This in-depth report measures citizen engagement in the constitution state in voting, volunteerism and community involvement in the state of Connecticut. A coalition of groups — including the Secretary of the State, Everyday Democracy, the National Conference on Citizenship and DataHaven — launched the 2016 Civic Health Index Report today. The survey evaluates the depth of citizen engagement through a variety of indicators such as voting, volunteering and other forms of community involvement.

2. 2016 CONNECTICUT CIVIC HEALTH
INDEX REPORT: AN OVERVIEW

3. Service and Volunteering
In 2013…
27.8%
of Connecticut residents
volunteered!
22nd CT’s ranking
among the 50 states 
To what extent are CT residents engaging in service to
and with fellow community members?
3.3% decline
since 2010

4. Group Membership
35.1%
were members of a civic
or community group!
36th
CT’s ranking 
In 2013…
To what extent are CT residents joining organizations
or groups that meet on a regular basis?
1.8% decline
since 2010

5. Social Connectedness
To what extent do CT residents trust, talk to,
exchange favors with, and work with their
neighbors in their communities?

6. Social Connectedness
In 2013, among CT
residents….INDICATOR FINDINGS CT RANKING GAIN OR LOSS
SINCE 2010
Trust their neighbors 61.9% 21st

No Data
Available
Talk to their neighbors
frequently
45.5% 11th

2.6% Gain
Work with their neighbors
on community issues
8.6% 22nd

1.3% Gain
Exchange favors with their
neighbors frequently
11.7% 33rd

2.9% Decline

7. Political Participation
To what extent are CT residents engaged politically--
voting, meeting with office holders, attending rallies
or public meetings, talking about politics, etc.?

8. Political Participation: Voting
ELECTION YEAR FINDINGS CT RANKING GAIN OR LOSS
Voted in the 2012
Presidential Election
62.7% 26th

4.5% Decline
from 2008
Voted in 2012 Local
Elections (always or
sometimes)
63.5% 24th

Data Not
Available
Voted in the 2014
Midterm Elections
46.7% 19th

2.6% Decline
from 2012

9. Political Participation:
Interacting with Public Officials
In 2012, among CT
residents…
10.5% 19th
ATTENDED RANKING
PUBLIC MEETINGS
13.8% 19th
CONTACTED RANKING
A PUBLIC OFFICIAL

10. Political Participation:
Talking about Politics
In 2013, among CT
residents…
27.8%
29th
TALKED WITH RANKING
FRIENDS
AND FAMILY
ABOUT POLITICS
4.9%
decline
from 2011

11. Charitable Giving
To what extent are CT residents donating $25 or
more to social or charitable causes?
In 2013…
56.2%
of CT residents
donated $25 or
more!
12th
CT’s
RANKING
2.2% decline
from 2010

12. Confidence/Trust in institutions
To what extent do CT residents trust institutions
such as schools, corporations, and the media?
88.1% Have
some or a great
deal of confidence
in their public
schools!
13
CT’s
RANKING
63.9% in corporations. 36 CT’s
RANKING
59.2% in the media. 12 CT’s RANKING
In 2013…

13. Disparities by Race & Ethnicity
There are some evident disparities in civic participation in
terms of race and ethnicity (percentages rounded-off):
Group Voting
(2012
Pres.
Election)
Volunteering
(*Pooled data
2010, 2011,
2013)
Group
Member-
ship*
(Religious)
Group
Membership
(*School or
Community)
Group
Membership
(*Civic or
Service)
Latinos 47% 17% 18% 18% 3%
African
America
ns
62% 22% 25% 25% 4%
Asian
America
ns
Small
Sample
20% 13% 20% 3%
Whites 66% 32% 16% 15% 10%

14. Disparities by Age
There are some evident disparities in civic
participation in terms of age:
Age
Group
Voting in the
2012 Presidential
Election
(of eligible voters)
Voting in local
elections
(2013) always
or sometimes
Volunteering
(2013)
Attending
Public
Meetings
(2013)
18-24 39.8% 29% 20.2% 2.1%
25 &
older
65.9% 67.5% 28% 11.8%

15. Where we gained ground…
Indicators and Details Percentage Gain
Working with neighbors to solve
community problems (in 2013 compared
to 2010)
1.3%
Talking to neighbors
(in 2013 compared to 2010)
2.6%
Contacting a public official
(in 2013 compared to 2010))
0.1%
Eating dinner with family frequently
(in 2013 compared to 2010)
1.3%

16. Where we lost ground…
Indicators and Details Percentage Decline
Volunteering (2013 compared to 2010) 3.3%
Group membership (in 2013 compared to
2010)
1.8%
Exchanging favors with neighbors (in 2013
compared to 2010)
2.9%
Voting in 2012 Presidential Elections
(compared to 2008)
4.5%
Voting in 2014 Midterm Elections
(compared to 2012 Midterms)
2.6%
Talking about politics with family and friends
(in 2013 compared to 2011)
4.9%
Donating $25 or more to charity
(in 2013 compared to 2010)
2.2%

17. • Youth civic participation (especially
• voting among non-college youth)
• Latino Voter Education and Registration
• Joining civic and community groups
(especially youth)
• Volunteering
• Exchanging favors with neighbors
Where should we focus our efforts?

18. Ms. Mary Buchanan
Project Manager
DataHaven Inc. and
Co-author of the report
DataHaven
2015 Community Wellbeing Survey

19. DataHaven
2015 Community Wellbeing Survey
Our Website: http://ctdatahaven.org/
Wellbeing Survey results:
http://ctdatahaven.org/reports/
datahaven-community-wellbeing-survey