Investment in healthy children and adolescents is one of the
primary keys to the Greater Dallas Area's future. We have a
very young and diverse population in the city of Dallas, Dallas
County, and the Greater Dallas Area. Roughly 30% (348,526) of
the residents of the city of Dallas and roughly 31% (683,865) of
the residents of Dallas County are under the age of 20. Both
prevention and accessible health care are important. Most
deaths among older children are due to diseases that can not only
be prevented, but can also be treated very easily at home or in
health facilities. Promoting healthy behavior and good child
physical and mental health outcomes allows the Greater Dallas Area
to tap into the full potential of our future—our
children—and provides for a healthier adult population.
This aspiration presents data and information on four
indicators, which are listed in the grey panel on the right side of
this page. Specifically, the four indicators within this
aspiration report the following: :
- Women receiving adequate prenatal care:
Percentage of women receiving any prenatal care and prenatal care
in the first trimester, as reported by the Texas Department of
State Health Services
- Up-to-date immunization: Proportion of
two-year-old children in Dallas County who were adequately
vaccinated, as reported by the National Immunization Survey
(NIS), which is sponsored by the National Immunization Program and
conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
- Suicide rates among youth: Rate of
intentional death by suicide and other self-inflicted injury among
15- to 19-year-olds in Dallas County per 100,000 population,
derived from the Texas Department of State Health
Services
- Youth who engage in risky behaviors:
Level of selected risky behaviors present in the youth of the
Dallas Independent School District, as measured by the Youth Risk
Behavior Surveillance System, conducted by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention