Running Head: VENTURA COUNTY 1

Ventura County

A Health-Related Profile

Amanda Romano-Kwan

California State University of Long Beach

VENTURA COUNTY 2

Abstract

This paper is on the California state county of Ventura, with a strong focus on its Health Care

system. It is intended as an overview of Ventura County’s health status. The report will be

discussing the various aspects of the county, such as the overall general information, the

community health status indicators, and its medical services. The issues and statistical data

brought up in this research paper are taken from various online web sources and recent studies.

The research will be going over Ventura County’s Mortality and Morbidity Rates, their Health

Behaviors, and their Health Care Access and Quality. It will also talk about the county’s

Welfare, Behavioral Health, and Public Health Programs. Finally, the paper will discuss the

major issues that Ventura County faces, the consequences of the issues, what the county has

done to address the various problems, and other recommended methods of action to help combat

these concerns.

VENTURA COUNTY 3

Ventura County

A Health-Related Profile

Ventura County was incorporated on March 22, 1872. It is one of 58 counties in

California and has a population of roughly 850,000 (842,967 people to be exact), making it the

11th most populous county in California (Counties, California State Association of, n.d.). The

cities that are included inside of Ventura County are: Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai,

Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and San Buenaventura.

Ventura’s annual budget consists of $1.8 billion dollars, and their form of government is general

law. Their main economic industries include biotechnology, agriculture, advanced technologies,

oil production, military testing and development, and tourism. Ventura, along with every other

county in California, faces multiple different health care problems. This report contains

information on Ventura County and the different benefits and drawbacks of its different health

care services.

General Information

Population: General Demographics and Socioeconomic Status

The population of Ventura is numerous and diverse. The population estimate in Ventura

County was 846,178 people, compared to the statewide average of 38,802,500. The population

is about evenly split between genders, with women at 50.5%. Over 80% of the population in

Ventura County is recorded as white, compared to the state of California who reports that

roughly 73% of its population is white. Only 2.2% in Ventura identify as African American,

VENTURA COUNTY 4

1.9% as Native American and Alaskan Native, 7.5% as Asian, and 0.3% as Pacific Islander or

Hawaiian Native. 6.5% of the population in California identify as African American, 1.7% as

Native American and Alaskan Native, 14.4% as Asian, and 0.5% as Pacific Islander or Hawaiian

Native (United States Census Bureau, 2015). According to information collected in 2013, the

statewide average of the population in poverty was 16.8%. Children in California from up to the

age of 17 to be reported in poverty was 23.5%. In contrast, 12% of the population in Ventura

County was reported to be in poverty, along with 18% of its children in poverty (United States

Department of Agriculture , 2015). These rates demographics are important in determining the

socioeconomic status of the county.

Community Health Status Indicators

Mortality Rates, Morbidity Rates, Health Care Access & Quality, and Health Behaviors

Ventura County’s population provides a large amount of statistical data that we can use to

help evaluate its people’s health status and compare it to the state’s average. This includes the

general but essential community health status indicators. The mortality and morbidity rates vary

from different social groups. The male life expectancy in Ventura County is very high, and they

report low statistics of death by unintentional injuries, including motor vehicles. However,

although cancer rates and chronic diseases are only moderate, their rates for deaths caused by

Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes is also very high. The overall adult health status in Ventura is

moderate, but they struggle with adult obesity and older adult asthma. There is a slight problem

with adult smoking, drinking, and physical inactivity, and there are a moderate number of

VENTURA COUNTY 5

teenage births. Contrastingly, STD rates are low, and very few people are affected with HIV or

Syphilis (Community Health Status Indicators, 2015). These health behaviors are telling about

the type of health care access and quality that the people of Ventura County are treated to. With

easier and more affordable access to their health care system, some of the health behaviors could

be improved.

