The State of Children in Memphis and Shelby County: Data Book 2010 is now available on our website. After five years, we continue to be encouraged that community stakeholders consider this work a helpful resource for efforts aimed at improving the quality of life for our youngest citizens - children from conception to age 3.

This year's Data Book has some new features and resources that we believe will be helpful to you. We have enhanced the early brain development section, and we have continued our special interest section with a feature on breastfeeding. Additionally, we have included a Data Appendix which we hope will serve those of you interested in our sources, methodology, and in accessing the raw data sets.

Overall, we have worked to provide you with the best available data on children from birth through age three. It is during this developmental period that, science and research suggest, the foundation is laid for a child's success later in school and in life. And economists have shown that investment during this developmental period reaps the highest return.

We welcome your comments and feedback and hope that our work inspires a sense of urgency, regarding the importance of early childhood development, for all fellow Memphians who labor on behalf of our community.