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CALWORKS
FEWER CHILDREN RECEIVE CALWORKS TODAY THAN 10 YEARS AGO.
Description Of Indicator
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).
Decline in the percentage of children receiving CalWORKs benefits may suggest decreased poverty or might be attributed to improvement in the economy or a decline in the number of children under 18 residing in Orange County.
Why is this indicator 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 at the same time, 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 immunization requirements and assisting with paternity and child support enforcement activities.
Findings
• In 2017/18, 4.3% (30,816) of Orange County’s children received CalWORKs assistance which is a 14.3% decrease from 4.5% (35,962) in 2008/09. Overall, Orange County’s rate is lower than California at 4.8%.
• Young children (birth to five years of age) accounted for 29% of the youth population receiving CalWORKs assistance.
• The highest percentages of children receiving CalWORKs live in the cities of Anaheim at 7.4% (6,387), Santa Ana at 7.2% (6,621), Stanton at 5.1% (514), Garden Grove at 4.9% (1,932), Buena Park at 4.8% (924), Westminster at 4.7% (869) and Cypress at 4.6% (494).
• Cities with the lowest percentage of children receiving CalWORKs include Rancho Santa Margarita at 0.4% (49), Newport Beach at 0.4% (66), Laguna Beach at 0.6% (22), Aliso Viejo at 0.6% (83), Seal Beach at 0.7% (21) and Yorba Linda at 0.8% (125).
ECONOMIC WELL-BEING
Children ages birth to five make up one-third of all children receiving CalWORKs assistance.
