Neighborhood and Community Well-Being
What are the measures?
The measures are the number of crimes reported on campus that falls under the categories attempted rape, rape, and robbery. Rape and attempted rape crimes represent the number of victims, while robbery crimes represent the number of known incidents. In instances in which multiple crimes occurred, the most serious crime was counted.
Why are the measures important?
The number of crimes on campus can indicate the nature and scope of criminal activity, which can have implications on the wider community. Comparing UCSB to other campuses can determine areas for improvement and to develop targeted strategies that enhance safety on and off campus.
How are we doing?
While crime rates across UCs have increased since 2020, UCSB has maintained relatively low crime rates. However, there is still a concern as UCSB has a disproportionately high number of reported rape cases among the UC campuses. In 2017, despite making up only about 11% of the total UC student population, UCSB accounted for over 40% of the reported rape cases.
Juvenile Felony Arrests Reach Lowest in Decade
What is the measure?
The number of juvenile felony arrests in Santa Barbara County per 1,000 adolescents, including homicide, rape, aggravated assault, and larceny.
Rate of Births to Teenage Mothers Declining
What is the measure?
The number of children born to women between the ages of 15-19 per 1,000 women in that age range for Santa Barbara County.
Why is it important?
Teenage mothers and children are at high risk. Teen mothers are more likely to drop out of high school and suffer complications during pregnancy and birth. Babies of teenage mothers are more likely to face low birth weight, premature delivery, infant death and health problems post-birth. Children of teenage mothers are also more likely to drop out of high school, be incarcerated, become teenage parents and face unemployment.
Heart Diseases Remain the Leading Cause of Death in Santa Barbara County
What is the measure?
The number of deaths that occurred in Santa Barbara County in 2021 based on the underlying cause of death as coded by the International Classification of Diseases. The data includes deaths to residents of each county (by residence). It is important to note that the underlying cause of death may not capture the full impact of each cause of death as it does not always take into account all conditions contributing to the death.
Why is it important?
The data provides insight into the health status of a population and the most significant health challenges that the community faces. Public health officials and policymakers can identify areas where improvements in healthcare, public health interventions, or social determinants of health are needed.
How are we doing?
The leading cause of death in 2021 for Santa Barbara County were heart diseases, referring to conditions including coronary heart disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation (AFib). Heart diseases have been the leading cause of death worldwide since 1950, with cancer following second.
Social Indicators
Demographics
Population Growth
What is the measure?
The annual population growth rate by county. The data is an estimate of the number of people residing in the county. This estimate is produced adding the population base, births, and net migration, and then subtracting the number of deaths.
Why is it important?
Population growth rates are important because they provide insight into the pace of population change in a given region over time. These rates can have significant implications for various areas, including public policy, economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social well-being. For instance, a high population growth rate may require a corresponding increase in infrastructure, such as housing, transportation, and healthcare, to accommodate the growing population. Alternatively, a declining population growth rate may indicate a shrinking workforce or an aging population, which can have significant economic and social consequences.
How are we doing?
Santa Barbara County has experienced modest yet sustained population growth for roughly a decade. However, for the first time in over a decade, Santa Barbara County experienced a 2.4% population decline from 2020 to 2021, resulting in a loss of 10,810 residents (from 448,244 to 437,434). In contrast, the county saw its most significant growth rate in a decade from 2021 to 2022, with a 1.5% increase in population. Despite this growth, the population has yet to return to its previous level, which is consistent with California’s overall trend.