Health & Wellness in Magnolia Place
What would it take to have the 20,000 children living
in the neighborhoods within the 5-square mile Magnolia place break all records
of success in their education, health, and the quality of nurturing care and
the economic stability they receive from their families and community?
This
question guides the work of the Magnolia Community Initiative (MCI), a network
of the county and city departments, community businesses and nonprofits, and resident leaders working to strengthen social connectedness and access to resources in Magnolia
place. MCI uses a collective impact model, guided by the idea that large-scale social change requires many different organizations and sectors coming together to work towards shared goals (learn more about collective impact and see examples of other successful models here). MCI also engages resident leaders who contribute to the community by building partnerships with
other residents and connecting them to needed resources to improve the quality of life Magnolia place.
I came to one of the Ambassador Meetings because my mom pushed me, but once I came to the meeting I liked it. It attracted my attention and then it was me to push my mom to keep coming.
- MCI Resident Leader
Magnolia place is home to over 100,000 residents, spanning across 500
blocks in parts of Adams Normandie, University Park, Pico Union, Downtown LA,
and Historic South Central. According to
2016 American Community Survey estimates, just 12% of Magnolia residents are
homeowners, and the median income in the area is $30,585 - roughly half of the
County average.
Magnolia
place is home to a young, diverse population. Sixty percent of the population
is younger than 35, including over 20% under the age of 18 (as of 2016
estimates). Almost 90% of the population identify as people of color. The racial/ethnic makeup of the community is shown in the chart to the right.
Magnolia is also home to a large immigrant population. Half of the population are immigrants, and
71% of the immigrant population does not have citizenship status (this could include
both those with green cards or visas and those who are undocumented).
Health in Magnolia Place
Every
other year, MCI conducts a resident survey in a portion of the Magnolia place
(referred to as “focus area” throughout the data story) to get a nuanced
picture about the well-being of the community that they serve. In the 2017 survey, healthcare emerged as an
important issue for residents in that area.
Access to healthcare is very limited. The appointments have many setbacks and making appointments is not an easy task. So many residents need medical attention right away, some are not even able to see a doctor because of not having a MediCal.
- MCI Resident Leader
Access to Insurance
In the 2017 MCI survey, almost 62% of residents reported that they were concerned about healthcare insurance and access in light of potentially changing national policies. Further, just over a quarter of residents responded that they could not get medical care when they needed it. One reason for heightened concern and reduced access to medical care could be lack of health insurance. In the focus area, 49% of the population lacked insurance as of 2012 ACS estimates. By 2016 estimates, the uninsured population decreased to 34%. Despite this decrease, the uninsured rate in the focus area remains significantly higher than the uninsured rate in both Los Angeles County (16%) and the United States (12%). According to a 2012 study by Families USA, people without health insurance pay more for their medical care than the insured, and they are also five times less likely to have a usual source of medical care outside of the emergency room than insured people.
Safe Outdoor Spaces & Childhood Health
While
insurance and medical care are important components of health, there are many
other factors that affect health and well-being. For example, exercise plays an important role
in both physical and mental health. The CDC reports that regular physical
activity is one of the most important aspects of maintaining health and can
reduce the risk of diseases like cardiovascular disease, depression, obesity,
and even some types of cancer.
For
households who cannot afford to purchase a monthly gym membership, streets and
parks are some of the only available spaces for physical activity. Like much of South and Central Los Angeles, the Magnolia neighborhood has
extremely limited parks and green space - with just .25 acres of parks per 1000
people. Further, only 39% of residents
who completed MCI’s survey reported that they feel safe walking around after
dark most of the time, and just 33% felt their street was a safe place for
their children to play.
From what I hear from people, people are scared to walk because there are people stealing and attacking people at night…If you do see something, you are scared to report. We need more help from the police, more patrols.
- MCI Resident Leader
The
lack of park access combined with poor perceptions of neighborhood safety
likely limit where children can play outdoors, which may be having an impact on
their health. Each year, 5th, 7th, and
9th graders take a Fitnessgram test that measures their overall health,
including body mass index - a common indicator of healthy weight. According to
the 2017 test results, 47% of students in the focus area were not considered to
have a healthy weight. Overweight and obese children are at a higher risk for many chronic health
issues - including heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and cancer - both during
their childhood years and throughout their adult lives.
A Connected Community
Although
residents in Magnolia neighborhood face challenges related to health, they have
a strong network of support both institutionally through the MCI network and
personally through their families and neighbors.
Champions for Change
In
2017, the Children’s Bureau of Southern California - the lead backbone
organization of MCI - launched the Champions for Change
program aimed at reducing the prevalence of obesity in and around the Magnolia
neighborhood. The program focuses on increasing healthy food intake by
providing classes on cooking, reading food labels, shopping on a budget, and
growing fruits and vegetables. Champions for Change is also promoting physical
activity by providing events and opportunities centered around exercise in
early childcare centers, schools, faith based organizations, corner stores, and
parks.
The
Champions for Change program is an example of how MCI used data to create
change in their community. They paired
their local survey responses with state data to identify a connection between
access to resources and health. Based on the information they found, they
created a program to address the specific needs of their community.
The Champions for Change staff is amazing. They promote healthy eating and give you a recipe book about healthy meals, and also offer workshops.
- MCI Resident Leader
St. John's Well Child & Family Center
In
addition to promoting a healthy lifestyle, organizations in the MCI network are
working to increase access to medical care.
St. John’s Well Child and Family Center is a community health
clinic providing free and low-cost healthcare to traditionally underserved
communities. They provide an array of
services including medical, dental and mental healthcare; case management; and
insurance enrollment. St. John’s has a
clinic location in the Magnolia Place Community Center - a building housing a number of MCI network
partners in the heart of the Magnolia place.
I am an undocumented person and I know how hard it is to be able to get medical attention when you most need it until St. John’s came to the area. There focus has been to help community and it has been my clinic and dental place since then. They have kept me informed via text about what is happening with Obamacare.
- MCI Resident Leader
Magnolia Residents
While
the MCI network of organizations provides many valuable resources for the Magnolia neighborhood,
residents of the community also support and help one another. For example,
nearly 70% of survey respondents with young children reported that they had
someone to turn to for emotional help with parenting. Nearly 60% of surveyed parents reported being
active in their child’s school.
MCI
is still working towards their goal of helping the children of Magnolia break
all records of success in their health. They are using data and innovative
partnerships involving government, businesses, universities, nonprofits, and
most importantly - community members. This group operates together by not only
overcoming challenges around income and health, but also by leveraging the
community’s unique strengths, diverse perspectives, and the resiliency of
residents.
I feel so proud to be part of my MCI. I learn a lot. My job now is to take all my knowledge outside and bring it to people, so they can realize, try to see how it feels to be part of this.
- MCI Resident Leader
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Physical Activity and Health." 13 Feb. 2018.
Families USA. "Dying for Coverage: The Deadly Consequences of Being Uninsured." 2012.
Segal, Laura; Alejandra, Martin; & Rayburn, Jack. The State of Obesity: 2016. Trust for America's Health. September 2016.