California Report Card 2004
Focus on Children in Immigrant Families, May 2004

Errata
Please see our errata page for corrections to hard copies and PDF files acquired before June 26, 2004.

Charts and County Tables
See below.

Introduction
Nowhere in the country does the phrase "we are a nation of immigrants" have greater relevance than in California. Nearly half of all children in the state have at least one parent born outside the United States. Like U.S.-born parents, immigrant parents face challenges in ensuring their children have access to health care, child care and education, and are economically secure. Yet immigrant parents often encounter additional barriers because of limited English proficiency, citizenship status, and the challenge of transferring their education and work experiences to California's economy. Although four-fifths of children living in immigrant families are U.S.-born citizens, their childhoods are shaped by their parents' experiences as immigrants.

The California Report Card 2004 focuses on children in immigrant families to help Californians better understand the lives of almost half of California's children and families, about whom stereotypes often prevail. It synthesizes new data on California's children in immigrant families, spotlights innovative programs and policies, and makes recommendations for improving children's well-being across our state.

Charts

• Top 15 Countries of Origin for Immigrants Entering California (PDF 15K)
• California Children's Poverty Status by Parents' Nativity (PDF 16K)
• Poverty Status of Children of Immigrants by Parents' Ability
  to Speak English (PDF 17K)
• Percentage of Children in Immigrant Families by Major Population Area (PDF 41K)

County Tables

• Number and Percentage of Children in Immigrant Families by Selected Geographic Areas, 2000 (PDF 20KB)
• California School-Age Children (ages 5-17) Who Speak a Language Other Than English with Family, 1990 and 2000 (PDF 23K)
• California School-Age Children (ages 5-17) Who Are Bilingual, 1990 and 2000 (PDF 22K)
• California School-Age Children (ages 5-17) in Linguistically Isolated Households, 1990 and 2000 (PDF 23K)
• Births to U.S-Born and Immigrant Mothers in California, 2002 (PDF 26K)
• California Mothers Receiving Early Prenatal Care (First Trimester), 2002 (PDF 27K)
• Low Birthweight Infants by Mothers’ Nativity, California, 2002 (PDF 27K)
• Infant Mortality Rate per 1,000 Births by Mothers' Nativity, California, 2001 (PDF 21K)

Resources

• Explanation of Methodology (PDF 137K)