Stocks, bonds, consumer sentiment, and ...civic engagement? A newly launched index of key citizen measures aims to broaden the way in which America tracks and defines its success to include civic health. The Civic Health Index, launched by the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC), provides feedback on key measures of the health of US citizenship, including volunteerism and voter turnout. Download the complete report (pdf). Read comments from some of the report's funders. View our webcast from the event.

"Just as the country tracks its economic health, measured by GDP or unemployment, America needs to do a better job of tracking its civic health," said NCoC chairman Craig Turk. "The purpose of the index is to promote public deliberation about the nation's civic health and to examine new ways of improving it."

The Civic Health Report measured 40 indicators in nine categories -- connecting to civic and religious groups, trusting other people, connecting to others through family and friends, giving and volunteering, staying informed, understanding civics and politics, participating in politics, trusting and feeling connected to major institutions, and expressing political views.

• The events of September 11, 2001, did raise volunteerism but failed to galvanize civic participation.
• Younger Americans are demonstrating a higher level of volunteering and political engagement.
• Individuals with college degrees are more civically engaged than individuals with no college experience.
• Utah leads the nation in volunteerism, while Minnesota was the frontrunner in voter turnout in 2004, with nearly 77 percent.

The 9/11 Effect not Widespread
Five years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, a deep civic transformation in American society has not occurred, despite wide speculation that a "9/11 effect" had shaped attitudes and behaviors of Americans. However, the Index points to hopeful signs in the very areas where there has been national focus, such as in mobilizing more Americans to serve and participate in community and national service programs, and in encouraging people to vote.

"While there were clearly hopeful signs of civic renewal following 9/11," Turk said, "it did not signal the start of a civic transformation in terms of our connections to community and religious groups, levels of trust in one another and in major institutions and in other measures of our civic life."

Youth Participation Rebounds; Online Chat a New Factor
The Index points to a rebound in volunteering and political engagement over the last decade, especially by Americans 16 to 25. Data shows that young Americans are volunteering in greater numbers, compared with their Baby Boomer parents and grandparents, with the Current Population Survey showing significant increases in volunteerism from September 2001 through September 2005, prompting some to talk
about a "9/11 Generation."

Among this demographic, online chatting about issues of civic responsibility is on the rise, with close tracking revealing that chat-room participants subsequently volunteer in the fields. Political participation is also rising, with more than 122 million Americans voting in the 2004 presidential election, the highest turnout since 1968 and the largest increase since 1952, and 4.3 million more 18- 29-year-olds voting in 2004 presidential election than in 2000.

"Younger Americans will be the foundation for building greater civic strength," said John Bridgeland, NCoC Advisory Board Chair and former director of USA Freedom Corps. "They are an emerging generation of volunteers, voters, and connectors that are finding ways to build bridges of civic responsibility," he added.

The Educational Divide
The Index also highlights a growing civic divide between those with different levels of educational attainment. According to the Index, individuals with college degrees are more civically engaged than individuals with no college experience. The gap in civic activity between college graduates and high school dropouts has been as great as 24 percentage points and was 15 points in 2004. "There are significant implications for the health of our democracy if a large segment of the population chooses to disengage from public life," said Robert Putnam, the Peter and Isabel Malkin Professor of Public Policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and author of the critically acclaimed book on civic engagement, Bowling Alone.

State Rankings
The Civic Health Index also ranked individual states, and generally found a positive relationship between community and political participation. Utah was ranked first in volunteerism with a participation rate of more than 47 percent, followed by Nebraska (42 percent) and Minnesota (40 percent). New York was ranked last with a volunteerism rate of less than 22 percent, with Louisiana and Florida (both less than 24 percent) the next worst. Minnesota led all states with 76 percent voter turnout in the 2004 national elections, while California ranked last at 49 percent. There also was a strong correlation between volunteering and voting. For example, Minnesota is third in volunteering and first in voting. Nevada is 51st in volunteering and 48th in voting.

FUNDER COMMENTS

Robert Sherman, Program Director of Effective Citizenry
Surdna Foundation
"Civic engagement is lifeblood for communities. The Surdna Foundation supports the Civic Health Index because an accurate, broad gauge assessment of civic engagement in the U.S. overall allows us to build roadmaps for increasing civic engagement, or solving specific problems. Without data, planning remedies and new approaches to community problem-solving is equivalent to flying blind. Over time, we expect that the Index will become an important planning and stock-taking tool for government, foundations, and the nonprofit organizations."

John Sirek, Director, Citizenship Program
Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation
"Active citizens are fundamental to the health of our communities and country. With civic engagement, our potential as a free, democratic society is infinite. Without it, our institutions are endangered. Driven by this thinking, the McCormick Tribune Foundation invests in civic participation today for a brighter tomorrow."

Geri Mannion, Chair, Strengthening U.S. Democracy Program and the Special Opportunities Fund
Carnegie Corporation of New York
"Carnegie Corporation of New York has a long history of supporting efforts to increase civic/voter participation in the United States, especially among those most left out of civic and community decisionmaking. We hope that this important report will inspire policymakers and election administrators, among other constituencies, to invest in an electoral infrastructure that will restore Americans faith in its democracy."

Evern Cooper Epps, President
The UPS Foundation
"Our company's success is tied to the health of the communities we serve and healthy communities begin with engaged people. The Index is an excellent tool for determining what strategies and programs are making a difference in increasing civic engagement in the U.S. We anticipate that the national trends captured through this regular reporting will inform our grantmaking and community involvement efforts going forward."

Bob Nardelli, Chairman, President & CEO
The Home Depot
"Given the nature of our business, associates of The Home Depot have a passion for and expertise in building. To leverage their commitment, we believe in 'embedded philanthropy,' meaning we strive to provide hands-on, ground-engaged community support."