Chatham - Savannah Youth Futures Authority

Community Profile Fast Facts

Accompanying the 2006 Community Profile is a Fast Facts rack card that provides a more succinct overview of the local condition of children and families. The Fast Facts outlines whether there has been an improvement or a regressions noted in the reported indicators as compared to the previous year. This information is grouped according to whether the result indicated "Good News" or "Bad News" for the Chatham-Savannah community. Outlined below are the Fast Facts for the 2006 Community Profile.

2006 Community Profile Fast Facts

Select indicators reported in this fifteenth annual Community Profile report are grouped according to whether there has been a local improvement or a regression noted in the condition.

Good News for Chatham County

Overall teen birth rates in 2005 for girls (ages 18-19) have been trending downward, with rates declining for both black and white mothers. The total teen birth rate for mothers was 84.0, constituting 311 births. This represents 84 live births per 1,000 mothers (ages 18-19). (Pg. 14)
The number of public school students who are over age for grade has reduced for 3rd grade students, 6th grade students and 9th grade students for 2005-2006. There were 157 students across these three grade levels that were over age for grade. (Pp. 19-21)
There were reductions noted in the number of Child Protective Services (CPS) investigations and in the number of Out of Home Placements of children in 2006. There were 1,667 CPS investigations and 397 children placed out of home. (Pp. 34, 35)
here were 144 youth committed to the state Department of Juvenile Justice in 2006, which represents a decrease from the previous year. (Pp. 5, 46)

Bad News for Chatham

Generally, teen birth rates for black girls (ages 15-17 and 18-19) have remained twice that of white girls over years. The teen birth rate for black mothers (ages 15-17) in 2005 was 44.1, constituting 112 births. This represents 44.1 live births per 1,000 mothers (ages 15-17). The birth rate for black mothers (ages 18-19) was 112.2, constituting 202 births. This represents 112.2 live births per 1,000 mothers (ages 18-19). (Pp. 13, 14)
Increases were observed in the number of public school students retained (held back in grade) in kindergarten, 1st grade and 6th grade. There were 574 students across these three grade levels that were held back in grade in 2005-2006. (Pp. 25-27)
Overall, there were 4,379 juvenile offenses committed by youth (ages 8-17) in 2006, which is an increase from the previous year. (Pp. 5, 38-43). There were 1,572 youth (ages 10-20) served by the Department of Juvenile Justice in 2006, which is also an increase from the previous year. (Pp. 5, 46)
More children (under 18 years of age) and families (with children 5-17 years of age) live in poverty. (Pg. 56)

(Pages can be found in the 2006 Community Profile)

2006 Community Profile
Children In Chatham

59,485 children (ages 17 and under) live in Chatham County

Poverty: 24.6% of children (under age 18) live in poverty.
Low Birth Weight Births: There were 3,717 births in Chatham County in 2005. Of this number, 395 or 10.6% were considered low birth weight births (<2500 grams).
Teen Birth Rates: The teen birth rate in 2005 for girls (ages 15-17) was 30.6, constituting 149 births. This represents 30.6 live births per 1,000 mothers (ages 15-17). For girls (ages 18-19) the birth rate was 84.0, constituting 311 births. This represents 84 live births per 1,000 mothers (ages 18-19).
Child Abuse and Neglect: There were 1,667 Child Protective Services (CPS) investigations in 2006.
Missing and Exploited: 272 youth (ages 17 & under) were reported as missing or exploited in 2006.
School Retentions: A total of 4,361 public schools students (12.8%) were held back in grade from Kindergarten through 12th grade in 2005-2006.
School Suspensions: A total of 5,142 public schools students (15.1%) were suspended out of school from Kindergarten through 12th grade in 2005-2006.
Graduation Rate: 65.4% (2,135 students) of 9th grade public school system students graduated on time in 2005-2006.
Juvenile Delinquency There were 4,379 offenses committed by youth (ages 8-17) served by the Chatham County Juvenile Court in 2006. 1,572 youth (ages 10-20) were served by the Department of Juvenile JusticeÑChatham County office in 2006. 144 youth were committed to the state in 2006. Chatham ranked fifth across the state in total commitments in 2006.
Youth Arrests: 1,954 youth (ages 17 & under) were arrested in 2006.

The complete 2006 Community Profile is available here.

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