Sociology Essay - Miami Social Groups

The aim of this paper is to collect information that will enable to draw some general conclusion about the social groups that are most likely to influence the development of a child in the area, and recommend the types of social services that the city Miami in Dade County may wish to make available.

Miami city, Miami-Dade County

According to the 2006 American Community Survey, the number of school-age children (population 3 years and over enrolled in school) in the population makes up 77,000 children (margin of error +/-5,699). Children enrolled in nursery school and preschool make up 3,848 (margin of error +/-1,119), children enrolled in kindergarten make up 3,534 (margin of error +/-1,052), children enrolled in elementary school (grades 1-8) make up 31,020 (margin of error +/-3,563), children enrolled in high school (grades 9-12) make up 19,546 (margin of error +/-2,822), and children enrolled in college or graduate school make up 19,052 (margin of error +/-2,757).

Total households make up 135,153 (with margin of error +/-4,645). Number and percent of children who live in single parent homes is as follows: male householders, no wife present with own children under 18 years make up 2,122 (margin of error +/-715), and female householders, no wife present with own children under 18 years make up 26,185 (margin of error +/-2,828).

Number and percent of adults with college educations is as follows. Total population 25 years and over makes up 247,520 (margin of error +/-9,199), while population 25 years and over with some college, no degree makes up 24,266 people (with margin of error +/-2,677)

According to the 2006 American Community Survey, civilian employed population 16 years and over make up 158,092 people (service occupations make up 35,854 people, manufacturing - 7,801 people, and management, professional, and related occupations make up 39,474 people).

According to the 2006 American Community Survey, the percent high school graduate or higher makes up 66.1% (margin of error +/-1.8), while the percent of high school graduates who pursue higher education makes up only 22.1% (margin of error +/-1.4)

*Major religious groups

According to the 2006 American Community Survey, total population in Miami city, Miami-Dade County makes up 358,091 citizens. The major religious groups are Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Mainline Protestant, and Orthodox. One race makes up 353,616 people. Whites make up 252,562 citizens, Black or African American make up 80,384 citizens, Asian make up 2,850 citizens (Asian Indian - 891, Chinese - 956, Filipino - 377, Korean - 283, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander - 210). Hispanic or Latino (of any race) make up 246,941 (Mexican - 3,723, Puerto Rican - 12,892, Cuban - 119,685, Other Hispanic or Latino - 110,641); Not Hispanic or Latino make up 111,150 people. White alone make up 36,755, Black or African American alone make up 68,597, Asian alone make up 2,613 people. For people reporting one race alone, 71% was White, and 23% was Black or African American

The citizens of American ancestry make up 4,631, Arab ancestry - 1,032, Dutch ancestry - 1,088 people, English ancestry - makes up 4,799 people, French (except Basque) makes up 2,556, German ancestry makes up 6,370 people, Irish ancestry - 4,309, Italian ancestry - 4,596, Polish ancestry - 1,962, Russian - 2,071, Scotch-Irish ancestry - 1,019, Subsaharan African ancestry - makes up 2,055, and West Indian (excluding Hispanic origin groups) ancestry makes up 21,280 citizens.

Major colleges and universities in Miami city are as follows: University of Miami, Miami-Dade Community College, Florida International University, Barry University, St. Thomas University (Miami - Statistics, 2007).

Drug and alcohol use statistics is relatively high, as, according to 2006 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, youth alcohol consumption stats is as follows: percent reporting use any alcohol is 30.9%, binge drinking - 14.6%, cigarettes - 8.1%, smokeless tobacco use - 2.5%, marijuana or hashish - 8.6%, any illicit except marijuana - 6.5%, alcohol or any illicit drug use - 34.7%, and middle school inhalant use - 5.8%. what concerns adult consumption, the figures are also high: binge drinker or heavy drinkers make up 15.0%, current smokers - 18.8%, age 18-25 % past month marijuana - 11.9%, age 26 + % past month marijuana - 3.1%, age 18-25 % past month any illicit except marijuana - 5.6%, age 26 + any illicit except marijuana - 1.2%, and age 18-25 cocaine - 4.9%.

According to 2002 FBI Crime Index Total was 33,952. According to the information from FBI FLORIDA Offenses Known to Law Enforcement by State by City, 2006, the crimes rates are as follows: for the overall population of 392,934 the number of violent crimes made up 5,931, murder and nonnegligent manslaughter - 77, forcible rape - 101, robbery - 2,111, aggravated assault - 3,642, property crime - 20,288, burglary - 4,442, larceny-theft - 11,967, and motor vehicle theft - 3,879.

Taking into account the statistics available, the following types of social services that the city may wish to make available, may be recommended. Social services should be aimed to reduce the crime rates, alcohol and drug consumption. Thus, social services should address adolescents and families in order to cope with the issues of delinquency, and interventions. In addition, the additional efforts should be spent to provide services for children and youth through a wide range of educational programs and trainings that promote self-sufficiency, as well as various counseling services (both group and personal ones) to children and students through educational work. Social services may also involve various programs, such as case management, crisis stabilization, and various emergency services for adolescents. Finally, the social services should foresee programs aimed to assist the youth to make a smooth transition from childhood into the adult life and successfully graduate from the educational establishments. These programs will help the adolescents to achieve their objectives through tutoring, mentoring, group and individual counseling, and taking part in various cultural and sport events in Miami city.

References

FBI FLORIDA Offenses Known to Law Enforcement by State by City, 2006. (2006). Retrieved October 26, 2007, from http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/data/table_08_fl.html

Miami - Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2007, from http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-South/Miami.html

Miami city, Florida. (2006). Retrieved October 26, 2007, from http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-qr_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_DP2&-geo_id=16000US1245000&-gc_url=&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_&-_lang=en&-redoLog=false