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John Rainey Named Chair of 2015 March for Babies, Nation’s Biggest Fundraiser for Mom and Baby Health

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John Rainey Named Chair of 2015 March for Babies, Nation’s Biggest Fundraiser for Mom and Baby Health


CHANDLER, Arizona, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — John Rainey, executive vice president and chief financial officer of United Airlines will be named national chair of the March of Dimes 2015 March for Babies at a ceremony in Phoenix tonight. Mr. Rainey commits to generating a minimum of $1 million for the organization, which supports research and other programs to give more babies a healthy start in life.

“Many of our United employees and their families worldwide have been helped by the work of the March of Dimes, and we’re committed to helping that important work continue,” says Mr. Rainey, who is also a member of the March of Dimes Board of Trustees. “I’m honored to serve as 2015 March for Babies chair and look forward to bringing together our United customers and employees to help support stronger, healthier babies.”

This year will mark the 10th year of United’s sponsorship of the March of Dimes National Ambassador program for the National Ambassador family to travel around the United States, sharing their story and raising awareness. In 2006, United became a National Sponsor of March for Babies. The airline, its customers and its employees have contributed nearly $5.5 million since the partnership began.

“United Airlines’ support makes it possible for the March of Dimes to raise awareness of the need for more research and community programs to prevent premature birth and birth defects,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. 

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health.  With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org.  Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


AFF Ad Campaign: Padilla’s Slush Fund

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AFF Ad Campaign: Padilla’s Slush Fund


Crisis Engulfing Puerto Rico is Padilla’s, and Padilla’s Alone
 


DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The American Future Fund (AFF), a national 501(c)4 organization, today announced a new advertising campaign in both POLITICO and The Wall Street Journal drawing attention to billions of dollars that Governor Alejandro Padilla controls through the Government Development Bank, a secretive institution that operates outside the reach of regulators and functions as a slush fund for the island’s power elite.

Nick Ryan, Founder of the American Future Fund, said: “Governor Padilla presides over a system that punishes critics and rewards cronies through his control of billions of dollars in a shadowy and politically-controlled institution known as the Government Development Bank. Governor Padilla sells the GDB as a safe place to invest, even as it has amassed billions in debt. The GDB is unregulated.  Investors considering the GDB’s upcoming $900 million bond offering should be aware of that.”

Ryan added, “Governor Padilla is solely responsible for the financial crisis that engulfs Puerto Rico.  Rather than trying to fix the problem, he threatens reprisal against critics, including U.S. credit agencies that recently issued legitimate warnings about the island’s risky level of debt. Like Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, Governor Padilla shows complete disregard for the principles of a free and open society with his thuggish tactics.”

To view AFF’s new ad, click here.

Background

Governor Padilla and his government have undertaken a full-blown attack on the rule of law, the U.S. Constitution and investor rights. The first example, Doral Financial Corporation, a US-based bank and mortgage lender that Puerto Rico lawfully entered into a contractual agreement in 2012 acknowledging the Commonwealth owes Doral over $230 million. The agreement was ratified by both parties yet again in 2013. But Governor Padilla and his government are now refusing to honor this contract. Moreover, Doral’s regulator – the Office of the Financial Institutions Commissioner – and key political leaders including the Department of Justice are threatening the bank and its employees. These actions, coming after Doral’s decision to file litigation to enforce its agreement with the government, are disturbing, and an abuse of power by Governor Padilla and his government. The second example involves a new law, the Debt Enforcement and Recovery Act, which was rammed through the legislature by Governor Padilla. This law would allow the Puerto Rican government to repudiate the debts of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) and could leave the lights on the island literally being turned off because of Padilla’s actions. This action stiffs investors and pensioners to the benefit of a few select bondholders that are covering for the GDB. This law violates the U.S. Constitution, and has led the island’s bond ratings to be downgraded to junk status.
AFF Ad Campaign Highlights Culture of Corruption

Contact: Matthew Beynon – (703) 307-8633

 


Franchise Business Opportunities a Growing, Viable Path for Hispanic Entrepreneurs

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Franchise Business Opportunities a Growing, Viable Path for Hispanic Entrepreneurs

Hispanic Heritage Month Showcases Successful Coverall
®
Franchised Business Owners


DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla., Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Coverall North America, Inc., a leading franchisor of commercial cleaning businesses, is a viable option for aspiring Hispanic entrepreneurs interested in starting a business. Franchised business owners have found that being your own boss and having a flexible schedule to spend more time with loved ones are the benefits of ownership.

