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Vital Signs Report From Adelphi University Reveals Long Island Social Health Disparities
Garden City, NY
June 15, 2006
Embargoed until 9:00 AM, June 15, 2006—At a public forum on June 15, 2006, Adelphi University released the first findings of its multi-year VITAL SIGNS campus-community project to assess Long Island's social health. Compelling data from 25 social health categories covering access to housing and food, community and individual safety and well-being, and health insurance coverage and physical and mental health show that despite the region's overall wealth, deep social health disparities persist and in some cases are growing.
Rich with data, the report is the first to support the VITAL SIGNS project goal of creating a centralized resource to help inform policy and service provision in an effort to reduce existing and emerging social health disparities. VITAL SIGNS was initiated by Adelphi University in 2004 in partnership with public officials, service providers, advocates, and community leaders and has been made possible through funding from the Bank of America Foundation, United Way of Long Island, New York State Senator Kemp Hannon, and New York State Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli.
"The report is a wake-up call for Long Island," said VITAL SIGNS faculty director Dr. Suzanne Michael, an assistant professor of social work at Adelphi, who co-authored the report with project director Dr. Sarah Eichberg. "Nassau and Suffolk are among the most affluent counties in the nation, but a growing number of residents representing all incomes, ages, and races/ethnicities are experiencing poor social health. The data and analysis in the VITAL SIGNS report help identify the people and communities challenged by, or at risk for, poor social health and thus better equip us to address Long Island's disparities. VITAL SIGNS can also help to benchmark our progress toward enhancing the social health and well-being of all Long Islanders."
Unprecedented in its depth, the 80-page VITAL SIGNS report breaks out county social health data by zip code, income, gender, and race/ethnicity. Such disaggregated data reveal that county success in a number of social health areas masks deep inequalities among populations and communities within each county, and help to identify the intersection of social, economic, and geographic factors that contribute to poor social health.
Less Early Prenatal Care for Blacks and Young Mothers
In Nassau County, 86.7 percent of women received early prenatal care in 2003, a rate higher than the national average of 84 percent. The Suffolk rate of 75.9 percent was well below the national average. While 87 percent of white women in Nassau County received prenatal care, only 72 percent of black women and 56 percent of women under 20 did.
Troubling Pediatric Asthma Rates in Some Communities
Pediatric asthma, the leading cause of hospitalization for children under 15, is on the rise in New York State and nationwide. The statewide pediatric asthma discharge rate, excluding New York City, for 2001–2003 was 18.6 per 100,000 population. The Nassau County 2001–2002 rate was 22.6 and the Suffolk rate was 21.7, but the rate in Hempstead was 74, in Moriches was 73, and in Wyandanch was 68.
Changing Drug Abuse Patterns
Drug-related hospital discharge rates point to changing drug abuse patterns. The 2000–2002 Suffolk County drug discharge rate of 166 per 100,000 was lower than the Nassau County rate of 185 per 100,000, but the Suffolk rate has been rising, while the Nassau rate has held steady. The rate was highest in Hempstead (723 per 100,000), but of the ten zip codes with the highest rates, seven were in Suffolk. Eight of the ten zip codes have median household incomes below the county level, and eight of ten also have a higher percent of white residents.
The report reveals that Long Islanders are in fact losing ground on a number of key social health indicators.
Greater Income Disparity
In 2000, nearly 23 percent of Long Island residents had household earnings below 50 percent of the bi-county median of $68,351. Given Long Island’s high cost of living, this measure more accurately reflects the extent of economic hardship than the 2005 federal poverty threshold of $19,350 for a family of four.
Gowing Rental Cost Burden
In 2000, 44.5 percent of Long Island renter households experienced a cost burden (more than 30 percent of household income) and 22.5 percent experienced a severe cost burden (more than 50 percent of household income). In 2004, an estimated 54.9 percent experienced a cost burden and 32.3 percent experienced a severe cost burden, rates higher than national levels.
Food Stamp Increases
Increases in the number of individuals on food stamps in Nassau and Suffolk from 2000–2005 exceeded the 22 percent increase statewide. Nassau experienced a 40 percent increase, and Suffolk a 24 percent increase. The trends reflect increased outreach and enrollment efforts and changed social security procedures but also reflect worsening economic conditions.
Rise in Alcohol-Related Motor Vehicle Deaths
Both Nassau and Suffolk experienced an overall increase in the number of alcohol-related fatalities and the percent of alcohol-related fatalities making up all motor vehicle fatalities. In 2004, Nassau County had the second highest number of alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes (29) and alcohol-related fatalities (39) of any New York County. Suffolk had the highest number of alcohol-related fatal crashes in New York State (62) and had 71 alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities.
Diabetes on the Rise
Diabetes rates are rising nationwide, a trend that is also evident in Nassau and Suffolk counties. From 1995–2004, Nassau experienced a 13.1 percent increase in inpatient diabetes cases and Suffolk a 20.1 percent increase. From 1999–2003, the number of individuals under 65 with diabetes grew by 22.4 percent in Suffolk and 15.9 percent in Nassau. Diabetes-related amputations were highest among low-income communities across both counties.
"This report sends an important message to all of Long Island," said Jeffrey Kraut, senior vice president of strategic planning for North Shore/Long Island Jewish Health System, a member of the VITAL SIGNS advisory board. "If we are to maintain the vibrancy of Long Island, we must act together to address these social health disparities. Collaboration will also reduce the cumulative effects of poor social health and the long term economic and social costs for all Long Islanders."
"Long Island is often perceived as a single, largely affluent suburb," said project director Dr. Sarah Eichberg. "This report reveals that the region today encompasses many diverse communities with varying social health needs. VITAL SIGNS seeks to stimulate collaborative and multi-sectored approaches to addressing the region's growing disparities."
"Preserving social health is everyone's responsibility," said Adelphi University President Dr. Robert A. Scott, who conceived the VITAL SIGNS Project. "Adelphi University looks forward to launching a series of forums this fall to bring together key constituents and leaders across the public and private sectors to address pressing social health issues."
The full report is available online at www.adelphi.edu/vitalsigns. The project plans to conduct further research into the region’s social health over the next year.
About Adelphi University: Adelphi University, chartered in 1896, was the first institution of higher education for the liberal arts and sciences on Long Island. Through its schools and programs—The College of Arts and Sciences, the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, the Honors College, the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, University College, and the Schools of Business, Nursing, and Social Work—the co-educational university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as professional and educational programs for adults. Adelphi University currently enrolls more than 8,300 students from 40 states and 50 foreign countries. With its main campus in Garden City and centers in Manhattan, Hauppauge, and Poughkeepsie, the University maintains a commitment to liberal studies in tandem with rigorous professional preparation and active citizenship.
Media Contact
For additional information, please contact:
Bonnie Eissner
Communications Director
p - 516.877.3697
cell - 516.724.0693
e - eissner@adelphi.edu
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Kali Chan
Media Relations Director
Specialist
p - 516.877.4040
e - chan@adelphi.edu
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