COUNTY KIDS NEED HELP REPORT CITES OBESITY, HOMELESSNESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

Byline: Rachel Uranga Staff Writer

More needs to be done to combat Ventura County children's most dire problems: obesity, homelessness and substance abuse, according to the authors of a report on the state of children and families in the county.

Set to be released Monday, the report by the Community Commission for Ventura County identified three problem areas of adolescent health by compiling already published data from a variety of state, federal and local agencies.

``It's a kind of first step,'' said Judge Brian Back, the presiding judge of Ventura County Juvenile Court. The information will help identify areas where coordination among state and local agencies could be solidified and referral programs to help children and families could be created.

One such program, being drawn up by Back, would provide outreach to parents involved in the criminal justice system.

By arming judges and lawyers with information on low-cost and free public and private agencies - such as the Ventura County Department of Public Health, which offers immunization or Interface Children and Family Services, which provides counseling - Back hopes to indirectly attack some of those problems young people face.

``This is not a justice concept, it's more of a public health and safety concept,'' he said.

The report is the first by the 10-year-old, 26-member commission chaired by Back and Supervisor Kathy Long and made up of city officials, school district members, pubic health agencies and community groups.

``Everyone has known we had these problems,'' Long said. ``This puts a spotlight on them.''

And in doing so, she hopes to strengthen collaborative efforts between the county and its already strong nonprofit agencies. Moreover, she hopes it will influence policy and offer advice to the Board of Supervisors as well as other local and state agencies.

Among the findings of the report:

--Drug and alcohol offense rates in Ventura County public schools increased at a rate of five per 1,000 students in 2000-2001 school year from 4.2 per 1,000 students in the 1998-1999 school year.

--Juvenile arrests for drug offenses in Ventura County were three times higher than the rate of arrests for alcohol offenses in 2001: 829 drug arrests versus 237 alcohol arrests.

--The county does not regularly or reliably track the incidence of adolescent substance abuse.

--Lack of affordable housing and falling incomes contribute to homelessness in a county where one in three workers is classified as low- wage.

The report links that figure to crowded housing - according to the 2000 Census, 12.4 percent of households reported living in homes with more than one person per room.

The average cost for a two-bedroom rental is $1,300 a month.

--Prevalence of being overweight among low-income children up to age 12 has been increasing since 1996 in the county.

--In 2001, 21.2 percent of low-income children ages 5 to 19 were overweight.

Rachel Uranga, [phone]

rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com