Rochestarians proudly – and rightly – celebrate the many reasons to live in our community. We are among the smartest, most innovative, most giving cities in the United States. We are among the best in housing affordability, easy commutes, and overall livability. In 2010, Forbes magazine rated Rochester the third-best metropolitan region in the country for raising a family based on cost of living, prevalence of homeownership, median household income, crime rate, and high school graduation rates.

Unfortunately, these national rankings don’t show the whole picture. The statistics highlighted in this document, the 2011 Community Status Report on Children and Youth in Monroe County, provide insight into the other side of the story – a story that is all too painful for thousands of children and parents in our community.