Since our November roundup of research, we’ve found some new research to share as we draw closer to the end of 2018. This month’s roundup highlights research on issues like healthcare coverage for children, the health of U.S. veterans, the economic outlook for millennials, and new reports on philanthropy and internet accessibility in underserved communities.
Nation’s Progress on Children’s Health Coverage Reverses Course
According to the author of a new Georgetown University report released at the end of November: “The nation is going backwards on insuring kids and it is likely to get worse.” The number of uninsured children in the U.S. rose by 276,000 in 2017 after years of steady decline. Kaiser Health News reporter Phil Galewitz highlighted that although the spike doesn’t represent a big jump statistically, it is surprising in that the uninsured rate typically remains stable or drops during times of economic growth. The Georgetown team, led by the university’s Center for Children and Families Executive Director Joan Alker, analyzed census data to find that there are 3.9 million children in the U.S. without health care coverage.
More on the report:
• Number Of U.S. Kids Who Don’t Have Health Insurance Is On The Rise
Annual Warrior Survey
Earlier this month, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) released the results of their ninth Annual Warrior Survey—an undertaking that, since 2010, has provided deep understanding of the challenges for a post-9/11 veteran population that totals more than 3 million. The 2018 edition of the survey is the largest survey to date, capturing responses from more than 33,000 veterans and active duty troops. Lindsay Marcal from our membership team had an opportunity to join WWP for a panel conversation about the results of this latest survey. During that conversation, panelists highlighted several key statistics from the survey data, and shared what those stats tell us about the overall health of veterans and service members in the U.S. today. Key indicators that the panelists underscored included rates for PTSD, home ownership, education, suicide, and employment.
More on the report:
• 1/3 of Wounded Warriors aren’t getting the care they need
Are Millennials Different?
A Federal Reserve study published at the very end of November compares the finances of millennials with those of generation X, baby boomers, the silent generation, and the greatest generation. The report’s authors suspect that because millennials (defined for the study as those born between 1981 and 1997) came of age during the Great Recession, their attitudes toward saving and spending may be less malleable than members of generations that were more established in their careers and lives at that time. Consumption habits and levels of debt among millennials are similar to those of previous generations. However, the source of debt has shifted. Where previous generations might have taken out loans for long-term investments, student loans comprise the primary source of debt for the younger generation. Along with rising college tuition, new financial obstacles like health care costs that have outpaced general inflation have likely contributed to the fact that millennials have comparatively less money to spend overall.
More on the report:
• Why Aren’t Millennials Spending? They’re Poorer Than Previous Generations, Fed Says
• Yes, student loans really are making millennials go broke
Giving Black: Cincinnati
With help from New England Blacks in Philanthropy (NEBiP), the Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) released the new research report this month called Giving Black: Cincinnati. The study explores the role of philanthropy in the Greater Cincinnati black community, highlighting the opportunities and perspectives of black donors, and outlining recommendations to increase the impact of their significant giving. In an interview about the new study, NEBiP President and CEO Bithiah Carter said they aimed to highlight a robust tradition of black philanthropy in Cincinnati dating back to before the Civil War. Cincinnati is a significant case study in that it’s a major city in a tri-state area (including Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky). The study, and the intention of emphasizing the black community’s assets rather than its constraints and deficits, has potential to be an influential model for valuing impact beyond Ohio.
More on the report:
• Giving Black: New study explores legacy, power and potential of black philanthropy in Cincinnati
Rural and Lower-Income Counties Lag Nation in Internet Subscription
According to Census Bureau data released at the beginning of the month, 53 percent of Native Americans living on American Indian reservations or other tribal lands reported having a subscription to broadband internet. In the same period, internet subscription rates among households with a computer were 82 percent nationally. The subscription data is among the most comprehensive on the issue that the federal government has produced, and it underscore the digital divide between Indian country and the rest of the country. NPR Census correspondent Hansi Lo Wang spoke with policy experts in Native American communities to highlight some of the persistent challenges of getting better coverage and digital connection in underserved communities.
More on the report:
• Native Americans On Tribal Land Are ‘The Least Connected’ To High-Speed Internet
Add Your Voice
The research summaries above are by no means an exhaustive list of the newest information out there to help us better understand the nonprofit landscape. So if we missed a report you think we should know and share about, let us know by leaving a comment!
