How are the Children? April 2013 A Report on the Well-Being of Wayne County’s Young Children and their Families A SPECIAL THANK YOU Great Start Collaborative-Wayne would like to extend a special thank you to the following Champions of Wayne County’s children and families. These individuals and organizations have long demonstrated commitment to “hope and change” in Wayne County and we are truly grateful to have their support on the development of “How are the Children?”, our 2013 report card to the community on the well-being of its young children and their families. Our 2013 Champions include: ABOUT GREAT START Great Start Collaborative-Wayne is a non-profit organization comprised of over 60 community organizations and individuals whose vision is “A Great Start for every child in Wayne County: safe, healthy and ready to succeed in school and life”. Our mission is to “engage the entire community to assure a coordinated system of services and resources are available to assist Wayne County families in providing a great start for their children from prenatal through age eight.” Picture Courtesy of DALE RICH DALE RICH REPORT CONTENTS Overview..................................... 4 Wayne County Profile.................. 6 Influence of the Family.............. 12 The Child................................... 18 Community................................ 26 Acknowledgements................... 30 2 Collaborative Partners............... 30 Dale Rich is also a nationally acclaimed photographer, historian, genealogist and activist. Mr. Rich has spent more than 40 years honing his craft, including producing 15 documentaries, three of which won Emmys. As a photo journalist, Rich has chronicled Black life in Detroit and at the state and national level and has an exhibit at the Walter Reuther Library at Wayne State University. We are indeed indebted to the generosity and talent of one more artist from our community who is allowing us to use some of his photographs to help tell the story of Wayne County’s children. Mr. Rich has once again used his gift to make a difference…..and “sow the seeds of change in this community”. To learn more about Mr. Rich and contact him, he may be reached at [email protected]. A SPECIAL THANK YOU (continued) DETROIT RESCUE MISSION MINISTRIES Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) has been helping the homeless, abused and alcoholic for over 102 years. They provide a vital safety-net to Detroit’s children and families and in their words are “rebuilding the inner city, one life at a time”. Their commitment to the success, livelihood and sustainability of Greater Detroit and the community is evidenced by their long term commitment to this issue, stories of success and the generosity they have extended to us on behalf of Wayne County’s children. They graciously Picture Courtesy of DRMM and Linda Solomon Photography allowed us to use pictures taken by their children in the “Pictures of Hope” initiative, LINDA SOLOMON Linda Solomon, a nationally recognized, award winning photo journalist and member of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. She is also an artist whose medium is life itself. In addition to her incredible body of photographic work that has captured the famous personalities of our time, she also teaches others to express themselves through photography. She has received international acclaim for her “Pictures of Hope” and “It’s a SNAP” educational photography programs even though these have been created into notecards as a fundraiser for them. that have been launched across the country and resulted in more than 1 million cameras donated to children. Her work with homeless children and their “Pictures of Hope” lead us to her. She was also our link to the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries regarding the use of some of the pictures their children took in this report. To learn more about Linda Solomon and her incredible work, go to www.lindasolomonphotography.com “Pictures of Hope” is a national program sponsored by Chevrolet. We in turn wish to return that favor and encourage each of our readers to purchase a set of these note cards. This is one positive action for change. The monies are used to support DRMM’s work with children and families. Go to www.drmm. org for more details on the “Pictures of Hope” and how to purchase copies of these note cards. Chevrolet makes it possible for 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the notecards to benefit DRMM. Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? 3 HOW ARE THE CHILDREN? Are They Getting What They Deserve? A “ The question is not how to remediate but rather how to ... help children grow and thrive within the context of their families and community.” 4 A common greeting among Masai warriors in Africa is “Kasaserian Ingera” which means “How are the children?” The traditional Masai response is “All of the children are well” meaning “Peace and safety prevails and the priorities of protecting the young and powerless are in place”. Great Start Collaborative-Wayne chose “How are the Children?” as the title for these reports because it embodies our vision, “A Great Start for every child in Wayne County: safe, healthy and ready to succeed in school and life”. Unfortunately, we continue to report that “All of our children are not well” and they all deserve better. The 2013 “How are the Children?” report focuses on the well-being of young children in Wayne County, pre-birth to age 8, and their families. The report is organized in the following major sections: How are the Children? (an overview), a Wayne County Profile (county demographics, trends and the context), Influence of the Family (characteristics and indicators), the Child, and the Community (impact). In addition to the county report, one page summaries representing each of the four regions within the county (Detroit Core, Downriver Wayne, Eastern Wayne and Western Wayne) have also been developed. The most difficult part about the development of this year’s report was the recognition of how little has improved for Wayne County’s children and families since we started these reports 6 years ago. Yet, we also found reason for hope. There are good things happening and a synergy developing from Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? the ground up with parents, community, business, advocates and policy makers recognizing the importance of early childhood investment. The governor has articulated a prenatal to age 20 (P20) vision for education. On the other hand, children and families are made vulnerable with the loss of critical safety nets like the state’s welfare reform effort that cut the 48 month FIP lifetime cash benefit limit, cutting off almost 26,000 Wayne County children. Or, the short-sightedness of the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) cut from 20% of the federal EITC to 6%. That reduction taking effect for the first time in the 2013 tax season is plummeting an estimated 9,000 more children from low income working families into poverty. The EITC helps reduce poverty, provides an economic stimulus in communities and helps veterans return to civilian life. Although each of our reports to the community intentionally revisits the indicators of child well-being that we have reported on in previous years - health and wellness, basic needs, economic security, early care and education, and child abuse and neglect. We also looked at other factors that affect them. This year, in particular, we are looking at the political and social context within which many of these issues were germinating as well as from an environmental health perspective. The collective impact and interactions these indicators have had on children, families, and communities have been significant and warrant us stepping back, looking at this investment in our future and how we can do better. HOW ARE THE CHILDREN? (continued) The environment in which a child lives, as defined by the Children’s Environmental Health Initiative (CEHI), includes physical, chemical and biological factors as well as sociocultural ones. Elevated environmental exposures can have negative consequences, especially for young children and their families; and often occurs in communities already facing multiple stressors such as high poverty, poor housing, housing insecurity/homelessness, exposure to toxins, food insecurity, unemployment, inadequate access to health care and physical and psychosocial issues such as violence, child abuse and air quality. These conditions can result in devastating long-term, negative consequences for the developing child as the 20 year Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study by Dr. Vincent Filletti and the CDC found. Early childhood trauma can lead to mental health, behavioral or physical health related problems in adulthood such as obesity, substance abuse, anxiety, cancer, self injury, etc. Studies have also shown that poverty-related stress can effect brain development as well as inhibit the development of non-cognitive skills in young children. The good news is that our brains are capable of changing, growing and learning throughout our lives and with proper support and treatment, some of this can be reversed. However, the question is not how to remediate but rather how to develop conditions that help children grow and thrive within the context of their families and community….”healthy, safe and ready to succeed in school and life”. the well-being of all Wayne County children so our response to the question “How are the Children?” will be “All the Children are Well”…. and we are giving them what they deserve. Action Steps for Kids are included in each section and we hope that you will share these with others and pick one or two you will work on. Together, we can give all Wayne County children what they deserve. Data for this report has come from a variety of sources Picture Courtesy of DRMM and Linda Solomon Photography including: The American Community Survey, U.S. Census, Kids Count, Michigan League for Public Policy, Michigan’s Children, Wayne County Head Start, and the Michigan Departments of Community Health, Education and Human Services. “ Together, we can give all Wayne County children what they deserve.” To that end, we ask you to join us in ensuring Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? 5 WAYNE COUNTY PROFILE T The last decade, since 2000-01, has been one of the most economically challenging that Wayne County has ever endured. While it started out at a high point - the year 2000 being one of the best for resident income (median household income was $55,040 in 2011) and employment (911,000 employed/ unemployment rate of 4.3 percent), the decade long recession took its toll. By 2011, median household income had fallen 30.1 percent to $38,479. “ The last decade ... has been one of the most economically challenging that Wayne County has ever endured.” 6 Recently released annual employment figures for 2011 show that the number of employed residents has fallen by almost 192,000 and the unemployment rate remains much higher. While the actual number of employed persons in 2011 is the lowest recorded over this time period, the 12.6 percent unemployment rate is down from those of 2009 and 2010 (16.1 and 14.8 percent, respectively). While the unemployment rate drop is a good thing in that 36,000 fewer residents are unemployed, the fact that this rate was driven, in part, by an overall decrease in the total labor force (both employed and unemployed) of 46,000 since 2009 is not a positive sign. The greatest losses have been experienced in manufacturing - jobs that generally paid quite well, came with benefits and required relatively low levels of education. According to the Michigan Labor Market Information Division, manufacturing jobs decreased by half (51 percent) between 2000 and 2011, falling from 149,306 to 73,467. Not surprising is the fact that the majority of these losses came in automotive-related manufacturing. Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? The good news however, as was the case with unemployment, is that manufacturing employment grew by 8,000 jobs between 2009 and 2011 and transportation equipment manufacturing picked up 4,600 jobs. While no one is projecting growth anywhere near 2000 totals, and many of these jobs are coming in conjunction with the two-tiered labor agreements between the UAW and the Big 3, manufacturing continues to be a major component of the economic structure of Wayne County and its vitality is critical. The loss of buying power over the decade has coincided with increasing rates of poverty. Estimates of the poverty rate between 1999 and 2011 show increases from 14.4 to 25.9 percent for all persons and from 21.3 to 37.7 percent for children. Detroit had the highest poverty rates in the country, among large cities, in 2011 – 40.9 and 53.7 percent, respectively. Wayne County’s population has fallen by 245,196 persons (11.9%) between 2000 and 2011, a loss greater than any other county in the U.S. Several factors have contributed to this loss. The number of births in the county has dropped by 22.3 percent between 2000 and 2010. The majority of this decrease can be attributed to the City of Detroit where births have decreased by 31.0 percent (13.2 percent in out-Wayne). The City of Detroit accounted for 71 percent of the overall reduction in county births. The decrease in Wayne County deaths – 11.5 percent - can also be attributed to Detroit, where the number of deaths dropped by 25.1 percent while the out-county number actually WAYNE COUNTY PROFILE (continued) Unemployment Rate for Detroit Consistently Runs About Three Times That of Out-Wayne County Decreasing Births Have Reduced the Size of the Cohort Less than 5 Years of Age Young children in Wayne County are more racially and ethnically diverse than general population Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? 7 WAYNE COUNTY PROFILE (continued) Almost 1 in 3 county residents now receive food stamps. increased by 1.7 percent. The combination of these factors resulted in a decrease in population growth. The annual numerical natural increase for the county dropped by 42.3 percent over the decade, falling from 10,863 to 6,265 persons added per year. However, the factor that is driving the majority of demographic trends in the county is outmigration. While Wayne County has historically seen more people leave the county than come in on an annual basis, the numbers experienced this decade have been almost unprecedented. While immigrants - particularly from the Middle East, Mexico and South and Central America, continue to come to Wayne County to live the native-born population has been leaving. Detroiters heading to the near-in suburbs combined with out-county residents moving to adjoining counties or leaving the Detroit region entirely, brought about a net loss of 267,576 residents between 2000 and 2009. Estimates for the period between July 1, 2010 and July 1, 2011 indicate a continuing, though decreasing, rate of departure. The net decrease over this period is estimated to be 19,530 persons. Picture Courtesy of DRMM and Linda Solomon Photography 8 Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? The decreasing births, coupled with the out-migration of younger residents, often with young children, has resulted in a smaller cohort of children 5 years of age or less, a cohort that is facing unprecedented hardships. The population 0-5 years has decreased from 183,793 (8.9% of the county’s population) in 2000 to 142,642 (7.8%) in 2010. The recession has resulted in large numbers of these children seeing their parents unemployed or underemployed, many of whom are finding it necessary to seek out services for the first time. The best example of this is the county’s food stamp roles. In September 2001, 238,460 Wayne County residents were receiving food stamps. In September 2011, that number had increased to 542,336 residents - a 127.4 percent increase and a rate of close to 1 of every 3 county residents. While the urban core communities of Detroit, Highland Park and Inkster have continued to suffer to the greatest extent, this recession has affected all segments of the population and all communities across the county. In addition to job losses, it has been the foreclosure crisis that has added a significant level of need and strife to families throughout the county. Beginning in 2005-06 with the subprime loan crisis in the lower income communities, foreclosures due to interest-only and balloon mortgages that made payments unaffordable moved to the higher income suburbs. Families that saw large mortgages as investments, due to increasing housing values, found themselves “underwater” as home values in Wayne County and the Detroit region fell back WAYNE COUNTY PROFILE (continued) to 1995 levels. The result has been increasing numbers of children who are at best moving to apartments or living with extended family or at worst finding themselves homeless. While the number of mortgage foreclosures has declined since 2011, speculation is that a lifting of moratoriums honored by various banks will soon be lifted, resulting in a possible foreclosure spike. More troubling in recent years has been the increasing number of properties