Contents
Introduction
County Specific Information
Demographic Information
Households and Families
Nativity and Foreign Born
Estimated Number of Children and Pregnant Women
Estimation of Need for Full Day-Full Year
Disabilities
Needs of the Community Served
Education
Employment
Health
Social & Economic Factors
Automobile Ownership
Housing Costs
Food Issues
USDA Defined Food Deserts
Environmental Issues
Needs Expressed by Enrolled Families
Program Options
Community Resources:
Needs and Goals
Appendix: Child Care Data
Introduction
The SEARP&DC Head Start Program is a child development program licensed by the State of Alabama Department of Human Resources to provide services to 304 children ages three - to - five years old enrolled at six Head Start Centers located in four rural Alabama counties. The program also provides Early Head Start services to 32 children ages zero - to three years old. The Head Start Program, operating with HHS federal funding and local in-kind support, has provided continuous services to children in Southeast Alabama for over 39 years. The current locations are:
Eufaula Head Start Center
Florala Head Start Center
Geneva Head Start Center
Headland Head Start Center
Opp Head Start Center
Andalusia Head Start Center
County Specific Information
Barbour County, Alabama is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population was 27,457.Its county seat is Clayton. Barbour County was established on December 18, 1832, from former Creek Indian homelands and a portion of Pike County. The fertile land was developed by southern migrants as large cotton plantations dependent on slave labor. Due to the number of slaves, the population was soon majority black, a proportion that continued for decades. In the 21st century, the population has a slight white majority, but blacks make up more than 46% of the residents, which results in highly competitive politics.
Covington County, Alabama (briefly Jones County), is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census the population was 37,765. Its county seat is Andalusia. Covington County was established on December 17, 1821. The Alabama state legislature changed the name to Jones County on August 6, 1868. Two months later on October 10, 1868, the original name was restored. The county was declared a disaster area in September 1979 due to damage from Hurricane Frederic and again in October 1995 due to Hurricane Opal. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,044 square miles (2,700km2), of which 1,030 square miles (2,700km2) is land and 13 square miles (34km2) (1.3%) is water.
Geneva County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population was 26,790. Its county seat is Geneva. Geneva County is part of the Dothan, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Henry –Henry County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Upon formation, Henry County was the largest county within Alabama, composing all or portions of the present counties of Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Houston, and Pike. When the youngest county of Houston was formed in 1903, Henry became the smallest. After 1814, the colonial settlers' developed Franklin as the first white settlement in the Creek territory. The former river port served Abbeville on the Chattahoochee River. Much of the original Henry County was part of the original Alabama wiregrass region.
Demographic Information
The table below provides age breakouts for the counties served.
Subject / Barbour County, Alabama / Covington County, Alabama / Geneva County, Alabama / Henry County, AlabamaTotal / Total / Total / Total
Estimate / Estimate / Estimate / Estimate
Total population / 27,321 / 37,847 / 26,791 / 17,308
AGE
Under 5 years / 5.8% / 6.0% / 5.8% / 5.5%
5 to 9 years / 6.3% / 5.8% / 5.7% / 6.2%
10 to 14 years / 5.8% / 6.6% / 6.8% / 5.9%
15 to 19 years / 5.8% / 6.4% / 6.1% / 6.4%
20 to 24 years / 6.7% / 5.8% / 5.5% / 5.7%
25 to 29 years / 7.5% / 5.2% / 5.3% / 4.7%
30 to 34 years / 6.4% / 5.5% / 6.1% / 5.0%
35 to 39 years / 8.1% / 5.7% / 5.8% / 6.8%
40 to 44 years / 5.3% / 6.4% / 6.7% / 6.2%
45 to 49 years / 7.2% / 6.6% / 7.3% / 6.7%
50 to 54 years / 7.0% / 7.5% / 7.3% / 7.0%
55 to 59 years / 7.1% / 7.0% / 7.5% / 7.3%
60 to 64 years / 5.9% / 6.6% / 6.4% / 7.9%
65 to 69 years / 5.2% / 6.0% / 5.0% / 6.2%
70 to 74 years / 3.6% / 4.1% / 5.1% / 4.6%
75 to 79 years / 2.7% / 4.1% / 3.3% / 3.7%
80 to 84 years / 1.9% / 2.5% / 2.6% / 2.0%
85 years and over / 1.7% / 2.3% / 1.9% / 2.2%
