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lansingchamber.org FOCUS ON TALENT

Ingham County’s Most Recent Kids Count in

Michigan Data Released

ids Count in Michigan is part of a broad national “Kids Count provides the best available data for us to
effort to measure the well-being of children at look at trends in education, economic security, health
Kthe state and local levels. Funded by the Annie and community well-being,” notes Michelle Nicholson,
E. Casey Foundation, this state data provided by the Executive Director of Early Childhood Services at Ingham
Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP), provides Intermediate School District (Ingham ISD). “Of particular
policy analysis based on evidence and shines a concern is the worsening trends in health and safety for
spotlight on pressing issues to improve programs and children. While the most recent report shows a slight
policies for children and families. improvement in confirmed victims of child abuse and
neglect, and out-of-home placements, this is still an area of
Key areas the great concern. We need to consider access to opportunity
2021 data is focused for the adults in the children’s lives, as well as the children
KIDS COUNT IN MICHIGAN on includes when trying to improve well-being,” Nicholson also noted.
Data Book Population,
Economic Security, According to the MLPP, “a child’s well-being should
A Education, Health not be determined by their race, place, or income, but
BETTER and Safety, and data shows that this is the reality. That is why our racial
FUTURE Family and equity lens considers how policy decisions help or hinder
IS POSSIBLE Community. The outcomes. We also consider access to opportunity for the
latest report adults in kids’ lives, as well as the children, when working
compares data to improve well-being.”
from 2010 to 2020
unless otherwise Ingham ISD provides a variety of programs that can assist
noted. Areas in families in the areas of early childhood such as Early On,
which Ingham Great Parents Great Start, Great Start Collaborative, Great
County has seen Start Readiness and Early Childhood Special Education
improvement are services. Information and contacts for these programs are
children ages 0-17 available on the Ingham ISD website.
living in poverty, three-and four-year-olds attending
preschool and students graduating on time. Areas in Ingham Intermediate School District offers program
which the county fell since 2010 included less than and services to staff and students in the districts of
adequate prenatal care, the number of children in Dansville, East Lansing, Haslett, Holt, Lansing, Leslie,
families being investigated for child abuse/neglect, and Mason, Okemos, Stockbridge, Waverly, Webberville, and
the deaths of young adults ages 18-24. Williamston. For more information, visit inghamisd.org. l

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