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KtMappina and Analysis of Af-Risk Youth Locations GIS software is often used for land management , economic growth , facilities planning , and infrastructure / asset management. GIS can also provide the framework for the analysis of socio-demographic trends and patterns. The Department currently maintains at-risk youth information in an MS Access database ; this database includes address information for each record entry, primarily residential address of each child . A valuable opportunity lies in the utilization of GIS to map the location of each at risk-youth child relative to County facilities , event locations , and outreach target areas . Given the dynamic nature of many of the program ' s children , Department staff identified that it would „ be beneficial to be able to track the various locations where a specific child or set of children live . In addition , visualizing at-risk youth locations relative to demographics would enable staff to ascertain , and potentially quantify, how socio-cultural factors may influence at risk-youth . The at-risk youth database should be spatially enabled by address-matching client locations to the County ' s street centerline layer and / or the recommended master address point layer. Once spatially enabled ( as points) , this data can be mapped and analyzed . Trends and thematic analyses will allow staff to determine focal areas within the County that need added attention for at-risk youth management. Additionally, in areas with a prevalence for at-risk youth , general mailings can be dynamically created to inform residents and neighbors of the need for added attention for at-risk youth issues . w Utilizing GIS , the Department can conduct several analyses , including : Tracking at-risk youth locations by specific point, census block / block group /tract, neighborhood , and city • Thematic classification of County areas in terms of risk to youth Visualization of at risk locations over time • Outreach coordination and focal area determination Tracking school attendance based on spatial trends • Determining whether distance to County facilities/services influences at-risk youth activity • Marketing and grant applications Given the Department ' s close relationship with the Sheriff ' s Office, it is recommended that the Department also enter into a data sharing agreement; this agreement will enable both departments to view and analyze relevant data for crimes/incidents and at-risk youth . The ability to view crime/incident data in conjunction with demographics and at-risk youth locations may provide an opportunity to view an additional dimension ( or set of dimensions ) that would assist in the determination and modeling of potential at-risk youth locations . Lastly , GIS has often been used as an educational tool for children at various skill levels . As demonstrated by the Case Study below, the Department may wish to explore how GIS could be utilized by children as an educational and career-development tool . Case Study: Teens Become Inner City Mappers ( By Kate Fields Executive Director Greater Eastside Community Association ) The September 1999 death of 17-year-old Jimmy Berates may just show up as a State of Michigan statistic on the year's Rate of Teen Deaths by Accident, Homicide , and Suicide report, but for those of us working with at risk kids, his death exemplifies what the terminology really means . 203 GIS Needs Assessment and Implementation Plan Chapter 1 - Departmental GIS Needs Assessment