affected by tax foreclosures through the Wayne County Treasurer. While the foreclosure source may differ, the result is the same – families forced out of their homes. The “recession” that stayed with Michigan throughout the decade was felt hardest in counties where manufacturing – particularly automotive – constituted a large share of industry and employment. Increasing unemployment and underemployment resulted in decreasing income and increasing poverty. While Michigan experienced a decrease in median household income almost three times the national average (22.3 vs. 8.9 percent) between 1999 and 2010, Wayne County and the City of Detroit fell even more. Median household income for Wayne County as a whole dropped 26.1 percent, and stood at $39,408 in 2010 dollars. City of Detroit households lost a full third of their buying power over the decade as their income fell to $29,526. Decreasing income breeds increasing rates of poverty, a trend seen across the state and particularly in Wayne County. The county’s overall poverty rate for all children rose from 23.3 to 34.8 percent over the decade. Detroit’s children experienced an increase from 34.6 to 53.6 percent in 2010. Increasing human service needs are coming at a time of decreasing government program funding. Deficits at the state and local level, due to decreasing property tax revenues, are resulting in decreasing Picture Courtesy of DRMM and Linda Solomon Photography program allocations - allocations that cannot be supplemented to a large degree by the philanthropic community due to the decrease in assets caused by losses in the stock market. Recent market gains have yet to change that scenario to any substantive degree. The national debate on health care legislation comes at a time when increasing numbers of individuals - often termed the “working poor” - are without insurance. State programs have endeavored to reach out to enroll all children, but many adults are still not aware of the program. Nevertheless, it is estimated that 95 percent of Wayne County children, 0-18 years of age, were insured in 2011. However, such programs for children do not help pregnant women to receive adequate prenatal care who are without health care or who live in an area with few OB/GYN or Pediatric practitioners, receive adequate prenatal care. “ Detroit’s children experienced an increase [in poverty] from 34.6 to 53.6 percent in 2010.” Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? 9 WAYNE COUNTY PROFILE (continued) Picture Courtesy of Dale Rich The poverty rates for children in the county have increased from 21.3% in 1999 to 37% in 2011. 10 Early childhood education is critical to ensure children are learners when they start kindergarten. Studies have shown that children from low income families/ neighborhoods tend to begin school with vocabularies less than half those of children from middle class families/ neighborhoods. Such deficits are seldom made up, resulting in children falling farther and farther behind and often dropping out. Local efforts around creating a community of quality childcare and developing a kindergarten readiness assessment tool are strategies to address the issue. However, the economy has resulted in fewer and fewer children attending childcare facilities, as families try to bring resources to the table by utilizing state-funded relative and aide care. While there are 760 child care centers in Wayne County, over 3,800 Wayne County children (1,827 in Detroit alone) are being cared for by relatives and aides. In addition, full-day Head Start slots have been decreasing and the City of Detroit has relinquished its role as a Head Start grantee. The federal government will soon be releasing a request for proposals for undertaking a total re-granting of head start Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? slots in the city. The national economic news appears to be improving and, while Michigan always is first to enter and last to leave a recession, it appears that we may be finally reaching the bottom. We are looking at another year or two before we will see residential and commercial property values begin to rise to any significant and sustained degree and bring more funding to local government. The state has reduced a number of social program supports in order to balance its budget after facing several years of large deficits. The philanthropic community, while increasing the share of assets that they are putting into local programming, is still struggling. The case for Early Childhood investment has been made over and over again. In order to assess the landscape and prioritize our needs, we must have accurate and timely information. This report is the beginning. Our plans call for the development of an interactive, “real-time” database that will track the indicators and link to the resources. In order to advocate for the resources we need for kids, we must be able to demonstrate that we know what we need. We invite you to read our report and become involved. WAYNE COUNTY PROFILE (continued) Citations ACTION STEPS FOR KIDS 1 2 3 In order to make good management decisions about our resources and to provide the best services, Wayne County must develop an integrated “real time” interactive database that will track indicators of child and family well-being and that will further link children to resources. As Child Trends notes, ”What gets measured, gets done.” Early childhood investment is economic development. Let policymakers know that investing in our human capital is as important as investing in our infrastructure and that the return on investment (ROI) is significantly greater. All major budget or policy changes that involve children and families should be required to do an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An EIS concisely describes how a proposed action may have significant impact on the environment (or, in our case our most precious resource, our children), before implementation. 1. The income data were collected in the 2000 Census and represent income for calendar year 1999. 2. The date reported for each variable in the text is the most recent that is available. 3. The 2011 income data source is the 2011 American Community Survey, released by the Census Bureau on September 20, 2012. 4. It must be pointed out that this is a discussion of Wayne County as an entire entity. It is comprised of 43 separate units of government. While each has suffered from the recession, the impact has varied a great deal. 5. The poverty rate for children less than 5 years is estimated at 44 percent in 2011. 6. Population change is affected by the following: Births - Deaths = Natural Increase /In-Migration - Out-Migration = Net Migration. 7. The Census Bureau does not estimate migration between July 1, 2009 and April 1, 2010 (date of the decennial census). While calculations of this 9-month period are possible, the final result would not add greatly to the current analysis, and thus have not been developed for this document. 8. Out-migration tends to be driven by a younger demographic - the young tend Picture Courtesy of Dale Rich to be more mobile and young families are often looking for better education opportunities for their children. An analysis of population change by age cohort between 2000 and 2010, demonstrate clearly, particularly for Detroit, that movement out was dominated by families with school-age children – particularly those 5-9 years of age. Decreasing births drove the 0-4 year cohort numbers down, while educational alternatives were the leading factor for older cohorts. 9. Detroit has experienced significant financial difficulties, resulting in a consent decree and financial oversight. Programs have been cut and efforts continue to outsource Social Services and create a Health Department nonprofit. Other communities in Wayne County, such as Allen Park, Ecorse, Inkster and River Rouge, have suffered for a variety of financial reasons. 10.The work of the Harlem Children’s Zone is a perfect example that has been lifted up by President Obama and supported for replication in his new Promise Neighborhoods legislation. 11.There were also 323 Family homes and 170 Group homes. Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? 11 INFLUENCE OF THE FAMILY T The poem by Dorothy Law Nolte, ‘Children Learn What They Live’ (see page 29) reminds us that it is the everyday experiences of children that shape children’s development and learning. The poem reads in part: ‘If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn’ ‘If children live with hostility, they learn to fight’ ‘If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient’ ‘If children live with fairness, they learn justice’ Picture Courtesy of Dale Rich Each year, over 200 babies born in Wayne County don’t live to see their first birthday. 