SELECTED AGE CATEGORIES
5 to 14 years / 12.1% / 12.3% / 12.5% / 12.2%
15 to 17 years / 3.6% / 4.0% / 3.9% / 4.3%
18 to 24 years / 8.9% / 8.2% / 7.7% / 7.8%
15 to 44 years / 39.9% / 35.0% / 35.4% / 34.8%
16 years and over / 80.7% / 80.8% / 80.3% / 80.7%
18 years and over / 78.4% / 77.7% / 77.8% / 78.1%
60 years and over / 21.0% / 25.6% / 24.3% / 26.5%
62 years and over / 18.3% / 23.0% / 21.8% / 23.6%
65 years and over / 15.0% / 19.0% / 17.9% / 18.6%
75 years and over / 6.3% / 8.9% / 7.7% / 7.8%
SUMMARY INDICATORS
Median age (years) / 38.3 / 42.4 / 41.9 / 42.7
Sex ratio (males per 100 females) / 115.3 / 93.2 / 95.1 / 91.2
Age dependency ratio / 57.7 / 70.4 / 66.9 / 68.2
Old-age dependency ratio / 23.7 / 32.4 / 29.8 / 31.3
Child dependency ratio / 34.0 / 38.0 / 37.1 / 36.9
The results indicate that there should be enough children and low income families to make Head Start a viable option. The estimates of eligible and available children will be provided later in the document.
Households and Families
Barbour County, Alabama
In 2010-2012 there were 9,300 households in Barbour County, Alabama. The average household size was 2.6 people.Families made up 66 percent of the households in Barbour County, Alabama. This figure includes both married-couple families (45 percent) and other families (22 percent). Of other families, 10 percent are female householder families with no husband present and own children under 18 years. Nonfamily households made up 34 percent of all households in Barbour County, Alabama. Most of the nonfamily households were people living alone, but some were composed of people living in households in which no one was related to the householder.
In Barbour County, Alabama, 32 percent of all households have one or more people under the age of 18; 32 percent of all households have one or more people 65 years and over.Among persons 15 and older, 43 percent of males and 43 percent of females are currently married.
Population 15 years and over / Males / FemalesNever married / 37.3 / 25.8
Now married, except separated / 43.0 / 42.6
Separated / 2.3 / 3.3
Widowed / 3.4 / 13.0
Divorced / 14.0 / 15.3
In Barbour County, Alabama, 860 grandparents lived with their grandchildren under 18 years old. Of those grandparents, 46 percent of them had financial responsibility for their grandchildren.
Covington County, Alabama
In 2010-2012 there were 15,000 households in Covington County, Alabama. The average household size was 2.5 people.Families made up 68 percent of the households in Covington County, Alabama. This figure includes both married-couple families (46 percent) and other families (22 percent). Of other families, 10 percent are female householder families with no husband present and own children under 18 years. Nonfamily households made up 32 percent of all households in Covington County, Alabama.Most of the nonfamily households were people living alone, but some were composed of people living in households in which no one was related to the householder.In Covington County, Alabama, 32 percent of all households have one or more people under the age of 18; 33 percent of all households have one or more people 65 years and over.
Among persons 15 and older, 50 percent of males and 48 percent of females are currently married.
Population 15 years and over / Males / FemalesNever married / 26.0 / 19.1
Now married, except separated / 50.4 / 47.7
Separated / 2.7 / 2.5
Widowed / 5.3 / 15.0
Divorced / 15.7 / 15.6
In Covington County, Alabama, 1,100 grandparents lived with their grandchildren under 18 years old. Of those grandparents, 52 percent of them had financial responsibility for their grandchildren.
Geneva County, Alabama
In 2010-2012 there were 11,000 households in Geneva County, Alabama. The average household size was 2.4 people.Families made up 72 percent of the households in Geneva County, Alabama. This figure includes both married-couple families (48 percent) and other families (23 percent). Of other families, 10 percent are female householder families with no husband present and own children under 18 years. Nonfamily households made up 29 percent of all households in Geneva County, Alabama. Most of the nonfamily households were people living alone, but some were composed of people living in households in which no one was related to the householder.In Geneva County, Alabama, 31 percent of all households have one or more people under the age of 18; 31 percent of all households have one or more people 65 years and over.