Social Factors and Physical Environment

The social factors and physical environment of a county are important because they

contribute to the overall health status of the population. Poor areas and rural communities tend to

have a higher rate of diseases and other sicknesses. The social factors and physical environment

in Ventura is good overall. The rates of violent crime are very low, however there is still a battle

against unemployment, poverty, and high housing costs. Fortunately, all of these rates are only

moderate, and can be fixed over time. Ventura County also has good access to healthy foods and

public parks, which is highly beneficial to health of the community (Community Health Status

Indicators, 2015).

Nutrition and Food Insecurity

Ventura County offers a number of programs to improve their nutrition and help people

with food insecurity. Ventura is aided with a variety of Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs,

including the Food Stamp Program, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School

Breakfast Program (SBP), various Summer Nutrition Programs, and the Child & Adult Care

Food Program (CACFP) (California Food Policy Advocates, 2015). These programs make a

VENTURA COUNTY 6

huge difference in the lives of many children and families daily. They provide a healthy and

nutritious option for families who cannot afford to live as healthy as they would like. According

to information collected in 2010, out of a total population of 797,740, Ventura County had

68,486 people in poverty, which is roughly 9%. The number of participating people in the Food

Stamp program is 36,508, ranking Ventura as number 26 of the counties. The number of adults

in food insecure households in the county is 59,000, or 47.3% of its people, compared to

California, who have 2,875,000 people, or 34.8% of its population. There is an obesity problem

in Ventura County, with 54.1% of its adult population considered overweight or obese. There are

48,000 individuals in Ventura with Type II Diabetes (California Food Policy Advocates, 2015).

Chronic Conditions

There are many chronic conditions that affect the people of our country. The state of

California has a population rate of 10% diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia,

compared to the County at 9.4%. Ventura has a higher percentage of Asthma than the nation,

with the County at 5.4% and the country at only 4.6%. Ventura’s cancer percentage stands at

8.1%, a much higher rate than desired. Although depression and diabetes rates of 11.5% and

25.7% score lower than the state averages, they are not low enough, showing only a little more

than a 0.5% decrease (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2015). Overall Ventura is

about average compared to the other counties in the state. Ventura’s health care system covers

multiple chronic conditions, however they have a main focus on diabetes, obesity, and

hypertension early detection health screenings through the Chronic Disease Prevention Program

VENTURA COUNTY 7

(CDPP). The CDPP is happy to develop and administer prevention and educational programs

that empower the population to prevent disease, improve health, and promote wellness in

Ventura County (Ventura County Health Care Agency, 2015).

Children’s Health

Children’s health is important in every county. The future lies in the youth, and each

county does its best to properly serve the children of their population. There are 204,901 children

in Ventura County (Children Now, 2015). In 2014, it was reported that 90% of children were

covered by some form of health insurance. In terms of child health, Ventura ranks number 44 of

58 counties. According to the demographics from 2015, the child mortality rate in Ventura is

39.2, compared to the statewide average of 41.8 (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2015).

Health Outcomes and Factors

Ventura’s health outcomes and factors leaves some to be desired. Ventura is ranked

number 15 out of California’s counties in Health Behaviors. 12% of the population are smokers,

and 21% of people are affected by adult obesity. Data states that 4,730 people in Ventura County

died of premature death, compared to the 5,200 in California. These health behaviors majorly

influence the overall health of a population. Many people do not realize that the daily unhealthy

habits they undergo can take a serious toll on their health. Ventura is ranked number 11 for

social and economic factors. The unemployment rate is 7.8%. Some 87% of students graduate

from high school, but only 61.8% have some college education (County Health Rankings &

VENTURA COUNTY 8

Roadmaps, 2015). Proper education is vitally important to a healthy population. With the right

health care education, people can learn preventive methods and simple, cheap home remedies

that would seriously save on medical expenses. Simple changes such as better eating habits or

improved sanitation would eliminate a vast number of medical issues. Prevention is better than a

cure, and education is the key to the start of a better health care system.