12 ‘If children live with security, they learn to have faith’ As noted in the poem, parents have enormous influence over their child’s development both intentionally and unintentionally. This includes the effects that both parents’ health and wellbeing have on their child’s birth outcomes as well as how their interactions with their child shape his or her development. The community in which the family lives also impacts a child’s development. The foundation for the Center for the Study of Social Policy’s (CSSP) work has been this child, family, community well-being framework that it includes a focus on protective and promotive factors. Using an ecological perspective, CSSP defines protective factors as conditions or attributes of individuals, families, communities or the Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? larger society that mitigate or eliminate risk. Promotive factors are viewed as these same conditions or attributes that actively enhance well-being. CSSP’s Strengthening Families initiative focuses on families with young children birth to 5 years old and promotes research based protective factors that include parental resilience, social connections, knowledge of parenting and child development, concrete support in times of need and the social emotional competence of children. To ensure that Wayne County children get the best start in life, we need to understand the indicators and issues that relate to positive developmental outcomes and to identify things we can do to strengthen and support families. Infant Mortality Infant mortality is a sensitive indicator of the general health of a community. It speaks to how well we care for each other, especially our youngest most vulnerable citizens. Healthy mothers and fathers who are prepared for pregnancy and parenthood are the best foundation on which to build Great Start’s vision, “a great start for every child in Wayne County: safe, healthy, and ready to succeed in school and life.” Birth weight and gestation (length of time in the mother’s womb) are the two most important predictors of an infant’s health and survival. Prematurity, low birth weight, and birth defects are the leading causes of infant death in Wayne County. The conditions into which a baby is born may affect the child at risk of death. In general, INFLUENCE OF THE FAMILY (continued) infant death rates in Wayne County are inversely correlated with education and per capita income. The communities with the lowest levels of educational attainment and per capita income have the highest infant mortality rates and those with the best educated population and highest incomes have the lowest mortality rates. Overall, infant mortality rates for Wayne County has remained stable across all ethnic groups but maintains racial disparities. Black infants die at a rate that is 3 times that of whites. “A higher mortality risk can also be expected for children with birth defects well beyond the first year of life. The cumulative mortality rate for resident children born in 2009 was 7.5 per 1000. Children born during 2009 with a birth defect had a cumulative mortality rate of 46.0 per 1000 by the end of the second year of life. The mortality rate differential remains high throughout early childhood. For deaths under the age of 18 years, the experience of children born in 1992 indicates death rates of 74.6 per 1000 for children with birth defects and 14.9 per 1000 for children generally. The significantly higher mortality rate for children with birth defects underscores the seriousness of these conditions.” When our communities are stratified by race, economics and geographic location, the inequities in resources available to families are profound. These inequities are not the result of differences in work ethics, personal responsibility, innate gifts or limitations. They often are the direct result of social behaviors and the distribution of resources that have been manifested in public policies, economics, discrimination, segregation, fear, and injustice. These inequities ultimately play out in birth outcomes, limiting not only opportunities for health, well-being, and success…..but for life itself. Birth Outcomes Human reproduction is a complicated process. Even in the best of circumstances there are no guarantees that a pregnancy will end with a healthy baby or that any individual baby will survive. However, too many mothers in Wayne County have poor pregnancy outcomes. Almost 3,000 babies born in Wayne County in 2011 were born too small, too soon. It is estimated that 3-4 babies out of every 100 have birth defects. Some are minor, some are life threatening. Some are visible, some are not. Exposure to chemicals, radiation, medicines, and alcohol can cause birth defects. In the US, chemicals that While Infant Mortality Has Stabilized in Wayne County, are not intended the Rate Remains About 40 Percent Above State Average for human consumption do not have to be proven safe before they go to market. Leaded gas, DDT, and cigarettes are examples of products that have been found to be harmful to human health and can affect reproduction. Sometimes it’s Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? 13 INFLUENCE OF THE FAMILY (continued) The Share of Wayne County Women With Less than Adequate Prenatal Care Has Remained Constant not the actual product, but a by-product, that causes problems. Dioxins are a class of byproducts that have proven to be harmful. In the last decade, 2,500 to 3,000 low birth weight babies have been born in Wayne County each year. Also 2000 to 3000 infants were born with birth defects. The majority of these babies lived but many health and developmental problems that can be long term and diminish the quality of life for the children, their families and the larger community. Many could have been avoided with pre-conception planning and good prenatal care. Family Planning and Preconception Care new mothers in wayne county have consistently lower levels of high school completion Pregnancies that are not planned are more likely to have adverse outcomes than planned pregnancies. Low cost, comprehensive family planning services that include education and counseling are available at health departments and federally qualified health centers. About 3 months before trying to become pregnant, men and women should have a preconception visit that includes health history, exam, and laboratory studies. Effective preconception risk reduction measures include controlling chronic illness (diabetes, asthma), updating immunizations (Rubella, Hepatitis), treating infections, stopping substance use (tobacco, alcohol, other drugs), managing weight, and improving nutritional status. Pregnancy and Infancy Getting early and consistent prenatal care, 14 Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? INFLUENCE OF THE FAMILY (continued) eating a healthy diet, getting adequate rest, and avoiding exposure to all hazardous substances are necessary to help assure healthy babies. Protecting the mother from injury due to domestic violence and auto accidents, as well as limiting exposure to second hand smoke decrease the risk of low birth weight and preterm births. Inadequate prenatal care is a critical issue in Wayne County and in Detroit, in particular. The 3 year average of births (2009-2011) to women who received adequate prenatal care was 61% for the county but only 49% for Detroit. The barriers or risks that contribute to this issue are lack of health insurance, transportation, child care, poverty, unplanned pregnancy, and poor provider treatment. Protective factors that would change this dynamic include insurance, planned pregnancies, social support, responsive treatment and education. 3,874 babies were exposed to cigarette smoke while they were in utero. Picture Courtesy of Dale Rich The Percent of Wayne County Births Paid For By Medicaid Has Decreased to Match State Average After birth, infants need stable, loving, responsive care giving to promote their health and well-being. Optimal nutrition (breast feeding), a safe physical environment, and comprehensive health care including immunizations are the most effective risk reduction interventions after birth. ECONOMIC SECURITY At the state and national levels, economic insecurity and income gaps grew substantially for both middle and low income families over the last decade. Decreased family income has led to less economic security for children and resulted in high numbers of children experiencing poverty, food insecurity and Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? 