New Tool Offers Comprehensive Data on Detroit Children

Collaboration gathers, shares information from birth to 18.

A new tool is providing a comprehensive look at the conditions and experiences of children in Detroit – from birth through 18 years old. 

The Skillman Foundation and Data Driven Detroit have created the State of the Child Data Tool.

Skillman’s Marie Colombo said the online tool replaces the annual and semi-annual printed reports the foundation used to produce. The organization can now provide more robust and up-to-date information on the conditions and well-being of children in the city.  

“We will be updating important indicators annualll,” Colombo said. “Things like third grade reading, high school graduation, college persistence – those variables that are very important in the lives of children and young people.”

Colombo expects the sources of data to continue to grow as the community engages with the tool. Ultimately, she said, it may expand to include information about young people entering their careers.

TColombo said accurate, comprehensive information can be invaluable to organizations serving children.  

“We can’t lose sight of the well-being of children,” Colombo said. “That’s what we all really need to keep our eye on and make sure we’re paying an appropriate amount of attention to the child’s well-being in the city of Detroit. We wanna be known as the city that cares for its kids.”

Visit the data tool: sdc.datadrivendetroit.org.

 

Author

  • Sascha Raiyn
    Sascha Raiyn is Education Reporter at 101.9 WDET. She is a native Detroiter who grew up listening to news and music programming on Detroit Public Radio.