Medical Services in Ventura County

Welfare, Behavioral Health, and the Public Health Program (Public and Mental Health

Services)

Ventura County is covered by the Affordable Care Act, however they use an extensive

network of corporations to fully cater to their populations needs. There are still a large number of

uninsured members of the population, and access to primary care providers is low. The Health

and Human Services in Ventura offers access to health coverage, employment and financial

assistance, adult and senior services, food assistance and healthy eating, child and youth

services, veteran services, and services for people who are homeless. Ventura County also has

Public Health Services. They use programs like MyBenefitsCalWIN, In-Home Supportive

Services, Foster VC Kids, CalJOBS, and the Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Re-Housing

Program (Health and Human Services, n.d.). Behavioral Health Services include alcohol and

drug programs, DUI programs, and mental health services for youth and families and adults

(Ventura County Health Care Agency, 2015).This wide array of health care services offered in

Ventura County are vital to the large population. Without a proper health care system, people are

VENTURA COUNTY 9

left with high prices and inadequate care. These health services are there to help heal and nurture

the people of Ventura County as best as they possibly can.

Hospitals, Community Clinics, and Physicians

Within every health care system, there is a strong network of hospitals, community

clinics, and physicians to help improve the overall health of the population. It is important that

each community has enough access to quality care in order to ensure that the people of their

county maintains a high status of health. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of health care

professionals and physicians in the medical field, which drastically impacts those who live in

rural cities. Because rural communities typically have an elderly population and a less sanitary

environment, the people are open to a variety of disease. This increases the demand of

physicians, but unfortunately there are not enough to supply those in need. The brain drain,

which is the term for physicians migrating from rural communities to urban cities for better

benefits and higher paying jobs, can seriously affect the health of a population. It is essential that

the shortage of health care workers is addressed. Fortunately, according to information gathered

in December of 2014, there are many health care facilities in Ventura County, including 2 major

hospitals, 20 long-term care facilities, 22 primary care clinics, 15 specialty clinics, and 99 home

health agencies and hospices (State of California: Office Statewide Health Planning and

Development, 2015). This also includes five Alcohol and Drug Centers, 5 DUI Programs, and 16

Mental Health Services for Adults and Youth and Family (Ventura County Health Care Agency,

2015). The total number of Community Clinics and Health Centers is 18, who serve 11% of the

VENTURA COUNTY 10

population. The total patients served in the county is about 93,015 people (California Primary

Care Association, 2015). According to demographics collected in 2008, out of a population of

837,840 people, 1,330 are registered as physicians under all specialties. The total number of

physicians per 100,000 people is 1587.42 (Kevin Grumbach, 2009).

Health Insurance and Medi-Cal Managed Care

The multiple health insurance plans and Medi-Cal Managed Care programs are incredibly

important to Ventura County’s population. In terms of insurance, 18.1% of the population in

Ventura County who are under the age of 65 are without health insurance, compared to the 14%

statewide in California (United States Census Bureau, 2015). The percentage of insured children

without disabilities in Ventura County is 96.6% (kidsdata.org, 2015). Health insurance is an

integral part of the health care system. Unfortunately, the high prices of health insurance make

access to health care increasingly difficult. Without proper coverage, people cannot afford the

medicine that they require and are therefore left to deal with their medical issues on their own.

This is an issue that needs to be addressed. Ventura County implemented the Health Care

Coverage Initiative, or HCCI, as their ACE (Access, Coverage, Enrollment) Program in

September of 2007. It expands health coverage for uninsured residents with incomes at or below

200% of the FPL, or the Federal Poverty Level. Their focus is on preventive care and health

maintenance of chronic conditions (California Department of Health Care Services, 2015).

Crucial Health Problems, Their Consequences, and How to Address Them

VENTURA COUNTY 11

One of the most crucial health problems in Ventura County is obesity, with over 54.1%

of its adult population considered overweight or obese (California Food Policy Advocates,

2015). Causes of obesity can vary, from simple overeating and a high diet of simple

carbohydrates, to inactivity and a slow metabolism, or to family genetics. Many people are not

well-educated on healthy eating or dieting, and unfortunately much of the food in our country is

unhealthy and not organic. Those who do try to eat healthily find it difficult, as prices of organic

produce are typically much higher priced than the cheaper supermarket options. Obesity is a

serious chronic disease that affects people across the nation, and can drastically decrease the

length and quality of a person’s life. It increases a person’s risk of cancer and several other

deadly diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and

stroke. According to a cross-sectional study, obesity also has a strong effect on an individual’s

mental state and mood, declaring that “people who were obese were more likely to have

depression than people with healthy weights” (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public health, n.d.).