15 INFLUENCE OF THE FAMILY (continued) ACTION STEPS FOR KIDS 1 16 Universal access to health care must be available to all families and is to critical changing the birth outcomes of Wayne County’s children. This is especially true in the areas of family planning, preconception care, prenatal care and postpartum. 2 Community outreach and education on the importance of planning and prenatal care is critical. 3 Respectful practices that accommodate the needs of women from a variety of circumstances are also critical. 4 Establishing “One stop shops” where pregnancy tests, WIC, insurance applications, and prenatal care are available and would eliminate a number of the barriers families face. More than 8,000 women who gave birth in Wayne County in 2010 had less than adequate prenatal care. Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? Picture Courtesy of Dale Rich homelessness. Middle class families, especially in Wayne county, lost part of their economic floor due to declines in secure employment, the county’s heavily weighted manufacturing base and our slow economic recovery. Many children of these middle class families became the “new poor” and are now relying on public programs for services their families can no longer afford. Additionally, deep cuts in county, state and federal budgets, foreclosures and other factors have eroded safety net services for working poor families. The cuts sustained have put some families into extreme poverty ($11,775 for a family of 4 based on the federal poverty guidelines). Although most families in Wayne county are employed and many formerly worked for the “Big 3” (Chrysler, Ford and General Motors) and their suppliers, many are now employed in lower wages service jobs and receive few benefits. Housing insecurity, exacerbated by utility shutoffs, homes under water, and food insecurity often lead to homelessness. According to the Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness, in 2011, Michigan had an estimated 1,825 homeless families on a single night, with providers serving four times their bed capacity over the course of the year. In 2008, Detroit had the third highest number of both homeless individuals (11,913) and families (6,149) in the country. . Detroit and the county continue to feel the effects of the economic recession. In 2005, 17% of the housing units in Detroit were vacant. By 2010, vacancies had risen to 22%. As housing costs soared, INFLUENCE OF THE FAMILY (continued) the supply of affordable housing shrunk thus eroding the purchasing power of families even more and forcing them to make choices about housing and in many cases….food . Currently, families with Picture Courtesy of DRMM and Linda Solomon Photography children comprise approximately one third (36.4%) of the homeless population in Detroit and the choices and supports available to them are very limited. The primary needs of the family must be addressed to create pathways out of poverty for children. This includes developing and supporting programs that increase family stability, foster quality jobs, careers and entrepreneurship, and promote achievement and financial independence. We should also support strategies that increase income, assets, and aspirations of vulnerable children and their families and reduce disparities based on class, gender and race…...and gives them HOPE…. and an opportunity to be productive citizens of our community. Unemployment benefits were reduced from 26 weeks to 20 weeks. ACTION STEPS FOR KIDS and their families 1 Eliminate the time limits on cash assistance to families with minor children 2 Eliminate asset tests for food assistance 3 Reinstate the full Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) 4 Increase the minimum wage 5 Advocate for all employees to have at least 5 days of leave 6 Provide subsidized child care and health insurance 7 Increase the availability of low income and/or supportive housing 8 Help families establish Individualize Development Accounts (IDA) and/or Kids Savings Accounts 9 Create microfinance and mortgage assistance programs Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? 17 THE CHILD 1 in 2 children in Detroit live in poverty, the highest rate in the country, among large cities. W What happens during a child’s early developmental years creates the foundation for the rest of his or her life. These years are the most important period because children experience tremendous physical, emotional and intellectual growth that prepares them for future success. During early childhood (prenatal through eight years of age) children undergo rapid growth that is highly influenced by their caregivers and their environment. Research has shown that by providing stable, nurturing, safe and healthy environments during this period and meeting their education, health and basic needs; children are able to develop to their maximum potential…and ready to succeed in school and life. . As noted throughout this year’s report, any of the challenges faced by adults, such as mental health issues, obesity, heart disease, criminality and poor literacy can also be traced back to early childhood. The indicators in this section give a snapshot of the education, health and well-being status of Wayne County’s children and what we can do better. CHILD HEALTH & WELLNESS Picture Courtesy of DRMM and Linda Solomon Photography 18 Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? The health of Wayne County’s children is critical not only to the optimum development of the child but also that of the community. Healthy children need healthy environments, health insurance, high quality preventive services, and access to a range of medical treatment. However, in Wayne County, health care access for children is still an unequal situation as is evidenced by the outcomes from some of our indicators; and our actions (or inactions) which sometimes compromise the health and wellbeing not only of our children, but of the entire population. For example, in spite of evidence that a variety of common chemicals and products contribute to development, learning, and behavioral disabilities, there remains opposition to vigorous enforcement of laws intended to protect the environment and the public. In Wayne County, 95.2% of its children have health insurance, at a rate only slightly less than that of the state at 95.5%. Medicaid is by far the largest insurer at 53.4% as compared to 39.8% for the state; and 69.3% of toddlers were fully immunized as compared to 74.1% state wide. However, access is a much more complicated issue and involves more than having insurance. For Wayne County, it has become complicated by decreases in employer health coverage, the geographic distribution of resources in the county, transportation (or lack thereof), cost, and access to the range of comprehensive preventive and treatment services needed, including mental health and all of the pediatric specialities needed. Oral health is often not addressed and some pediatric THE CHILD (continued) specialities are very limited in the urban core areas. Further, mental health services and the social emotional development of children are often overlooked or cut. Few seem to realize that social emotional development is the foundation for learning and success in school and the lifelong impact trauma in childhood has. There are also cultural barriers that have to be overcome especially for minority and immigrant families. Nearly 62,000 Wayne County children entitled to child support received none. ACTION STEPS FOR KIDS 1 Expansion of Medicaid in Michigan under the Affordable Care Act. 2 Develop and implement a targeted campaign in Wayne County for the reduction of infant mortality in Black communities. Black babies die at a rate 3 times that of Whites. 3 Create education and smoking cessation options and supports for families, especially regarding the impact of secondhand smoke. 4 Invest in Michigan/ Wayne County’s young children. Research has long demonstrated that early childhood investment is economic development. Our challenge is to be vigilant and ensure these investments are put in place and remain. CHILDHOOD OBESITY Childhood obesity is another major problem for the country and also Wayne County. According to the CDC, there is a growing obesity epidemic in this country and 1 of every 3 children are overweight. Michigan’s picture mirrors this statistic as well as that of the Wayne County Head Start Head Start programs which found that nearly 30% of the young children they serve fit this category. This exemplary program recognized that the educational success of the young children they serve is also connected to their health and well-being. Or, in other words, the whole child. Significantly overweight children are greatly at risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. However, the solutions will require us to approach this issue comprehensively and by working together. Picture Courtesy of DALE RICH Over 167,000 children in Wayne County live in families with incomes below the Federal Poverty Level. Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? 19 THE CHILD (continued) Percent of children with identified needs at intake Children’s mental health Throughout this report, we have tried to reinforce the fact that mental health and well-being is established during early childhood and these experiences shape the architecture of the developing brain. For young children, social and emotional health is the foundation of development. It allows them to experience, regulate, and express emotions; develop secure relationships with loved ones; explore their environment, and learn. 1 in 3 Detroit families live in extreme poverty with incomes less than 50% of the federal poverty level. 20 Among children receiving public mental health services through Detroit-Wayne County Community Mental Health, both the physical developmental and social and emotional needs increase significantly with age. The need for mental health and substance abuse services among children and youth is widespread, both nationally and in Wayne County. Almost one in five young people have one or more mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, and one in 10 youth has mental health problems that are severe enough to impair how they function at home, school, or in the community. Unfortunately, estimates suggest only 1/5 of these children receive appropriate treatment. The onset of mental illness often occurs during adolescence, but risk factors and symptoms can be identified Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? Mental health problems can occur across childhood Any Diagnosis Serious Emotional Disorder Anxiety Disorder Disruptive Behavior Disorder ADHD Depression 0 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% Percent of Children SOURCE: EGGER & ANGOLD (2006) Age 2-5 Age 8-17 in early childhood. Although we know a lot about how to address this issue and have some exemplary programs in the county, access is limited and we do not have enough resources to meet the need. Early Intervention is key to preventing serious mental illness. Through widespread use of screening tools, such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, parents, educators and healthcare workers can promote the healthy development of a child as well as identify concerns early so families can receive assistance before serious problems develop. For more information about a FREE developmental screen in English and Spanish go to the Great Start website, www. greatstartwayne.org and click on the Help Me Grow banner or www.helpmegrow-mi.org. THE CHILD (continued) ACTION STEPS FOR KIDS 1 Promote and educate parents about the benefits of positive social-emotional development in their children including providing a nurturing secure environment, modeling appropriate emotional behavior and its impact on learning. 2 Reduce the stigma associated with mental illnesses and/or the programs that assist parents getting the help they need. 3 Promote integrated care. Social and emotional health needs to be incorporated into all pediatrician visits. 4 Increase awareness and referrals in schools. Since nearly all children are in regular contact with school systems from early childhood through adolescence, schools are the most practical and efficient place to identify children’s mental health needs and refer to appropriate services. 5 Improve data collection, sharing, and coordination. Statistics regarding the prevalence of mental illness among children in Wayne County is scarce. Data sharing among mental health providers, the child welfare system, private insurers, and schools would provide a rich source of information to help improve the outcomes for our children. Picture Courtesy of DRMM and Linda Solomon Photography 25,759 Wayne County children were dropped from the state cash assistance program between September 2011 and February 2012. Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? 21 THE CHILD (continued) A VISION OF HOPE: W Wayne County Health and Family Services Head Start (WCHFSHS) is mandated to develop specific school readiness goals that focus on five essential domains of learning identified by the Federal Office of Head Start. Head Start School Readiness Wayne County Health and Family Services Time 1-3 Enrolled Children (3,735) WCHFSHS uses HighScope’s Child Observation Record (COR) to collect and analyze data that assesses children’s progress three times a year (Fall: Time 1, Winter: Time 2, Spring: Time 3). This assessment tool aligns with Head Start’s Early Learning Framework and Michigan’s Early Learning Expectations. The projected goal of 20% gains was established for the five learning domains during the 2011-2012 program year; however children’s actual gains exceeded this goal resulting in gains between 64% and 67% in all 5 categories. This 22 Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? report reflects the developmental gains for 3,735 children who participated in the COR assessment from Time 1 through Time 3. We also analyze our data by gender, Dual Language Learners (DLL) and Diagnosed Disabilities (IEP). THE CHILD (continued) Early Care and Education We need a skilled force for the high tech jobs of the future. Yet in 2011: • Less than half of the 3rd graders in Wayne County met the state reading standards • There were 3,712 children 5 years of age or less in special education. • 20% of the diagnosed autism cases in Michigan are in Wayne County The research is very clear, the early years do matter. Early care and education benefits the child, family and community. Participation in high-quality early learning programs such as Head Start, public and private pre-K, and childcare provide all children with a foundation for school success. This is especially true for disadvantaged children and helps close the developmental lag these children often have when they start school. It also generates a significant return on investment to the community as a result of a reduced spending on services, such as remedial education, special education, and increased productivity and earnings for these children (and their parents) as adults. However, in Wayne County, access to these quality learning opportunities still continue to be compromised by cost, geographic location, availability/slots available, transportation, funding and budget cuts. Even though a number of significant improvement efforts are underway in the county, such as the child care licensing and quality early rating system and a coordinated recruitment and referral process for early childhood programs, an equal number of other issues compromise these efforts. Additionally, access is impacted by issues such as the number of child care centers and full day Head Start slots decreasing in the county, Detroit relinquishing its Head Start program, the state cutting some families from childcare subsidy, and fewer parents able to afford quality child care. Most are served in the care of relatives or aides. Yet, in spite of the setbacks, we continue to have hope because of the exceptional work of programs like Wayne County’s Head Start and others that are highlighted throughout this report. Our challenge is make sure all young children and their families have access to them. Autism Autism spectrum disorder and autism are general terms for a group of complex disorders that are associated with difficulties in social interaction, communication, and behavior. As the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the United States, 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys) are now affected by an autism spectrum disorder. Picture Courtesy of DALE RICH Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? 23 THE CHILD (continued) 2,312 of the confirmed child abuse victims in 2011 were children less than 5 years of age. “ Early care and education benefits the child, family and community.” 24 ACTION STEPS FOR KIDS Slightly more than 3000 children diagnosed with these disorders reside and receive services in Wayne County, representing 20% of all children diagnosed in Michigan. 1 Ensure that all children have access to affordable, high quality early care and early education opportunities (Pre-K, Head Start/Early Head Start, and child care assistance). 