Summary
Summary: The data presented in this fact sheet highlight strengths and assets and some of the barriers that Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) children, youth, and families face in California that shape their health and well-being. Issues include COVID-19, mental health, health coverage, language access, hate and discrimination, economic well-being and more, as well as community-defined protective factors that help address and mitigate inequities. 2021 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) estimates are used, as well as data from other state and national surveys, and other state government sources.
Findings: Data presented about Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander children in California under age 18 include:
- Demographics — Nearly 99,500 children and youth in California under the age of 18 identify as NHPI alone or NHPI and another race or ethnicity, making up at least 1% of the state’s nearly 9 million children. More Native Hawaiians (11,933) live in California than in any other state on the continent. Samoans are the next-largest NHPI cultural subgroup in the state (11,497).
- COVID-19 — NHPI children youth, and families are disproportionately impacted by the virus, with a case rate for all ages that is 82% higher than the rate for all Californians.
- Food access — 62 of NHPI households are food insecure (unable to afford enough food) compared with 39% of all households.
- Oral health — 44% of low-income AANHPI preschoolers have early tooth decay, one of the highest rates among all racial groups in the state.
- Health insurance coverage — 1 in 10 NHPI children do not have a usual source of care.
- Community and family well-being – 11% of all NHPI have avoided accessing government benefits like Medi-Cal or Cal-Fresh due to immigration/public charge concerns. 66% of NHPI are concerned about gun violence, more than double the proportion of white adults (30%).
- School success and safety — The school pushout rate — rates at which students are suspended, expelled, or drop out of school — for NHPI students is 9.5%, the fourth highest of eight ethnic/racial designations measured in California data. NHPI students are 40% more likely to be referred to the police than white students. Among Pacific Islander 11th graders, 36% experienced harassment and bullying in school, the highest of any racial/ethnic group.
- Language access: 47% of NHPI households speak a language other than English at home.
- Economic well-being —26% of NHPI children live below the federal poverty level, compared with 16% of all children in the state. NHPI households are twice as likely to be living in overcrowded housing as while households, 13% vs. 6%, respectively.
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