75%

57%

42%

56%

48% 48%

78%

34%

47% 46% 48%

41%

48%

36%30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

75%

57%

42%

56%

48% 48%

78%

34%

47% 46% 48%

41%

48%

36%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Ansonia Beacon Falls Derby Oxford Seymour Shelton CT

2008 Presidential Election 2009 Municipal Election

COmmUNITY RELATIONSAlthough o cially recognized hate crimes are not common in the Valley, residents expressed some concernabout ethnic and race relations in the community.

In 2007, the Valley had 6 reported hate cri es , based on religious and racial bias. While 14% o residents surveyed stated thatethnic iscri ination an racis is a big problem in

the Valley, close to hal (46%) viewed it as a small problem.

Fostering Community Relations and Engagement

Vision for the Valley A caring community that fosters positive relationsamong its diverse members and encourages residents

to participate in improving quality of life for all

Source: CT O ce o the Secretary o State


23/2423.

COmmUNITY ENgAgEmENTMany Valley residents actively engage in their community by obtaining in ormation about communityresources and by giving to local organizations.

Valley residents surveyed reported that the co unity in or ation sources they most o ten utilizeare the Internet (35%), television news (31%), newspaper stories (23%), and riends, neighbors, orrelatives (13%).

When asked about their charitable ivin an volunteeris , more than hal o residents surveyedsaid that they gave time, money, and/or other resources to organizations working in the Valley during

the past year.given ti e or onate oney to charitable or anizations in the Valley in past year

Never doubt that a smalthought ul, committed change the world. Indeeonly thing that ever has

~Margaret

10%

31%

42%

1%Yes, time

Yes, money or other resources

Yes, both

No/not able to do so

10%

31%

17%

42%

1%Yes, time

Yes, money or other resources

Yes, both

No/not able to do so

Don't know/unsure



24/24

Katharine Matthies Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee

Additional Support for the Valley CARES Initiative Provided by:Yale-Grifn Prevention Research Center

Naugatuck Valley Health District

Grifn Hospital

Birmingham Group Health Services, Inc.

Te WorkPlace, Inc.

and theValley Council or Health & Human Services Member Agencies

Graphic Design by Q Company Communication, Shelton, C

Primary Funding for the Creation of this Report Provided by:

Valley Council or Health & Hu an ServicesBuilding Partnerships to Strengthen Community Services

Documents

Valley CARES Quality of Life Report executive summary