Despite the drastic effects that it can have on a person’s life, obesity is not permanent, and

Ventura County has programs in place to help aid their population with their problem. A

majority of these policies are simple healthy eating policies, and some of them have been made

to address obesity and increase physical activity in school settings, and are mandated at the state

or federal level. One program to help combat obesity is Healthy Ventura County. They are a

partnership driven network whose mission is to “educate, advocate and mobilize around issues

related to healthy eating and active living in Ventura County” (Healthy Ventura County, 2015).

VENTURA COUNTY 12

Healthy Ventura County operates through a series of workgroups and committees to promote

being healthy. This includes a series of educational programs about healthy eating, active living,

and other initiatives to maintain a healthy lifestyle amongst family and seniors at home, at

school, at work, and the overall community. According to the County of Ventura website, the

Ventura County Public Health (VCPH) was one of the first local public health departments in

California to receive national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board, and is

still the only county Public Health Department to have earned this after one year. They are also

only one of seventy-five in the country to have received this honor. Furthermore, the California

Department of Public Health awarded the county a 4-year grant of roughly $3,000,000 in 2012,

and even enhanced the grant by about $250,000 later on to “maximize the impact of activities

and strategies that address and promote healthy eating, active living, and access to healthy food

to prevent obesity and related chronic diseases” (County of Ventura, n.d.). Despite the policies in

place, there is no guarantee that these solutions will work. In order to save government money

and utilize it properly, it would be wiser to instead focus on the main underlying issues that

cause obesity. Environmental factors that should be addressed include the limited access to

affordable fruits and vegetables, the lack of safe physical environments, and the oversaturation

of unhealthy foods and beverages. Lifestyle or behavioral factors that contribute are the lack of

time or convenience to stay active and eat healthy, the inability to afford healthy products, the

lack of proper medical care, and the lack of knowledge and information to maintain a healthy

lifestyle (Ventura County Health Care Agency, 2013). Although the programs implemented do

VENTURA COUNTY 13

their best to educate the county’s population and inspire and promote them to live healthy, active

lifestyles, this method is slow and not always effective. Instead, the focus should be on lowering

the costs of healthy and organic produce and offering benefits and deals to programs or other

opportunities to lose weight. If the lack of time or convenience to stay healthy and active is a

problem, Ventura should seek out methods to make their programs open and available for longer

hours of the day, or have more locations spread out throughout the county to ensure that they are

more accessible. Instead of spending the grant money that they have received on even more

programs, it would be more efficient for them to focus on spending their money on healthier

produce for their county, or to create cheap and affordable programs to help the children of

Ventura County stay active.

Conclusions

Overall, the county of Ventura ranks around average in health care compared to the other

counties of California. The county’s main problems revolve around chronic diseases, obesity,

and various poor health behaviors. Though many areas of their health care system is lacking, the

most important fixes come in the form of lower costs, easier access, and more education. I

believe that these are the fundamental problems in the system, and by starting with these issues,

we can make a slow but steady start toward a better and healthier future.

VENTURA COUNTY 14

References

California Department of Health Care Services. (2015, September). Ventura County. Retrieved

from California Department of Health Care Services:

http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/VenturaCounty.aspx

California Food Policy Advocates. (2015, September). 2010 Ventura County Nutrition and

Food Insecurity Profile. Retrieved from California Food Policy Advoates:

http://cfpa.net/GeneralNutrition/CFPAPublications/CountyProfiles/2010/CountyProfile-

Ventura-2010.pdf

California Primary Care Association. (2015, September). Ventura County Profile of Community

