State of the Detroit Child

The well-being of Detroit’s children reflects the whole city’s health. During the past decade, the average Detroiter suffered large income declines, losing nearly one-third of household income, due to high levels of home foreclosures, middle-class flight, and job loss. Opportunities to rebuild family wealth have been few and far between: official unemployment rates have been in the double digits for years, and are currently as high as 50 percent as a result of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Now, many residents who were able to make a good living in manufacturing with a high school diploma or less are faced with an economy which requires advanced training up to post-secondary education. Families navigating the financial insecurity of job loss, unemployment, foreclosure, or the simple stress of uncertain times, cannot hide the enormity of these events from their children. 

Detroit’s children struggled in 2010. 

As measured by their status on indicators of health, development, academic achievement, and family and community resources, Detroit’s children are faring far worse than the average Michigan child. A comparison of child well-being in Detroit to national averages reveals nothing less than a state of crisis for Detroit’s children. 

The most chilling reality of this report is that not one elected official will address these findings because kids cannot vote.

State of the Detroit Child 2010Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©