1. Early Childhood Community Conversation St. Joseph County, MI September 30, 2011

3. Highlights Preschool Scholarships History of Collaboration Born Learning Trail in Sturgis Creative Curriculum for Great Start Readiness Programs, Head Start, and local preschools; Totaling 29 care providers Project Connect 24 percent of children age 4 in Great Start Readiness Program, above the state average of 17 percent

4. Challenges Number 2 in the state for high infant mortality Low educational attainment High teen pregnancy rate Above the state rate for children in investigated families for child abuse/neglect and for confirmed victims High unemployment rate 98 meth labs discovered in 2010

5. St. Joseph County, MI Source: Census Bureau 2010

6. Race Demographics St. Joseph County, MI Source: Census Bureau 2010

7. Infant Mortality Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

8. Percent of Children in Poverty Ages 0-17 Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

9. Children Ages 0-17 in Investigated Families (Rate per 1,000) Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

10. Confirmed Victims of Abuse and/or Neglect, Ages 0-17 Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

11. Percent of Births to Teens Under Age 20 Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

12. Percent of Births to Mothers with Less Than 12 Years of Education Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

13. Percent of Births with Less Than Adequate Prenatal Care Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

14. Percent of Births to Mothers Who Smoked During Pregnancy Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

15. Percent of Low Birth Weight Babies Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

16. Percent of Preterm Births Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

17. Percent of Medicaid Births Three Year Average Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

18. Percent of Children Ages 0-18 With Health Insurance Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

19. Percent of Children Ages 0-5 in Special Education Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

20. Percent of Children Age 4 in GSRP Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

21. Percent of Students Receiving Free and Reduced Priced Lunch Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

22. Percent of Children Ages 0+-4 Receiving WIC Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

23. High School Dropout Rate (Percent) Source: Kids Count Data Center 2011

24. St. Joseph County, MI Criminal Sexual Conduct Crimes Source: St. Joseph County Sherriff’s Office Annual Report 2010

25. St. Joseph County, MI Assault Crimes Source: St. Joseph County Sherriff’s Office Annual Report 2010

26. St. Joseph County, MI Domestic Assault Crimes Source: St. Joseph County Sherriff’s Office Annual Report 2010

27. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office Controlled Substances Complaints

28. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office Meth Labs Per Month 2010 Total Number of Meth Labs: 98