2 Increase funding for early education and care programs. 3 Provide transportation for Great Start Readiness Programs Autism spectrum disorders present themselves in the first years of life, with the most obvious signs emerging between 2 and 3 years of age. With early identification and intervention, families are more likely to see experience outcomes. In fact, children who receive intensive early intervention are 50% more likely to attend general education in their home schools by the time they start kindergarten. 4 Increase and improve the child care subsidy program. Child abuse and neglect 5 Help increase scholarship stipends to students and employed residents of the county through the Great Start Fund. Go to www.greatstartwayne. org to find out eligibility requirements and how to donate to this fund. 6 Increase the number of eligible children receiving child care assistance, including underserved populations (e.g. children with disabilities and non-English speaking populations.) 7 All children in Wayne County 5 years and under should receive an ASQ Developmental Screening. Parents will also have a better understanding of their child’s development. A FREE developmental screen is available through Help Me Grow on the Great Start website at www. greatstartwayne.org. Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? Child abuse and neglect is a significant indicator of child well-being. It impacts not only the child and family but the community as well. Healthy families mean healthy children…and healthy children result in strong, thriving communities. The costs otherwise, both in human and monetary terms, are staggering. A 2012 study conducted by Prevent Child Abuse of America estimated the financial impact to society to be over $80 Billion dollars a year for costs associated with investigations, foster care, and special education, and medical and mental health problems, juvenile and adult crime. In human terms, it is incalculable. A 20 year Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, with middle class families, also found abuse, neglect and other traumatic experiences during childhood had lasting effects on the child’s behavior, health and well-being later in life. THE CHILD (continued) Although a single abused child is one child too many, the number of investigated and confirmed cases of abuse in Wayne County has continued to decline since 2005. In 2011, 32,973 families were investigated for child abuse and neglect. Of that number, 4761 were confirmed and Wayne now ranks 11 out of the 83 counties. Over 50% (or 2,694) of these children were placed in foster care. The early years of a child’s life is the most important period of their overall development. Kids-TALK Child Advocacy Center Kids-TALK Child Advocacy Center (CAC) utilizes a collaborative, However, child safety in general in Wayne multidisciplinary County continues to be a problem. In 2010, approach to the there were 35 fatal accidents to children birth investigation, to age 4. Unintentional suffocation resulted treatment, and in another 18 deaths; and 1396 children were prevention of child abuse and neglect in Wayne hospitalized for injury and poisoning. These County. Services are provided free of charge to figures also do not address issues such as gun children through 17 years of age and their nonviolence and other environmental issues for offending family members and include forensic which many children in Wayne County are at interviewing, advocacy and therapy as well as risk. onsite forensic medical examinations. Built upon a strong partnership between Abuse and Neglect: The Number of Investigated The Guidance Center, Office of the Wayne Cases Increased, While Substantiated Decreased County Prosecuting Attorney, Children’s Between 2010 and 2012 Hospital of Michigan, Wayne County Assocation of Chiefs of Police, Michigan Department of Human Services, Wayne County Children’s Services Administration, Detroit-Wayne County Community Mental Health Agency and Wayne State University, Kids-TALK CAC strives to be a haven where abused and traumatized children receive the protection, support and treatment they need to heal. ACTION STEPS FOR KIDS 1 Eliminate child poverty! It is a major predictor of child abuse and neglect. One study found that a child living in a family with an annual income less than $15,000 is 22 times more likely to be abused. 2 Increase the number of proven prevention, support and treatment programs such as public and mental health services and home visiting available to children and families. 3 Reduce case loads and increase training to child protective and other front line staff. 4 Child abuse prevention is also a community responsibility! Individually and collectively reach out to families we know need help at the neighborhood level. Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? 25 THE COMMUNITY Wayne County is #1 in Michigan for pediatric asthma hospitalization rates … and most are preventable. Picture Courtesy of Dale Rich 26 Environmental Health As noted earlier, the environment in which a child lives (physical, chemical, biological, and sociocultural) also has a significant impact on their growth and development. These elevated environmental exposures, can have negative consequences, especially for vulnerable young children and their families. This is especially true in communities dealing with multiple stressors such as high poverty, poor housing, housing insecurity/homelessness, exposure to toxins, food insecurity, unemployment, inadequate access to health care and physical and psycho-social issues such as violence, child abuse and air quality. Young children and their families are challenged by Wayne County’s “imperfect environments”. Although Wayne County’s air quality has improved over the last few years, as evidenced by a decrease in the number of “unhealthy” days. The improvement is related, in part, to the long term decrease in heavy industry that has occurred throughout the county. In general, there are more “unhealthy days” in the Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? summer and fewer in the winter. In 2005, there were a total of 54 unhealthy days for ‘sensitive groups’ ( e.g. children and those with asthma or other respiratory diseases) as well as 4 “unhealthy days” for the general population. In 2011, there were only 15 “unhealthy days”. In contrast, Wayne County’s release of toxic chemicals to the environment (air, surface water, underground injection and land) is exceeded only by Monroe County. Our children deserve better. Trauma Traumatic events in early childhood can have a major impact on development and future success. Young children interpret traumatic events differently than older children or adults and are often unable to verbally communicate their emotions. When unaddressed, trauma can have long term biological and psychological effects. Childhood trauma has been associated with the development of mental health problems as well as increasing risk for diabetes, obesity, lung disease, malnutrition, and other health problems later in life. In childhood, in addition to clinically diagnosable pediatric post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma is associated with impairment in attachment, biology, affect regulation, dissociation, behavioral regulation, cognition, and self-concept. These areas of impairment vary depending on the type of trauma, the age of which the trauma occurred, and the child’s resiliency and coping skills; however, due to their rapidly developing brains, young children are especially vulnerable. THE COMMUNITY (continued) The number of children that experience trauma in Wayne County is unknown, yet believed to be common. As mentioned earlier in this report, over 4,700 child abuse/neglect cases were substantiated in 2011. Among a sample of 2,694 Wayne County children receiving treatment at a mental health service provider, 65.5% of children were identified as having been exposed to at least one potentially traumatic event. Among these children, 71.8% had experienced multiple events, with emotional, physical, and sexual abuse being noted most frequently. Although exposure to traumatic events does not always mean the child will experience trauma, data from this particular sample indicated children with noted trauma exposure were significantly more impaired when they entered mental health services. Asthma Asthma is the number one chronic disease in children in the United States and Wayne County. Although one of the more manageable diseases, it continues to spiral out of control and is responsible for the most missed