Of the 8,000 Coverall franchised business owners worldwide, 25 percent of them are of Hispanic descent.

National Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, was enacted into law in 1988 to celebrate the history, cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Sept. 15 is significant because it serves as the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

“Coverall offers people the opportunity to become their own boss and take control of their future,” said Rick Ascolese, CEO of Coverall. “We wish all of our business owners continued success as they operate their businesses for themselves and their families.”

From Mexico, Robert Yepez started a Coverall franchised business eight years ago. Over the years, his business grew exponentially. Today, his franchised business services nearly 250,000 square feet each month.

Alan Landaverde, another Hispanic Coverall Franchised Business Owner, is originally from El Salvador. Landaverde worked in the aerospace industry for 25 years before changing his career path and starting a commercial cleaning franchised business. Like many business owners, Landaverde wanted the freedom of owning a business and more time to spend with his children.

Mercedes Cisneros moved to the U.S. in the 1980s and later started a Coverall commercial cleaning franchised business. She has owned her business for eight years growing it through customer referrals.

Coverall franchised business owners cite customer service and going above and beyond expectations as keys to their success.

“When a customer calls we do everything we can to help,” said Yepez. “There is no task that my team cannot take on.”

Coverall has been recognized with numerous awards for its franchise opportunities. Recently, the franchisor was named by G.I. Jobs as a ‘Hot Franchise for Veterans’ and was also named to USA Today‘s ‘Top 50 Franchises for Minorities’ list in 2013.

Learn more about Coverall franchise opportunities visit http://www.coverall.com/tufuturo/.

Contact: Lavidge
Teri Morris
480-648-7577
[email protected]


Vme TV Unearths Easter Island

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Vme TV Unearths Easter Island

Planeta Feroz welcomes viewers to explore one of the most remote inhabited islands of the world


MIAMI, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Vme TV, the only national Spanish-language television network affiliated with public television stations, takes viewers on a historical adventure to Easter Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean that is widely known for its 887 monumental stone statues. “Isla de Pascua” airs on Vme TV’s Planeta Feroz block Monday, September 22, 2014 at 5 p.m. E/P.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131031/FL07950LOGO

For the last ten years, a multidisciplinary scientific team has been studying and excavating this Polynesian island, a territory of Chile annexed in the late 1800’s. Easter Island is best recognized for its human figures carved from rock between the years 1250 and 1500, standing about 13 feet high and average 5 feet in width. This special offers an impressive historical account and analysis of a population that has been able to adapt through a climate crisis, slave raids and a shift toward a new social and religious order.

“‘Isla de Pascua,’ re-examines historical documents and presents scientific learning of an environment that has evolved over the years. Through our Planeta Feroz programming, audiences can experience the excitement and adventure of remote destinations, such as Easter Island, and learn how these cultures developed into their modern day existence,” said Doris Vogelmann, Vme TV’s vice-president of programming.

“Isla de Pascua” makes up part of the Planeta Feroz lineup, a special series of programs developed with content from educational networks such as PBS, BBC, and NatGeo. Planeta Feroz’s shows, which have been carefully curated for Vme TV audiences, introduce viewers to the wonders of Mother Nature, by showcasing the world’s most exceptional habitats and animals. This programming arrangement forms part of Vme TV’s mission to provide inspiring programming for Hispanic Americans in the United States by engaging them in a superior learning experience that is entertaining for the entire family.

Available in 43 markets and reaching more than 70 million households in the United States, Vme TV is available through Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network and AT&T U-verse among other local cable companies. To find your local channel or to learn more about Vme TV, visit www.vmetv.com or follow us on social media via www.facebook.com/vmetv or www.twitter.com/vmetv.

