How Are Our Children Being Raised in Northville, Michigan

In order to understand the development of children in the area, I have collected several different types of data for the area of Northville, Michigan to be able to draw some general conclusions about the influence different types of social groups may have. This data will help me recommend types of social services that the community may wish to make available.

The majority of children living in a two family home are quite high for the area. We can draw several conclusions from this information. First the cost of housing is very high compared to other parts of the Detroit Metro Area, when families do split, the families are moving out of the area and/or people who live in Northville, Michigan are more likely to not get divorced. Having a two family home income allows for families to have more disposable income to spend on their children even pay for college. The amount of kids whom attend college after high school graduation was also quite high. These students are at an advantage. With 79% of the population having a college education, these people are a great influence and these children will more than likely attend college themselves. That is what their families do. A social service that could be offered to families is saving for college programs and educating families on how to finance for this type of future for their children.

Because of the area being a Detroit Metro Area, many types of jobs in an Auto plant are considered to be manufacturing for working for a manufacturing company. There is a wide range of jobs offered at the "Big Three" and I believe that the data provided by the American Fact Finder, U.S. Census data might be skewed here. Those that live in the Detroit Metro Area, Either work for the "Big Three", work for a company that is contracted by the "Big Three" and/or have 75% of their relatives that work for the "Big Three" (75% stat, source unknown, Remember a speaker at school lecturing about this information). The schools in the area all have automotive, robotics training right in the High School that kids can take as electives. Another Service that we could offer is Job Placement and how to interview for jobs, to prepare parents and teenagers the opportunity to change careers or better themselves.

Overall Northville is a quiet community, but a service that would be useful is community projects that can be put on in the small downtown area. What is known as the Historical District. They currently have one summer event, the Victorian Festival. I believe that these types of festivals encourage community bonding and we need more of them.

Appendix A

Data Collected (See Reference Page for sources)

• Number and percent of school-age children in the population
  • 1,538 People which is 25.7%
• Number and percent of children who live in single parent homes
  • 107 Single Parent Households 13%, of which
    • 87 are single parent females 81% of the single parent household population
    • 20 are single parent males 19% of the single parent household population.
• Number and percent of adults with college educations
  • Some College 920 people which is 20%
  • Associate Degree 269 people which is 5.8%
  • Bachelors 1336 people which is 29%
  • Graduate / Professional Degree 1148 people which is 24.9%
  • Grand Total 3673 people which is 79.7%
• Number and percent of adults who work in manufacturing, service, and professional jobs
  • Manufacturing 714 people which is 20.6%
  • Service 274 people which is 7.9%
  • Professional Jobs 422 people which is 12.2%
• Percent of high school graduates who pursue higher education
  • 60 to 65% Go onto College
  • 55% of those that go into College go to a 4 Year School
• Major racial, ethnic and religious groups
  • Racial
    • White 6208 people which is 96.1%
    • Asian 120 people which is 1.9%
    • African American 24 people which is 0.4%
  • Ethnic
    • German 1572 people which is 24.5%
    • Irish 1325 people which is 20.6%
    • English 962 people which is 15%
    • Polish 875 people which is 13.6%
  • Religious
    • Percent Religious 48.33%
    • Major Religions
      • Catholic 25.31%
      • Protestant 11.32%
      • Jewish 6.46%
• Major colleges and universities
  • NONE
  • Major Colleges and Universities within 30 Minute Driving Distance
    • School Craft Community College
    • University of Michigan
    • Oakland University
    • Madonna College
• Drug and alcohol use statistics
  • Alcohol (Estimate) 7.22 to 8.23%
  • Drug (Estimate) 2.28%
• Crime rates
  • Violent Crime 2%
  • Property Crime 3%

References

American Fact Finder, U.S. Census Bureau, Retrieved on August 29, 2006 from http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=16000US2658980&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=Northville&_cityTown=Northville&_state=04000US26&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=DEC_2000_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null®=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=

Northville, Michigan Website, "Community Profile", retrieved on August 29, 2006 from http://www.ci.northville.mi.us/Community/CommunityProfile.htm#1990And2000CensusData

Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Community Profile retrieved on August 29, 2006 from http://www.semcog.org/cgi-bin/comprof/profiles.cfm

Sperlings Best Places, Community Profile retrieved on August 29, 2006 from http://www.bestplaces.net/school/SchoolStats.aspx?schoolid=262598006245&leaid=2625980

Cherry Report Full, "The Final Report of the Lt. Governor Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth. [Electronic Version] Retrieved on August 29, 2006 from http://www.michigan.gov/documents/CherryReportFULL_112991_7.pdf

Office of Applied Studies, Report on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, retrieved on August 29, 2006 from http://www.drugabusestatistics.samhsa.gov/subState2k6/dependence.htm

Northville High school, Office of the Principle, Assistant Phone Interview with Vickie. Asked % to go onto College from high school on August 29, 2006.