INDIANAPOLIS - Most people are concerned about their own health, but what about "civic health" - the well-being of everyone in the community?
For once, Indiana is getting a clearer picture of what Hoosiers believe to be important to them and it all starts at the dinner table. The state ranks 17th in the number of people who eat dinner with their family at least a few times a week or more. 90.1% of Hoosiers make that a staple in their lives. That is over and above the national average of 88.1%.
"It says something about the basic building block that so many people are committed to doing that," said Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard.
Judge Shepard and former Congressman Lee Hamilton unveiled the 2011 Indiana Civic Health Index Wednesday. It uses census data to give us a snapshot of Indiana's civic health.
"I think everybody will take away from this report. We can do better," said Hamilton.
Especially in the areas of voter turnout where Indiana ranks 48th and 43rd in voter registration for 2010. That problem is more obvious when you see only 21.6% of Hoosiers discus politics frequently and 45% don't discuss it at all.
"That figure is a surprise and somewhat discouraging and clearly indicates that we've got to do better," said Hamilton.
Indiana does rank 21st when it comes to belonging to religious, neighborhood, school and other groups in our communities, 32nd in volunteering but 43rd when it comes to doing favors for neighbors and 45th when it comes to working with neighbors to fix or improve something in our communities.
"I think it's a good story and a not so good story. I think that is sort of what you hope for when you take a measure like this," said Shepard.
Hamilton added, "I think the Hoosier reputation for friendliness and lack of pretense will measure up pretty well over the long run."
It certainly shows what Indiana needs to work on and what Hoosiers clearly value.
Indiana Civic Health Index
The study was sponsored by the National Conference on Citizenship, Indiana Bar Foundation, Indiana Supreme Court, Indiana University Northwest, Center on Congress and Hoosier State Press Association Foundation.