Among persons 15 and older, 54 percent of males and 48 percent of females are currently married.
Population 15 years and over / Males / FemalesNever married / 27.9 / 20.3
Now married, except separated / 53.8 / 47.9
Separated / 3.3 / 4.8
Widowed / 3.6 / 11.1
Divorced / 11.4 / 15.9
In Geneva County, Alabama, 870 grandparents lived with their grandchildren under 18 years old. Of those grandparents, 49 percent of them had financial responsibility for their grandchildren.
Henry County, Alabama
In 2010-2012 there were 6994 households in Henry County, Alabama. The average household size was 2.5 people.Families made up 71 percent of the households in Henry County, Alabama. This figure includes both married-couple families (52 percent) and other families (29 percent). Of other families, 15 percent are female householder families with no husband present and own children under 18 years. Nonfamily households made up 29 percent of all households in Geneva County, Alabama. Most of the nonfamily households were people living alone, but some were composed of people living in households in which no one was related to the householder.
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The results indicate that the service area is populated primarily with families, but it is not always 2 parent families there is a sizable section of the population where female headed families is the norm and is likely to be encountered by the Head Start program.
Nativity and Foreign Born
Barbour County, Alabama
Ninety-seven percent of the people living in Barbour County, Alabama in 2010-2012 were native residents of the United States. Sixty-eight percent of these residents were living in the state in which they were born.Three percent of the people living in Barbour County, Alabama in 2010-2012 were foreign born. Of the foreign born population, 14 percent were naturalized U.S. citizens.
Covington County, Alabama
Ninety-nine percent of the people living in Covington County, Alabama in 2010-2012 were native residents of the United States. Seventy-four percent of these residents were living in the state in which they were born. One percent of the people living in Covington County, Alabama in 2010-2012 were foreign born. Of the foreign born population, 48 percent were naturalized U.S. citizens, and 96 percent entered the country before the year 2010. Four percent of the foreign born entered the country in 2010 or later.
Geneva County, Alabama
Ninety-eight percent of the people living in Geneva County, Alabama in 2010-2012 were native residents of the United States. Seventy-two percent of these residents were living in the state in which they were born.Two percent of the people living in Geneva County, Alabama in 2010-2012 were foreign born. Of the foreign born population, 19 percent were naturalized U.S. citizens.
Henry County, Alabama
Ninety-nine percent of the people living in Henry County, Alabama in 2010-2012 were native residents of the United States. Seventy-four percent of these residents were living in the state in which they were born.Two percent of the people living in Geneva County, Alabama in 2010-2012 were foreign born. Of the foreign born population, 21 percent were naturalized U.S. citizens.
The vast majority of the residents of these counties were born in these counties.
Estimated Number of Children and Pregnant Women
Barbour / Covington / Geneva / HenryBirths* / 406 / 467 / 440 / 371
Poverty Rate all persons** / 26.10% / 20.90% / 20% / 16%
Pregnant women population in poverty / 106 / 98 / 88 / 59
Population under 5** / 1579 / 2217 / 1528 / 941
Child Poverty Rate** / 41.80% / 30.30% / 30.70% / 22.20%
Population under 5 in poverty / 660 / 671 / 470 / 209
Children receiving CC subsidies** / 79 / 54 / 43 / 49
Low Income Children 0-5 unserved / 581 / 617 / 427 / 160
Pregnant women and children unserved / 687 / 715 / 515 / 219
Estimated Eligible 3&4 y.o. / 232 / 247 / 171 / 64
* Source: U.S. Census American Factfinder
** Alabama Kids Count Data
The table above shows that both preschool and Early Head Start options are viable. In order to estimate the number needing full day and or full year services, we must look to education enrollment and employment status as an indicator.
Estimation of Need for Full Day-Full Year
Employment / Head Start / Early Head StartTwo Parents-Both Employed / 10% / 20%
Two Parents-One Employed / 66% / 80%
Two Parents-Not Employment / 23% / 0
One Parent Employed / 44% / 62%
One Parent Not Employed / 56% / 38%
Source: Program Information Report
Looking at employment status, there is only a moderate percentage that would require full day or full year services and these would most likely be one parent households where the parent is employed.
