As a first-time father said, “There is a reason babies take nine months to arrive; you need that long to prepare.” Expectant moms are supposed to have nine months to nourish the growing life inside them. However; this ideal is not the reality for much of...
We’ve heard the statistics, perhaps to the point where we can’t process the information anymore. Childhood obesity is a soaring health challenge across the nation, and right here in Orange County. Children who are overweight or obese don’t just face physical and psychological hurdles today--...
There is a movement afoot that supports “collective impact” by nonprofits. That is, for agencies serving similar (or the same) target populations, they should consider collaborative planning and actions with government, funders, foundations, to better maximize resources. With trends that predict less government funding and...
Break the cycle of poverty by focusing on vocational training. In recent weeks, this column has focused on critical issues facing an alarming number of local residents—issues that ultimately affect everyone in Orange County. We’ve examined high school dropout rates and the education achievement gap, children...
The challenges facing Orange County’s students can’t be addressed by the local education system alone. Solving the equation will take the whole community, working together. You don’t have school-aged children, so the cuts to education don’t affect you, right? Or maybe your children attend private school,...
In 10 years, will OC’s students and workers be able to call Orange County home? We are seeing troubling signs: an inadequate supply of affordable housing, aging infrastructure, and an education system in need of transformational change if the next generation is to succeed. In the 2012...
Orange County’s surprising problem often hides in the shadows. When you think of the homeless in the United States, what – and who – comes to mind? Transient men in inner cities? The chronically addicted? The mentally ill? Would it surprise you to know that, in...
Poor oral health care for children can result in chronic problems throughout life, and it is largely preventable. If your child had a broken bone, would you allow her to suffer with excruciating pain and let the bone heal badly, causing her lifelong challenges as a...
Want a solution to the dropout crisis? Teach kids to read before kindergarten. Imagine if there were a problem that affected one in three high school students (approximately 4 million students a year) resulting in issues that cost U.S. taxpayers more than $8 billion a year?...
Outside appearances paint Orange County as a vibrant community filled with happy, active families and a robust economy. But what you don't see on the surface tells the tale for thousands of our neighbors who are unemployed or underemployed, homeless or in unstable housing, and...