Impact

Methodology

Southern seeks to reduce the gap between the county and national employment, poverty, and educational attainment by 50% over the next 20 years. To achieve these ambitious goals, Southern is developing a rigorous social metric program that will evaluate and help optimize progress toward these three transformational goals (3TGs).

In 2011, Southern identified the key metrics and baselines for these goals. Due to the infrequency of census data updates, progress will be objectively measured every five years, but a series of progress indicators will be reported annually.

3TG Indicator by County

Employment
Derived by dividing the civilian non-institutional population 16 to 64 years who are employed by the total civilian non-institutional population 16 to 64 years and multiplying by 100.

Poverty
Compare the person’s total family income in the last 12 months with the poverty threshold appropriate for that person’s family size and composition. If the total income of that person’s family is less than the threshold appropriate for that family, then the person is considered “below the poverty level.

Educational Attainment
% of Population with an Associate’s Degree or Higher

The impact listings are what we believe to be key indicators of progress that have occurred since Southern started to partner with local communities and residents to help improve their future. Southern was involved in all activities listed, but cannot and does not wish to take 100% credit for these outcomes, but to simply share positive community impact/progress achieved through community wide collaboration.