Job Training/School / Head Start / Early Head StartTwo Parents-Both in school / 0 / 0
Two Parents-One in school / 4% / 0
Two Parents-None in school / 96% / 100%
One Parent school / 6% / 7%
One Parent None in school / 94% / 93%
Source: Program Information Report
Given the figure for school, it is still the single parents in both Head Start and Early Head Start that are most likely to have the need for full day full year services. Based on PIR data this would be in the neighborhood of 20 slots in EHS and 100 slots in Head Start.
Disabilities
Disability by Age and Multiple IdentificationEstimates / Barbour County, Alabama / Covington County, Alabama / Geneva County, Alabama / Henry County, AlabamaTotal: / 24,457 / 37,370 / 26,490 / 17,085
Under 18 years: / 5,879 / 8,443 / 5,954 / 3,788
With one type of disability / 242 / 470 / 511 / 88
With two or more types of disability / 84 / 119 / 197 / 39
No disability / 5,553 / 7,854 / 5,246 / 3,661
18 to 64 years: / 14,689 / 22,009 / 15,890 / 10,197
With one type of disability / 1,346 / 1,995 / 1,610 / 932
With two or more types of disability / 1,380 / 2,243 / 1,598 / 915
No disability / 11,963 / 17,771 / 12,682 / 8,350
65 years and over: / 3,889 / 6,918 / 4,646 / 3,100
With one type of disability / 786 / 1,428 / 776 / 568
With two or more types of disability / 1,131 / 1,936 / 1,387 / 682
No disability / 1,972 / 3,554 / 2,483 / 1,850
2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Barbour County, Alabama
In Barbour County, Alabama, among the civilian noninstitutionalized population in 2010-2012, 20 percent reported a disability. The likelihood of having a disability varied by age - from 7 percent of people under 18 years old, to 19 percent of people 18 to 64 years old, and to 45 percent of those 65 and over.
Covington County, Alabama
In Covington County, Alabama, among the civilian noninstitutionalized population in 2010-2012, 22 percent reported a disability. The likelihood of having a disability varied by age - from 8 percent of people under 18 years old, to 19 percent of people 18 to 64 years old, and to 49 percent of those 65 and over.
Geneva County, Alabama
In Geneva County, Alabama, among the civilian noninstitutionalized population in 2010-2012, 24 percent reported a disability. The likelihood of having a disability varied by age - from 13 percent of people under 18 years old, to 20 percent of people 18 to 64 years old, and to 48 percent of those 65 and over.
Henry County, Alabama
In Henry County, Alabama, among the civilian noninstitutionalized population in 2010-2012, 19 percent reported a disability. The likelihood of having a disability varied by age - from 5 percent of people under 18 years old, to 18 percent of people 18 to 64 years old, and to 40 percent of those 65 and over.
Disability Characteristics / Barbour / Covington / Geneva / HenryWith a disability / Percent with a disability / With a disability / Percent with a disability / With a disability / Percent with a disability / With a disability / % with a disability
Total civilian noninstitutionalized population / 4,969 / 20.30% / 8,191 / 21.90% / 6,079 / 22.90% / 3,224 / 18.90%
Population under 5 years / 2 / 0.10% / 0 / 0.00% / 6 / 0.40% / 18 / 1.90%
With a hearing difficulty / 2 / 0.10% / 0 / 0.00% / 4 / 0.30% / 12 / 1.30%
With a vision difficulty / 0 / 0.00% / 0 / 0.00% / 2 / 0.10% / 6 / 0.60%
Population 5 to 17 years / 324 / 7.60% / 589 / 9.50% / 702 / 16.00% / 109 / 3.80%
With a hearing difficulty / 11 / 0.30% / 121 / 2.00% / 95 / 2.20% / 4 / 0.10%
With a vision difficulty / 85 / 2.00% / 120 / 1.90% / 138 / 3.10% / 0 / 0.00%
With a cognitive difficulty / 222 / 5.20% / 327 / 5.30% / 512 / 11.60% / 96 / 3.40%
With an ambulatory difficulty / 36 / 0.80% / 93 / 1.50% / 58 / 1.30% / 4 / 0.10%
With a self-care difficulty / 65 / 1.50% / 47 / 0.80% / 48 / 1.10% / 37 / 1.30%
Based upon the census data provided above there is an uneven distribution of disabilities overall. Henry County has greatest number. The bulk of the disabilities are speech and language according the PIR reports. This means that the program is likely to continue to see this disability continue and for EHS the local physicians are still loath to diagnose children with a disability at a very young age.