Clinics and Health Centers. Retrieved from California Primary Care Association:

http://www.cpca.org/cpca2013/assets/File/Data-Reports/2010-Profiles/2011-05-24-

Ventura-County-Profile.pdf

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2015, September). Centers for Medicare &

Medicaid Services. Retrieved from Chronic Conditions: https://www.cms.gov/Research-

Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/Chronic-Conditions/

CC_Main.html

Children Now. (2015, September). Children Now. Retrieved from 2014-15 California County

Scorecard : http://pub.childrennow.org/2014/

VENTURA COUNTY 15

Community Health Status Indicators. (2015, September). Ventura County, California. Retrieved

from Community Health Status Indicators:

http://wwwn.cdc.gov/CommunityHealth/profile/currentprofile/CA/Ventura/

Counties, California State Association of. (n.d.). Ventura County. Retrieved September 2015,

from California State Association of Counties:

http://www.counties.org/county-profile/ventura-county

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. (2015, September). Ventura Additional Overview.

Retrieved from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps:

http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/california/2015/rankings/ventura/county/

outcomes/overall/additional

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. (2015, September). Ventura County Snapshot. Retrieved

from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps:

http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/california/2015/rankings/ventura/county/

outcomes/overall/snapshot

County of Ventura. (n.d.). Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant. Retrieved

December 2, 2015, from County of Ventura:

http://www.ventura.org/county-news/nutrition-education-and-obesity-prevention-grant

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public health. (n.d.). Obesity Prevention Source: Health Risks.

Retrieved November 30, 2015, from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health:

VENTURA COUNTY 16

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-consequences/health-

effects/

Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Retrieved September 2015, from County of Ventura

California: http://www.ventura.org/health-human-services

Healthy Ventura County. (2015). About Us. Retrieved December 3, 2015, from Healthy Ventura

County: http://healthyventuracounty.org/about-us/

Kevin Grumbach, M. A. (2009, June). Fewer and More Specialized: A New Assessment of

Physician Supply in California. Retrieved October 2015, from California Health Care

Foundation: http://www.chcf.org/publications/2009/06/fewer-and-more-specialized--a-

new-assessment-of-physician-supply-in-california

kidsdata.org. (2015, September). Percentage of Insured/Uninsured Children who have Major

Disabilities, by City, School District, and County. Retrieved from kidsdata.org:

http://www.kidsdata.org/topic/749/special-needs-major-disabilities-insurance/

table#fmt=1142&loc=

2,1,363&tf=73&ch=201,200,1106,1105&sortColumnId=0&sortType=asc

State of California: Office Statewide Health Planning and Development. (2015, September).

Healthcare Information Division: Facility Listings. Retrieved from State of California:

Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development:

http://www.oshpd.ca.gov/HID/Products/Listings.html

VENTURA COUNTY 17

United States Census Bureau. (2015, September). QuickFacts Beta. Retrieved from United

States Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/HEA775214/00,06111

United States Department of Agriculture . (2015, September). County Level Data Sets.

Retrieved from United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service:

http://ww

w.ers.usda.gov/data-products/county-level-data-sets/poverty.aspx#Pcb18ad675d63414aa

d5c6ebb67cc3ed8_3_oHit0

Ventura County Health Care Agency. (2013, November). Transforming Ventura County

Communities: Understanding the Health Status and Needs of Ventura County. Retrieved

from Ventura County Health Care Agency:

http://www.vchca.org/docs/public-health/transforming-vc_-report_final.pdf?sfvrsn=0

Ventura County Health Care Agency. (2015, September). Behavioral Health. Retrieved from

Ventura County Health Care Agency: http://www.vchca.org/behavioral-health

Ventura County Health Care Agency. (2015, September). Behavioral Health Department.

Retrieved from Ventura County Health Care Agency: http://www.vchca.org/behavioral-

health/clinics-and-services-locations

Ventura County Health Care Agency. (2015, September). Chronic Disease Prevention Program.

Retrieved from Ventura County Health Care Agency: http://www.vchca.org/public-

health/health-education/chronic-disease-prevention