• Executive Summary

    The Welborn Baptist Foundation proudly presents this collection of indicators, intended to bring awareness to regional issues and to motivate action towards improvement. National, state and where possible, local data help tell a story about the Tri-State - fourteen counties in southwestern Indiana, southeastern Illinois and northwestern Kentucky. This report is very much a study in contrasts; showing promise in education and sustainability as well as areas where more work needs to be done, such as obesity, racial and ethnic disparities. For more discussion on each subject, as well as to view the data, see the indicator sections. This Executive Summary is provided to underscore the principal issues brought to light in each section.

  • Demographics

    The Welborn Baptist Foundation service area consists of fourteen counties in the Tri-State -- eight in Indiana, five in Illinois and one in Kentucky. A complete map of our funding region can be found in the About Us section. According to the 2010 census, the total population of these fourteen counties is just over half a million people (513,953), an increase of 3% over the last ten years. Beyond the numbers, we live in a region threaded by the Ohio River -- a mixture of urban and rural landscapes, rich with farmland, woodlands, industry and recreation. Our communities benefit from abundant educational opportunities that allow us to develop our talents and build the foundation for a stronger, healthier Tri-State.

  • Health

    When we have good health, we are better able to perform in every arena of our lives such as work, school and family. Overall, good health brings about a drastic improvement in our quality of life. In order to gain understanding of the overall health of our region, we must look at select indicators throughout the lifespan. From birth to death, there are risks of disease and disability and opportunities for prevention. We must also recognize where disparities exist among genders, socioeconomic groups and racial and ethnic groups. This section focuses on indicators that have to do with infancy, childhood, and adulthood. We specifically look at preventative measures, chronic and communicable diseases, causes of death and access to health care.

  • Obesity

    Local headlines in 2010 included a Gallup Survey reporting the Evansville IN-KY Metro area as the most obese area in the entire United States. Their measurement area includes Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey and Gibson counties in Indiana and Henderson and Webster counties in Kentucky. To really understand the problem of obesity in our communities, it is important to study the available data as a whole. The available data reveals that the Tri-State, as well as much of the nation, is in the middle of a perfect storm for unhealthy weight: an increased consumption of unhealthy foods and a shortage of routine physical activity. Obesity is important to track because weight has an effect on our collective physical, emotional, mental, social and financial well-being.

  • Societal Risk Factors

    This section focuses on indicators that have to do with risky behaviors, crime, victimization and perpetration in our region. Tracking the ways in which we treat each other and ourselves tells us a lot about who we are and about the vulnerability of our residents. In general, the Tri-State is known as a friendly, family-oriented, and safe region. However, as with every community, there exists opportunities for residents to make decisions that may harm others or bring about negative consequences. No matter how unpleasant, it is important for us to monitor these indicators. In order to bring about changes, we first need to acknowledge the challenges that lie before us.

  • Economy

    A key quality of life indicator for individuals and families is an economy that allows for a reasonable standard of living – adequate food and clothing, and a decent, safe, affordable place to live. The stronger and more diverse our local economy is, the greater the opportunity for residents to maintain and advance their standard of living. This also allows our community to attract skilled new residents who will become contributing members. In this section, we look at several indicators that reflect both the status of the local economy and selected characteristics of those who participate in the work force.

  • Education

    It important to track education indicators because higher levels of quality education typically mean better health; more wages earned over a lifetime, a healthier economy and a more vibrant community. Research demonstrates that providing children with a strong start, and continuing to support them as they grow into young adults, can avert problems in many areas later in life. In the Tri-State, there is evidence that we value quality learning experiences at every age however; there are opportunities for additional educational investment. Disparities still exist in our educational systems and must be addressed if we are to successfully educate all residents.

  • Sustainability

    The Tri-State region is an area of great natural beauty. Our rivers and lakes, woods and farmland, as well as our mineral resources make us unique, but they are also essential to transportation, energy and to our economy. It is important to track indicators related to sustainability so that we can see trends and predict future needs, and help us be good stewards of our natural assets. A sustainable region is one that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs as well. Preserving our environment is not only important to present day residents and visitors, but to the generations who will inherit the future Tri-State we choose to create.

  • Culture

    Though complex, the idea of “culture” brings to mind those things which enrich our lives and help us create communities where residents want to invest their time, energy and resources. In the Tri-State we have opportunities to receive the benefits of our many art, music, nature and entertainment venues. Opportunities also exist to contribute our energies and resources to our communities in order to enhance the quality of life for us all. To measure culture, we look at the numbers and types of venues available for learning and enrichment in the region, as well as the level of charitable and civic engagement among residents.