ABOUT VME TELEVISION

Vme TV (pronounced veh-meh), is the first national Spanish-language television network in association with public television stations. Reaching more than 70 million households in the United States, Vme TV is broadcast in 43 markets by PBS stations and is available on DIRECTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-verse, as well as major cable companies including Comcast. The 24-hour digital broadcast service is dedicated to entertain, educate and inspire families in Spanish with a contemporary mix of original productions, exclusive premieres, acquisitions, and popular public television programs specially adapted for Hispanics. To find your local channel or to learn more about Vme TV, visit www.vmetv.com (http://www.vmetv.com/mediakit) or follow us on social media via www.facebook.com/vmetv or www.twitter.com/vmetv.


(Español) AARP celebra el Mes de la Herencia Hispana

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Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

America’s Promise Alliance, uAspire, with Support From the Citi Foundation, Launch Dollars For College Financial Aid Planning Toolkit

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America’s Promise Alliance, uAspire, with Support From the Citi Foundation, Launch Dollars For College Financial Aid Planning Toolkit

First of its kind toolkit designed by financial aid practitioners; Provides easy, comprehensive guidelines from middle school through college


WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, America’s Promise Alliance and uAspire, with support from the Citi Foundation, launched a financial aid tool designed to promote greater access to higher education. The increased opportunities and quality of life that college offers are well known, but too often the cost can seem prohibitive and the financial aid process can be daunting. The Dollars for College Financial Planning Toolkit seeks to help students and families understand all the available resources and options that can make higher education affordable.

“Today’s workplace increasingly demands the skills and advanced training acquired through postsecondary education,” said America’s Promise Alliance President and CEO John Gomperts. “Through this toolkit, we want to help lower one crucial barrier to accessing higher education, and encourage more young people and their families to believe that a college degree is within reach.”

“By 2018, 68 percent of jobs in the U.S. will require some postsecondary education,” said Bob Giannino, CEO of uAspire, a leading advisor of financial aid services and author of the toolkit. “Yet over the last 10 years, more than 2.2 million academically prepared students did not attend college with the high cost of college being a major factor. As the first guide of its kind written by actual practitioners in the field, students and families can be confident that the advice provided has been tested and proven by a range of experts from colleges, high schools and youth-focused organizations around the country.”

Dollars for College includes five comprehensive and easy-to-follow chapters, plus an additional chapter for parents and caregivers. Each chapter offers solutions to potential challenges and directs students to resources that will help them to stay on track. The financial aid process is clearly presented in the form of a timeline to coincide with the steps that need to be taken at each grade level.

“Building the financial capability of students and their families is crucial to enabling them to make informed economic decisions about their future, including about higher education,” said Brandee McHale, Chief Operating Officer of the Citi Foundation. “The Dollars for College Toolkit takes the mystery away from the financial aid process, and the Citi Foundation is proud to support efforts to increase the number of low-income students who obtain a college degree.”

The Dollars for College Financial Aid Planning Toolkit is available in English and Spanish, free and accessible to all through the following link.

America’s Promise Alliance
America’s Promise Alliance is the nation’s largest partnership dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth. We bring together more than 350 national organizations representing nonprofit groups, businesses, communities, educators and policymakers. Through our GradNation campaign, we mobilize Americans to end the high school dropout crisis and prepare young people for college and the 21st century workforce. Building on the legacy of our founding chairman General Colin Powell, America’s Promise believes the success of young people is grounded in the Five Promises—Caring Adults, Safe Places, A Healthy Start, Effective Education, and Opportunities to Help Others. For more information, visit AmericasPromise.org.

uAspire
uAspire is the nation’s leading provider of college affordability advising services to America’s youth and families, helping them realize their higher education goals and providing a better foundation for a successful and productive future. To ensure that all young Americans have the financial information and resources they need to find an affordable path to – and through – a postsecondary education, uAspire deploys: direct service programming, in four Massachusetts cities, Miami, FL, and San Francisco & Oakland, CA; training partnerships, across 26 states, with non-profit organizations, school districts and charter management organizations; and virtual support services reaching young people nationally. For more information, please visit www.uaspire.org.

