CALWORKS

This indicator reports the average number and percent of children per month under the age of 18 years receiving financial assistance through California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs). Any change in the number of CalWORKs beneficiaries is an indicator of a change in poverty status.

Why is this important?

The percent of children benefiting from CalWORKs is an indicator of Orange County’s capacity to help families struggling to make ends meet and responsibly care for their children. This indicator also reflects a widespread need for financial support among families in need across Orange County as CalWORKs beneficiaries receive financial and employment assistance. The goals of the CalWORKs program include reduced welfare dependency, increased self-sufficiency and improved child well-being by encouraging parental responsibility through school attendance, child immunizations requirements and by assisting with paternity and child support enforcement activities.

• In 2015/16, 5.5% (38,982) of Orange County’s children received CalWORKs assistance which is a 21.7% increase from 4.0% in 2006/07. Overall Orange County is lower than California at 11.0%

• Nearly one in three children (30.0%) who receive CalWORKs assistance is five years old or younger.

• The cities of Anaheim at 9.6% (8,542), Santa Ana at 9.2% (8,892), Buena Park at 5.9% (1,172), Garden Grove at 5.9% (2,457) and Westminster at 5.6% (1,055) have the highest percentages of children receiving CalWORKs.

• Cities with the lowest percentage of children receiving CalWORKs include Laguna Beach at 0.4% (17), Villa Park at 0.6% (7), Rancho Santa Margarita at 0.7% (99), Newport Beach at 0.7% (103), Yorba Linda at 0.9% (143) and Aliso Viejo at 0.9% (111).