NCJ Number
152835
Date Published
1988
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This booklet describes how citizens can assess how the children of their city are being treated and how they are faring economically and socially. Concerned adults care about the children living in their cities because they are responsible, respond to public needs, and know that investing in today's children will pay off in the future.
Abstract
Some indicators of quality of life for children in a city include demographic characteristics of the juvenile population, the proportion of children who live in poverty, the reported incidence of child abuse, the proportion of children who participate in Head Start programs, the number of children who need child care and the availability of child care, the proportion of children who finish high school, the infant mortality rate, the adolescent pregnancy rate, the availability of social services for children and their families, and employment opportunities for youth. Citizens should learn what their city government does for children, how local organizations and schools respond to the needs of children, and whether these efforts are coordinated. A strategy to help children and families must consider needs, goals, resources, and people; some key issues include child care, education, teen parenthood, drug and alcohol use, employment, poverty, and homelessness.