Community Data Report.

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@verizon.net
989.370.2019

4. Data
 Actual Percentages by County
25
20
15
10 Antrim
5 Charlevoix
Emmet
0
0-5 in Single Mothers
Poverty Parent without a
2000 Families HS Diploma
2000 2004

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@verizon.net
989.370.2019

6. Data
50
45
40
35
30
25
20 Antrim
15 Charlevoix
10
5 Emmet
0
%Births to Children 0-18
smokers insured by
Medicaid or
MiChild 2005

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@verizon.net
989.370.2019

8. Data
12
10
8
Antrim
6
Charlevoix
4 Emmet
2
0
Rate per 1,000 in Foster Care

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@verizon.net
989.370.2019

10. Data
16 60
14
58
12
10
56
Antrim
8 Charlevoix 54 Antrim
Emmet Charlevoix
6 52
Michigan Emmet
4 50
2
48
0
2004 2005 46
Percentage of Births to Teens (3-year average)
Percentage of newborns on WIC

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@verizon.net
989.370.2019

12. Data
72 9
70 8
68 7
66 6
64 Antrim Antrim
5
62 Charlevoix Charlevoix
Emmet 4 Emmet
60
Michgan 3 Michigan
58
2
56
Percentage of children under 6 1
with all parents in labor force 0
2000 2003 2004
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@verizon.net
989.370.2019

14. Data
25 50
45
20 40
35
15 30 Antrim
Antrim
Charlevoix 25 Charlevoix
10 20 Emmet
Emmet
15 Michigan
5 10
5
0
2003 2004 2005 0
2002 2003 2004
Percent of children 0-5 receiving food assistance Percent of births paid for by Medicaid

15. Data
35 5
30 4.5
4
25
3.5
20 Antrim 3
Antrim
15 Charlevoix 2.5 Charlevoix
Emmet 2
Emmet
10 1.5
5 1
0.5
0 0
2004 2005 2006 2004 2005 2006
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 Sommer Poquette, Great Start Director
greatstartforkids@gmail.com 231.547.9812. ext 232