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In all the indicators for rates of poverty and public assistance, Santa Ana rates high for this risk factor; 19.9% of Santa Arians versus 13.5% nationally live below the poverty level. The target area includes even a higher percentage of persons living in poverty, 27%. ' Assistance for those in need is provided however; 87% of the students in the target area participate in the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Additionally, with just 12% of the Orange County population, Santa Ana residents make up 23.8% of county participants in the federal Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program and 20.5% of the county food stamp recipients. These conditions of poverty are confirmed also by the large numbers of residents who turn out at Flower Street Park during food distribution days conducted by local charity groups. Knowledge of the food distribution service has spread quickly through word-of-mouth. Additionally, the target area qualified for the Summer Free Lunch Program which started on June 24, 1996 aaer the area met the requirements for certification under poverty guidelines. FAMILY RISK FACTOR: INDICATORS: RISK LEVEL: Family History of the Problem Behavior Adults Completing Fewer Than 12 Years of School Years of School Completed by Adults Liver Cirrhosis Deaths High This risk factor was rated high for Santa Ana primarily because 59% of those 25 or older have less than 12 years of schooling; in our target area the number increases to 66.5%. This factor is prevalent in all areas of Santa Aha, including the target area where there is a high concentxation of Hispanic residents and seems to coincide with the Limited English Proficiency and number of foregin born residents. Liver cirrhosis deaths are close to the national average, however they are increasing in Santa Ana while nationally and county-wide the number is decreasing. RISK FACTOR: INDICATOR: RISK LEVEL: Family Management Problems Reported Child Abuse and Neglect Cases High The child abuse and neglect cases per 1,000 children in Santa Ana is 58% higher than the national average, (71 cases versus 45 cases per 1,000 children in 1992). This is an extreme departure from the national trend and poses a threat to severe long-term problems in family management that have the potential of being passed on from generation to generation. This risk factor has become evident through the interactions with parents in the Reading Readiness Program where parents use inapropriate verbal and physical reactions to their children's inability to respond correctly to the teacher or to the parents' expectations. This