Citi Foundation
The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress in communities around the world and focuses on initiatives that expand financial inclusion. We collaborate with best-in-class partners to create measurable economic improvements that strengthen low-income families and communities. Through a “More than Philanthropy” approach, Citi’s business resources and human capital enhance our philanthropic investments and impact. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com.

MEDIA CONTACT INFO
For America’s Promise:
Daria Hall
(202) 657-0621
[email protected]

For uAspire:
Bob Giannino
(508) 265-6670
[email protected]

 


March of Dimes Honors Arizona With First-ever Newborn Screening Award

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March of Dimes Honors Arizona With First-ever Newborn Screening Award



Arizona Health Director Honored for Reforms to Avoid Deadly Delays


CHANDLER, Arizona, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Arizona turned its newborn screening program into a model other states can follow in just a few short months, earning it the first-ever Newborn Screening Quality Award from the March of Dimes.

The March of Dimes presented Will Humble, M.P.H., Arizona’s Department of Health Services director, with the award at a ceremony held here today. Mr. Humble established a policy of full transparency for the length of time it takes Arizona hospitals to send newborn blood samples to the lab for analysis, and set a target of having 95 percent of samples screened within 72 hours.

“When hospitals hold onto blood samples for a few days, or a lab is closed on the weekend, this can lead to deadly delays for newborns,” said Edward McCabe, MD, March of Dimes chief medical officer, who presented Mr. Humble the award today.  “But under Will Humble’s leadership, Arizona has put in place a process that is a model for other states to follow.”

The March of Dimes established the new awards in honor of Dr. Robert Guthrie, known as “the father of newborn screening” for developing the first mass screening test for babies 51 years ago. The awards recognize leadership in establishing culture of safety as a way to avoid those deadly delays in states’ newborn screening process. A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigative series highlighted the problem by telling the personal stories of babies who developed intellectual delays when their blood samples were not timely analyzed.

“Our goal is to save lives and prevent devastating disabilities for babies, and the cooperation and quick work of Arizona’s hospital officials and our state Department of Health Services staff are making that a reality,” says Mr. Humble. “Newborn screening is a vital diagnostic tool. Reducing the time it takes for a blood sample to be sent to a lab means more babies will get a healthy start in life.”

In the U.S., newborn screening is a state-run public health program that identifies infants with disorders that often are not apparent at birth.  If left untreated, these conditions can cause serious illness, lifetime disabilities, and even death.  In many cases, early diagnosis and treatment can prevent or lessen the severity of these conditions.  In the US, about 1 in 300 newborns has a condition that can be detected through screening.

Newborn screening began in 1963 when Massachusetts first screened for PKU (phenylketonuria), using a test developed by Dr. Guthrie, a March of Dimes-funded researcher.

The March of Dimes has been a long-time advocate for newborn screening. It led a nationwide campaign beginning in the 1990s to expand newborn screening from a patchwork of unequal and vastly different state programs. Today, it is recommended by the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services that every baby in every state is screened for the core panel of 31 conditions.

This year, the March of Dimes convened a Newborn Screening Quality Improvement Workgroup to address problems highlighted in the newspaper articles that focused attention on the delays in obtaining screening results. These pointed out that screening delays occurred even when insurance or the state would have covered more timely delivery of the samples to labs for analysis. Arizona hospitals previously had some of the most significant challenges in getting timely screening results, but Mr. Humble turned his state around and made Arizona a model for the nation, Dr. McCabe said.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. Find out how you can help raise funds to prevent premature birth and birth defects by walking in March for Babies at marchforbabies.org.  For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. 


FAU Poll Finds Hispanics Less Optimistic on Economy than General Population and Favor Path to Citizenship

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FAU Poll Finds Hispanics Less Optimistic on Economy than General Population and Favor Path to Citizenship


Poll First of Planned Monthly National Surveys Focused on Hispanic Opinions


BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The first survey conducted by Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI) within the College of Business finds Hispanics are significantly less optimistic about the economy than the population as a whole. 

