Education Access and Quality
County-level data and information about the Assessed Health Issue and Social Determinants of Health indicators can be found in the report appendices.
People with higher levels of education are more likely to be healthier and live longer. Healthy People 2030 focuses on providing high-quality educational opportunities for children and adolescents — and on helping them do well in school. Children from low-income families, children with disabilities, and children who routinely experience forms of social discrimination — like bullying — are more likely to struggle with math and reading. They’re also less likely to graduate from high school or go to college. In the OHC Region, 1 in 10 adults over the age of 25 do not have a high school diploma or equivalency. This means they’re less likely to get safe jobs that provide a liveable wage, and are more likely to have health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and depression. In addition, some children live in places with poorly performing schools, and many families can’t afford to send their children to college. The stress of living in poverty can also affect children’s brain development, making it harder for them to do well in school. Interventions to help children and adolescents do well in school and help families pay for college can have long-term health benefits.