Status of young children in Charlevoix, Emmet, and N.Antrim Counties

1
Status of young children in Charlevoix, Emmet,
and N.Antrim Counties

• Great Start Collaborative
• Charlevoix-Emmet-N.Antrim

2
The Great Start System

• The Great Start Collaborative was formed in
  March, 2006 from a project grant awarded to our
  community from the state Early Childhood
  Investment Corporation.
• Our vision and mission are designed to further
  the well-being of 0-5 year olds and their
  families in our community.
• We have many excellent and successful programs in
  our communities. This report focuses on areas of
  need for our youngest members. A community report
  on all of the indicators measured is available
  and contact information is listed on following
  pages.

3
Community Conditions

• The state of our economy negatively effects the
  condition of our children. With unemployment
  higher and wages lower than the state average,
  7-15 of the approximately 5,000 young children
  (0-5 year olds) live in poverty in each of our
  counties.
• Almost one of every four children live in a
  single parent family and of all births, 9-16,
  have mothers without a high school diploma.

FOR COMPLETE REPORT...
Contact Marie Sarchet, Great Start Coordinator
sarchet_at_verizon.net 989.370.2019
4
Data

• Actual Percentages by County

5
Physical Health

• Healthy children and families are a goal of the
  Great Start system. Our three counties are above
  the state average in immunizing our young
  children.
• The areas of need in physical health reside in
  women who are smoking during pregnancy. All
  counties are higher than the state average of
  14.4. Also high is the percentage of children
  that are enrolled in publicly assisted health
  care insurance programs.

FOR COMPLETE REPORT...
Contact Marie Sarchet, Great Start Coordinator
sarchet_at_verizon.net 989.370.2019
6
Data
7
Social/Emotional Health

• State and local communities are spending more
  time looking at social/emotional health of our
  young children. A committee examining expulsion
  rates from daycares and preschools is currently
  gathering data to support growing attention in
  this area.
• Two out of three of our counties are equal to or
  higher than the state level of children 0-5 in
  foster care. Many Great Start collaborative
  members are concerned about this issue.

FOR COMPLETE REPORT...
Contact Marie Sarchet, Great Start Coordinator
sarchet_at_verizon.net 989.370.2019
8
Data
9
Parent Education

• One area Great Start examines is the preparedness
  of parents and their education when children are
  born.The percentage of births to teens is higher
  than the state average in two out of three of our
  counties.
• Many of these parents need food assistance and
  are low-income eligible for many programs when
  their children are born.

FOR COMPLETE REPORT...
Contact Marie Sarchet, Great Start Coordinator
sarchet_at_verizon.net 989.370.2019
10
Data
Percentage of Births to Teens (3-year average)
11
Early Care and Child Education

• 63-70 of all 0-6 year olds have both parents in
  the labor force. Where do the children stay and
  what is the quality of that care? These are
  important questions for our community to examine.
  
• Of the 38 licensed child care centers in our
  three counties only FOUR are accepting infants in
  September of 2006.
• The percent of 3-6 year olds receiving special
  education is rising in two of three of our
  counties.

FOR COMPLETE REPORT...
Contact Marie Sarchet, Great Start Coordinator
sarchet_at_verizon.net 989.370.2019
12

• Data

Percent of children ages 3-6 who are
participating in Special Education
13
Basic Needs and Safety

• Children need the basics of life to thrive and
  survive. One abused child in our community is one
  too many. Approximately 225 children were
  substantiated victims of abuse or neglect in our
  three counties.
• All three of our counties are above the state
  rate of births that are paid for by Medicaid.
• The number of children 0-5 needing food
  assistance in each of our three counties has
  risen for three years in a row.

FOR COMPLETE REPORT...
Contact Marie Sarchet, Great Start Coordinator
sarchet_at_verizon.net 989.370.2019
14
Data
Percent of children 0-5 receiving food assistance
Percent of births paid for by Medicaid
15
Data
Rate per 1,000 children 0-5 who are substantiated
victims of neglect
Rate per 1,000 children 0-5 who are substantiated
victims of abuse
16
Conclusions

• The youngest children of our community and their
  families need our attention, ideas, and focus.
• The Great Start Collaborative of Charlevoix,
  Emmet, and N.Antrim counties is committed to
  analyzing this data and recommending change and
  action to improve the statistics of our
  community.
• If you are interested in participating on a
  strategic evaluation team that will be addressing
  community issues on behalf of young children and
  their families please contact

Contact Marie Sarchet, Great Start Coordinator
sarchet_at_verizon.net 989.370.2019