On the Index of Consumer Sentiment, an established measure of relative optimism, Hispanics surveyed in August scored a 68.3 compared to the 82.5 score from Thomson Reuters University of Michigan sample taken in the same month.

“The data suggests that education is a key factor in consumer sentiment and outlook. Hispanics without a high school degree scored a 58 on the index while those with a college degree held an 87 score,” said Monica Escaleras, Ph.D., director of the initiative. “The same trend applies to the Index of Current Conditions and the Index of Consumer Expectations.” 

The FAU survey sample included 649 Hispanics across the nation with a margin of error of 3.8 percent. 

August 2014

Index of Consumer Sentiment

Michigan’s National Sample*

FAU Hispanic National Sample

Difference

points

Overall

82.5

68.3

(-14.2)

Current Conditions

99.8

75.4

(-24.4)

Future Expectations

71.3

63.7

(-7.6)

*http://press.sca.isr.umich.edu/press/press_release  

Hispanic Education Level

Index of Consumer Sentiment

Index of Current Conditions

Index of Consumer Expectations

Less than High School

58.0

70.1

50.1

High School or Equivalent

65.1

72.4

60.3

Some College

73.3

72.4

74

College Degree

87.0

91.3

84.2

Post Graduate Degree

87.0

90.2

84.9

Pathway to citizenship favored by majority of Hispanics polled

The FAU BEPI survey also reveals that 57 percent of Hispanics support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.  When asked about the current wave of children illegally immigrating to the U.S. and the speed of associated legal procedures, 55 percent of Hispanics wanted to see the legal process sped up versus 45 percent who wanted to keep it as it is.

This survey is the first in a series of planned monthly national surveys of Hispanics by the FAU BEPI.  Several other opinions on various topics also are polled in the survey. Additional information about this survey and the initiative can be accessed at business.fau.edu/bepi.


Read Conmigo Launches Search For Latino Children’s Book Authors During Hispanic Heritage Month

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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A recent national study released by the Children's Book Center noted the significant absence of people of color in children's picture books. Specifically, less than 2 percent of children's books were Latino-themed and only 1.5 percent (or 48 books) of the 3,200 children's works published in 2013 in the U.S. were written by Latino authors. In an effort to change these startling statistics one book at a time, the nationally recognized bilingual literacy campaign, Read Conmigo, is kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month by
introducing the "Preserving our Culture through Bilingual Literacy" contest for budding Latino children's book authors based in the Southern California area. The contest will run through October 31, 2014.

"Having access to culturally relevant and ethnically diverse books is essential for young readers and their families," says Jim Gober, Chairman/CEO of Infinity Property & Casualty Corporation, the parent company of Infinity Auto Insurance. "We are proud to offer this contest as an important bridge between talented Latino authors and young impressionable readers to make books a memorable literary adventure for all, especially during Hispanic Heritage Month."

Participants in the "Preserving our Culture through Bilingual Literacy" contest will compete for an opportunity to have their children's story published. The story must
feature one of several Read Conmigo characters and the winning author(s) will receive $1000 in prize money. Winner(s) will be notified by November 14th.

All manuscripts must be submitted by October 31, 2014 and meet the following criteria:

  • Author Profile – Must be from Southern California 18 years old or over, of Latino origin; no prior published work or writing experience necessary
  • Target Reader – All submissions should be suitable for reading levels Pre-K through 5th Grade
  • Language – Story must be submitted in both English and Spanish
  • Characters- Story must include one or more of the Read Conmigo characters
  • Word count: Minimum is 400 words; maximum length is 1500 words

To submit a manuscript and for complete rules and contest details visit www.ReadConmigo.org.

