Goal V: Situation Statement
Florida is a rapidly growing state with a very diverse population. Many Floridians face special needs and issues that must be addressed. People are living longer – but not planning adequately for retirement, a time when costs for medical services and living assistance can be significant. Florida has the highest percentage of residents over the age of 65 in the nation. Lifestyle related chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, obesity, and circulatory diseases are on the rise. Poor food choices create health and developmental related problems for people of all ages, and are of critical concern for young mothers and their infants. Florida is one of the top 10 states nationwide in the incidence of food-borne diseases. Of these, about half are attributed to food service operations. Health care costs are increasing more rapidly than other costs, and many people are without healthcare insurance.
Personal indebtedness, especially credit card debt is at an all-time high and savings at an all-time low. Although the state and nation is moving toward automation and a cashless society, many Floridians, especially low income families and recent emigrants from third-world nations do not use any type of banking service; most are poor managers of their finances. More than one-fourth of Florida’s adults have difficulty making accurate change in a financial transaction. Low-to-moderate income families are finding it difficult to find affordable housing. During the ten-year period of 1992-2002 housing costs increased from 20.2 percent to 35 percent of an average household income. The structural integrity of residences or ability to withstand hurricanes and other severe weather conditions is now becoming an important concern of Floridians. Also, the indoor air quality of a residence can affect the health of its residents, especially those with respiratory problems such as asthma, a major problem with children in Florida.
Florida’s families are diverse and include teenage parents, single parents, duel earner families, stepparents, grandparents raising grandchildren, and traditional two-parent families. Single parents head almost one-third of the families. With 57 percent of the women with children under the age of 6 and 66 percent of those with children 6 to 17 employed there is a critical need for affordable, quality childcare.
Extension uses unpaid volunteers to expand its outreach programs. The volunteers contribute to the development of their communities and provide social capital through the development of their leadership capabilities and cooperative work. They generate cross-community channels of communication and receive training that benefits both the individuals and their communities.
- Back to Goal V
If the information on this page is out-of-date, misspelled, or otherwise incorrect, please contact Ryan Mills.