Needs of the Community Served
Education
Educational Attainment / Barbour County Estimate / Covington County Estimate / Geneva County Estimate / Henry County EstimateTotal: / 18,988 / 26,292 / 18,779 / 12,162
No schooling completed / 446 / 422 / 359 / 163
Nursery school / 0 / 43 / 8 / 0
Kindergarten / 30 / 2 / 0 / 5
1st grade / 0 / 12 / 0 / 7
2nd grade / 68 / 24 / 8 / 19
3rd grade / 121 / 79 / 99 / 60
4th grade / 8 / 53 / 50 / 53
5th grade / 51 / 221 / 39 / 65
6th grade / 296 / 279 / 339 / 113
7th grade / 299 / 487 / 348 / 155
8th grade / 508 / 501 / 498 / 193
9th grade / 724 / 1,137 / 765 / 298
10th grade / 923 / 1,060 / 789 / 622
11th grade / 1,061 / 964 / 618 / 432
12th grade, no diploma / 467 / 405 / 366 / 230
Regular high school diploma / 4,993 / 7,201 / 5,432 / 3,414
GED or alternative credential / 1,252 / 1,806 / 1,741 / 855
Some college, less than 1 year / 1,040 / 1,698 / 1,582 / 664
Some college, 1 or more years, no degree / 2,779 / 3,961 / 2,460 / 1,751
Associate's degree / 1,377 / 2,210 / 1,331 / 1,045
Bachelor's degree / 1,546 / 2,433 / 1,417 / 1,181
Master's degree / 773 / 978 / 479 / 697
Professional school degree / 171 / 190 / 48 / 100
Doctorate degree / 55 / 126 / 3 / 40
Barbour County, Alabama
In 2010-2012, 34 percent of people 25 years and over had a high school diploma or equivalency and 14 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher. Twenty-five percent were dropouts; they were not enrolled in school and had not graduated from high school. The total school enrollment in Barbour County, Alabama was 6,100 in 2010-2012. Nursery school and kindergarten enrollment was 940 and elementary or high school enrollment was 3,800 children. College or graduate school enrollment was 1,300.
Covington County, AL
In 2010-2012, 34 percent of people 25 years and over had a high school diploma or equivalency and 14 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher. Twenty-three percent were dropouts; they were not enrolled in school and had not graduated from high school. The total school enrollment in Covington County, Alabama was 8,500 in 2010-2012. Nursery school and kindergarten enrollment was 1,100 and elementary or high school enrollment was 5,800 children. College or graduate school enrollment was 1,700.
Geneva County, Alabama
In 2010-2012, 39 percent of people 25 years and over had a high school diploma or equivalency and 11 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher. Twenty-four percent were dropouts; they were not enrolled in school and had not graduated from high school. The total school enrollment in Geneva County, Alabama was 5,100 in 2010-2012. Nursery school and kindergarten enrollment was 570 and elementary or high school enrollment was 3,800 children. College or graduate school enrollment was 740.
Henry County, Alabama
In 2010-2012, 28 percent of people 25 years and over had a high school diploma or equivalency and 10 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher. Twenty-four percent were dropouts; they were not enrolled in school and had not graduated from high school. The total school enrollment in Henry County, Alabama was 3,926 in 2010-2012. Nursery school and kindergarten enrollment was 197 and elementary or high school enrollment was 2,889 children. College or graduate school enrollment was 840.
Education / Head Start / EHSAt least a baccalaureate degree
At least some college
High school graduate or GED
Less than high school / 5% / 0
14% / 34%
42% / 46%
31% / 20%
Source: Program Information Report
When the information about educational levels is included, the families served by Head Start and Early Head Start tend to be less education than the populations as a whole. The implication for program staff is that families may need to be convinced of the value of early childhood education.