Census Bureau’s American Community Survey Provides New State and Local Income, Poverty, Health Insurance Statistics

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Census Bureau’s American Community Survey Provides New State and Local Income, Poverty, Health Insurance Statistics


WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Income levels and poverty rates were not statistically different for most states from 2012 to 2013, according to statistics released today from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, the nation’s most comprehensive data source on American households.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140917/146816-INFO
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140917/146817-INFO
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140917/146815-INFO
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110428/DC91889LOGO

The state and local income and poverty statistics in the American Community Survey and the local-level health insurance statistics complement the national-level statistics released Tuesday from the Current Population Survey and American Community Survey. The American Community Survey has included questions about health insurance coverage since 2008, and today’s release provides statistics for all metropolitan areas and places with a population of 65,000 or more. Of metro areas, Pittsfield, Mass., had among the lowest percentage of uninsured at 2.1 percent.

“The American Community Survey is our country’s only source of small area estimates for social and demographic characteristics,” Census Bureau Director John H. Thompson said. “As such, it is indispensable to our economic competitiveness and used by businesses, local governments and anyone in need of trusted, timely, detailed data.”

The 2013 American Community Survey provides a multitude of statistics that measure the social, economic and housing conditions of U.S. communities. More than 40 topics are available with today’s release, such as educational attainment, housing, employment, commuting, language spoken at home, nativity, ancestry and selected monthly homeowner costs.

Also released today are two reports providing analysis on income and poverty for states and large metropolitan areas.

Income

According to the report Household Income: 2013, which compares American Community Survey statistics from 2012 to 2013:

  • For 2013, median household incomes were lower than the U.S. median ($52,250) in 28 states and higher in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Iowa ($52,229), Pennsylvania ($52,007) and Vermont ($52,578) median household incomes did not have a statistically significant difference from the U.S. as a whole.
  • In 2013, the states with the highest median household incomes were Maryland ($72,483) and Alaska ($72,237), which were not statistically different from each other. Mississippi had the lowest ($37,963).
  • There were no statistically significant decreases in median household incomes among states.
  • Median household income among the 25 most populous metro areas was highest in the Washington, D.C. ($90,149), San Francisco ($79,624) and Boston ($72,907) metro areas.

Income Inequality

Household Income: 2013 also examined the Gini index for states and large metro areas. The Gini index is a summary measure of income inequality, ranging from 0 — complete equality — to 1 — complete inequality. Among the findings:

  • Five states and the District of Columbia had Gini indexes higher than the U.S. index of .481.
  • Thirty-six states had lower Gini indexes than the U.S. index of .481.
  • The Gini index of 15 states increased from 2012-2013. Alaska was the only state to have a decrease. All other states saw no significant change.
  • The highest Gini index was in the District of Columbia (0.532). Alaska’s (0.408) was among the lowest.
  • Additional Gini index data on the Census Bureau’s American FactFinder data search engine is available for metropolitan statistical areas and other areas with populations of 65,000 or more. Of the 25 most populous metro areas, Gini indexes ranged from 0.442 (for the Washington, D.C., metro area, although not statistically different from Portland, Ore., Riverside, Calif., and Minneapolis) to 0.512 (for the New York metro area, which was not statistically different from the Miami metro area).

Poverty

According to the report Poverty: 2012 and 2013, which compares American Community Survey statistics from 2012 to 2013:

  • Forty-two states and the District of Columbia experienced no statistical change in both the number and percentage of people in poverty between 2012 and 2013. Likewise, 20 of the 25 largest metropolitan areas did not see a statistical change in the number and percentage of people in poverty.
  • Two states — New Hampshire and Wyoming— saw a decline in both the number and percentage of people in poverty. In terms of rates, New Hampshire’s poverty rate declined from 10.0 percent in 2012 to 8.7 percent in 2013. Wyoming’s rate declined from 12.6 percent to 10.9.
  • Three states saw increases in both the number and percentage of people in poverty between 2012 and 2013. New Jersey’s poverty rate increased from 10.8 percent in 2012 to 11.4 percent in 2013; New Mexico increased from 20.8 percent to 21.9 percent, and Washington increased from 13.5 percent to 14.1 percent.
  • In 2013, Mississippi had the highest poverty rate among states (24.0 percent), followed by New Mexico (21.9 percent). Both states also had the highest percentage of the population below 125 percent of the poverty level: 30.3 percent in Mississippi; 28.3 percent in New Mexico. About one in 10 people in both states had incomes less than 50 percent of the poverty level.
  • Among large metropolitan areas, one of the lowest proportions of people with incomes less than 50 percent of the poverty level in 2013 was 4.2 percent in the Washington, D.C., metro area, while one of the highest proportions was 8.4 percent in the Phoenix metro area.