days in school. In 2010, Detroit was ranked the 18th worst city nationwide for asthmatics to live in; and Wayne County is #1 in Michigan for pediatric asthma hospitalization rates, almost twice the state average. The rate of hospitalization for African American children is 4 times higher than white children in Michigan; and 10 to 15 percent of all of the kids served in Wayne County have acute care needs. A George Washington University report, The Elements for Improving Childhood Asthma Outcomes, found that asthma adds about 50 cents to every health care dollar spent on children with asthma as compared to those without asthma. Those most at risk are low income, medically underserved, and African American and Hispanic children. They have the least access to preventive care and the most visits to the emergency room. Additionally, environmental triggers should be managed whenever possible at both home and in the community. For example, asthma education, modifying personal behaviors or interventions in community-based locations used by children -- playgrounds, schools and school-yards, and public housing units -- and the implementation of policies such as those designed to reduce idling by buses around schools, have increasingly been shown to play a role in reducing asthma triggers. Lead poisoning Exposure to lead paint is one of the most common and preventable poisonings of childhood. It acts on the nervous system and can have a wide range of effects on a child’s development and behavior, including brain damage. . Even when exposed to small Picture Courtesy of DRMM and Linda Solomon Photography “ Detroit was ranked the 18th worst city nationwide for asthmatics to live in.” Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? 27 THE COMMUNITY (continued) amounts of lead levels, children may appear inattentive, hyperactive and irritable. Children with greater lead levels may also have problems with learning and reading, delayed growth and hearing loss. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says that 6% of all American children ages 1-2 years and 11% of black (non-Hispanic) children ages 1-5 years have blood lead levels in the toxic range. Lead poisoning in Michigan children ages 1-2 is 5.1% and 8.3% in Wayne County. The ban on leaded gas and paint in the 1970’s and 1980’s has helped tremendously but lead remains a serious problem. Children in Wayne County are still very much at risk because of the 290,000 housing units built before 1950 and an additional 40,000 housing units that are high risk of lead. Wayne County also has Michigan’s highest ambient (outside) air concentration Picture Courtesy of DRMM and Linda Solomon Photography and greatest reported release of lead compounds in the air. Common sources include lead paint and lead contained in water and soil. 28 Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? ACTION STEPS FOR KIDS 1 Create best practice asthma education and intensive home-based case coordination, resources and support services like those offered by Wayne County’s Children’s Healthcare Access Program (WCHAP). 2 Develop adaptive aids to assist with barriers such as literacy, cultural or language differences. 3 Enforce legislation designed to keep air, land and water clean 4 Educate the community on the impact of lead and other toxins and ways to prevent it. 5 Plant grass over bare soil. 6 Locate industrial facilities or highways away from residential areas and schools and create barriers 7 Join the “No Kid Hungry Campaign” at www. nokidhungry.org. Food insecurity is a real problem for many Wayne County children. If children live with criticism, They learn to condemn. If children live with hostility, They learn to fight. If children live with ridicule, They learn to be shy. If children live with shame, They learn to feel guilty. If children live with encouragement, They learn confidence. If children live with tolerance, They learn to be patient. If children live with praise, They learn to appreciate. Children Learn What They Live a poem by Dorothy Law Nolte If children live with acceptance, They learn to love. If children live with approval, They learn to like themselves. If children live with honesty, They learn truthfulness. If children live with security, They learn to have faith in themselves and others. If children live with friendliness, Copyright © 1972/1975 by Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D. This is the author-approved short version. They learn the world is a nice place in which to live. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS Data Collection & Evaluation Committee Carlynn Nichols, Co-Chair Detroit/Wayne County Community Mental Health Carole Quarterman, Co-Chair Advocate Craig Louis Holt, Great Start Parent Great Start Staff Toni Hartke, Director Sonya Adams Early Care Angie Bermudez Early On: Wayne County Infant & Toddler Interagency Coordinating Council Gaylotta Murray Ramana Roberson Linda Stanko Deborah Strong Kaela Wright Darlene Miller, Wayne County Head Start Nancy Murray, Wayne County Department of Human Services Amy Neumeyer, The Guidance Center A heartfelt thank you is also extended to the Data Committee, Great Start Collaborative-Wayne, Data Driven Detroit, Kids Count, and Michigan League for Public Policy, Renee Pinter of Synergie Interactive, and other contributors who made this report possible. Gwendolyn Norman, Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion Deborah Strong, Great Start Collaborative-Wayne Theresa Webster, Southeastern Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) Carmita Williams, Wayne CHAP 30 Wayne RESA University Preparatory Academy Redford Union Schools Detroit Public Schools Matrix Center Head Start Philanthropic/ Charitable Organizations Colina Foundation United Way for Southeastern Michigan Skillman Foundation Business National Children’s Health Study Carolynn Rowland 2012-2013 Partners Funding for Great Start CollaborativeWayne is provided by the Office of Great Start, the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC), Colina Foundation, Fisher Foundation, Kresge Foundation, PNC, The Skillman Foundation and UWSEM. The 2013 How are the Children? report is underwritten by the Kresge Foundation. Great Start is grateful for their continued support of Wayne County’s young children and their families. Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? Comcast Local Publically Funded Health & Human Services Wayne County Department of Human Services Wayne County Health Department Maternal Infant Healthy Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion Detroit/Wayne County Community Mental Health ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS GSCW Parent Representatives GSCW Core Parents Local Stakeholders Black Family Development, Inc. Child Care Coordinating Council of Detroit/ Wayne County, Inc Leaps & Bounds Family Services YWCA of Western Wayne County Focus Hope Downriver Community Conference Development Centers, Inc. Lutheran Child Family Service of MI Wayne Children’s Healthcare Access Program Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency Michigan Alliance for Families National Kidney Foundation of MI The Guidance Center The Chidren’s Center Community Advocates K-16 Education Child & Family Services Schoolcraft College Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute & College of Ed Early Childhood Center Wayne State University Early Childhood Wayne County Community College District Health Care Provider (continued) Children’s Outreach Island Kiddie Campus Starfish Family Services Spaulding for Children Children’s Hospital of Michigan Regional Resource Center/UWSEM Local Policy makers & elected officials Service to Minority Populations Rashida Talib State Representative – District 12 Joan Gebhardt Wayne County Commissioner – District 12 Douglas Geiss State Representative – District 22 Early Education & Childcare Providers Early On Wayne County Infant & Toddler Interagency Coordinating Council Southwest Counseling Solutions ACCESS Youth and Education American Indian Health and Family Services Arab American and Chaldean Council Faith Central Detroit Christian CDC Justice Wayne County Prosecutors Office Wayne RESA University Preparatory Academy Redford Union Schools Detroit Public Schools Matrix Center Head Start Wayne County Head Start Vistas Nuevas Head Start Child Care Coordinating Council of Detroit/Wayne County Butler Home Based Care Great Start Collaborative–Wayne n How are the Children? 31 Great Start Collaborative – Wayne 13305 Reeck Road, Suite 120 Southgate, MI 48195 www.greatstartwayne.org
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