Homelessness, overweight kids are problems in Ventura County

Contrary to the county's im- age of bucolic affluence, a recent report found that one in five fami- lies lives in poverty, a situation compounded by the high cost of housing.

The 30-page report "Growing Up in Ventura County; Trends and Issues for Children and Their Families" was compiled by the Community Commission for Ventura County, a group com- posed of officials from schools, community organizations and city and county government.

"It's a good baseline report card," Supervisor Kathy Long, the commission co-chair, said.

According to the report, nearly 30 percent of the county's fifth-, seventh- and ninth-graders were overweight, and two-thirds of all students failed to meet school fit- ness standards. Hispanic students had the lowest fitness level.

Families are the fastest-grow- ing population in county home- less shelters, with 85 percent headed by single mothers and more than half of the children under the age of 6. Alcohol or sub- stance abuse was involved in at least half of the 7,000 county re- ferrals for child neglect.

County Health Services Agency Director Ted Myers said these issues are interwoven.

Homeless families must resort to eating food that's cheap and available because they don't have a kitchen to prepare and cook wholesome meals. That often means eating fast food, which generally isn't nutritious, Myers said.

In addition to consuming too many carbohydrates, many of the county's children lead sed- entary lives, become obese and impact the public health system, he said.

Long said what the report has uncovered will "not go on the shelf." Committee members will make presentations to the board of supervisors this week, and later to city councils.

Action is needed at all levels, Long said.

She said cities can help com- bat obesity, for instance, by build- ing communities that lure people out of their cars and encourage walking.

Claudia Harrison, executive director of First 5 Ventura County, said the report's findings will in- fluence the programs funded.

The study can be down- loaded from the Internet at www.vchsa.org/ccvc. Click on "2006 Report."