Health Insurance

  • Between 2012 and 2013, 13 states and Puerto Rico saw a statistically significant increase in the percentage of civilians covered by health insurance. Two states (Maine and New Jersey) saw a decrease.
  • The percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with private health insurance increased in six states and decreased in eight states between 2012 and 2013.
  • Among people whose incomes were below 138 percent of the poverty threshold: 25.6 percent were uninsured in 2013. Under the Affordable Care Act, states have the option of expanding Medicaid eligibility to those with incomes at or below 138 percent of the poverty threshold.
  • Among people whose incomes were at or above 200 percent of the poverty threshold: 9.2 percent were uninsured in 2013.
  • Among the top 25 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, the uninsured rates were highest in Miami (24.8 percent), Houston (22.8 percent) and Dallas (21.5 percent) and lowest in Boston (4.2 percent), Pittsburgh (7.5 percent), Minneapolis (8.1 percent) and Baltimore (8.7 percent).
  • Among the top 25 large metropolitan areas, Tampa, Detroit and Riverside, Calif., had public coverage rates of 33 percent or higher.

Computer and Internet Access

The 2013 American Community Survey included new questions to produce statistics on computer and Internet access. Mandated by the 2008 Broadband Data Improvement Act, the data will help the Federal Communications Commission measure broadband access nationwide. The data will also help identify communities eligible for available grants to expand access.

Some topline findings:

  • 83.8 percent of the nation’s households have a computer (either desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone)
  • 74.4 percent have some form of Internet access at home.

The Census Bureau is releasing a more detailed report on the new findings in early October.

The Census Bureau also today updated its application programming interface (API) with 2013 American Community Survey statistics. The API, which allows developers to create custom apps with Census Bureau data, now includes 2013 American Community Survey data profiles across geographies, including congressional districts.

Also Released Today from the American Community Survey:

Additional American Community Survey Results

On Oct. 23, the Census Bureau will release a set of American Community Survey statistics covering all areas with populations of 20,000 or more, based on data collected between 2011 and 2013. A third set of American Community Survey statistics, available for all geographic areas regardless of population size, down to the block group level, will be released on Dec. 4 covering 2009 to 2013.

About the American Community Survey

The American Community Survey provides a wide range of important statistics about all communities in the country. The American Community Survey gives communities the current information they need to plan investments and services. Retailers, homebuilders, police departments, and town and city planners are among the many private- and public-sector decision makers who count on these annual results. Visit the Stats in Action page to see some examples.

Ever since Thomas Jefferson directed the first census in 1790, the census has collected detailed characteristics about our nation’s people. Questions about jobs and the economy were added 20 years later under James Madison, who said such information would allow Congress to “adapt the public measures to the particular circumstances of the community,” and over the decades allow America “an opportunity of marking the progress of the society.”

These statistics would not be possible without the participation of the randomly selected households in the survey.

Note: Statistics from sample surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error. All comparisons made in the reports have been tested and found to be statistically significant at the 90 percent confidence level, unless otherwise noted. Please consult the tables for specific margins of error. For more information, go to http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/documentation_main/.

Changes in survey design from year to year can affect results. See http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/2013_release/ for more information on changes affecting the 2013 statistics. See http://www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/comparing_2013/ for guidance on comparing 2013 American Community Survey statistics with previous years and the 2010 Census.

Public Information Office
301-763-3030
email: [email protected]

Press kit
2013 ACS Questionnaire
Graphics:
– Income [ JPG | PDF ]
– Poverty [ JPG | PDF ]
– Health Insurance [ JPG | PDF ]
Reports: Income – Poverty
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