Highlights of 2007 Kids Count Report

The 2007 Kids Count report identifies areas where Michigan communities need to improve, including low birth-weights for infants, childhood obesity and child abuse and neglect. These three areas have either worsened over time or not met the improvement goals set in the Healthy People 2010 Targets for Children and Youth. In addition, there has been a decreasing rate of youth who regularly participate in vigorous physical activity.

An Upper Peninsula Composite Data picture was prepared by the Michigan League for Human Services using 2007 county Kids Count data. Two indicators, low birth-weight infants and confirmed victims of abuse and neglect are compared below. Both of these indicators worsened between 2000 and 2005.

Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of overweight teens in Michigan worsened by 13% in relationship to the national Healthy People 2010 standards. Additionally, the rate of youth engaged in vigorous physical activity on a regular basis decreased 4% leaving Michigan in need of improving by 37% in the next five years to meet the 2010 national goal.

The 2007 Kids Count in Michigan report also calls out successes, such as decreasing instances of binge drinking and smoking among youth, fewer teen births and deaths in the state.

Read the Executive Summary of the Kids Count in Michigan Data Book 2007 to learn more.

The U.P. - A Village of 100 Children

Viewing the Upper Peninsula as one small village helps put into perspective the health of the region’s children. Think about these comparisons…

See the full 100 Children profile to explore the Kids Count data in a new way.

Copyright©2003 by the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development except where noted
Contact Judy Watson-Olson or Karen Thompson at (906)228-8919 with questions/comments
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This page was last updated on Thursday, November 20th, 2008