If you are a Latter-day Saint, you likely want to raise your family in the best community for you, based on your own priorities and the standards you seek to uphold. You could look for an area in the U.S. that has high ratios of positive establishments (like parks, libraries, and museums) to negative establishments (such as bars, tobacco stores, and casinos). You might look at areas with the most favorable economic conditions for LDS families: affordable four-bedroom homes, lowest tax on food, the lowest gasoline tax, and other data. And how about the areas that have the highest ratio of children living with their two married biological parents, offer the best opportunities for missionary experiences, have the shortest commute times, or are closest to temples? The answers to all these questions and more are found in "Best Places to Raise an LDS Family." This is the first and only book to evaluate, rate, and rank communities in seven broad categories from a Latter-day Saint perspective: LDS Culture (including ratio of positive to negative establishments, commute times, proximity to LDS temples, proximity to major LDS historical sites, ratio of stay-at-home moms, etc.), Education (graduation rates, educational attainment, school environment), Crime (property crime and violent crime), Health (smoking rates, alcohol consumption, teen and adult smoking and drinking rates, teen sexual activity, exercise, obesity, teen and adult STD rates, drug use, etc.), Economic Environment (unemployment, tax rates, family income, poverty, etc.), Household Characteristics (families with children, unmarried partners, number of children, etc.), and Housing (ratio of renters to owners, median home value, median home price and age, price of four-bedroom homes, etc.). This first-of-its-kind volume is an invaluable resource for all Latter-day Saints as they consider where to raise their families.
About the Author: Michael D. Call has been studying and working with communities for nearly 25 years. Prior to opening his own consulting firm, he worked as the CEO of a major nonprofit organization in Illinois for nearly eight years. In that role he was able to work with community leaders, including elected officials, business, civic, and nonprofit leaders, community volunteers, and educators to help improve the quality of life in local communities. He also worked professionally for nearly seven years in state government, having received a gubernatorial appointment to lead a statewide commission to improve communities through volunteer and community service efforts. Accredited by the Public Relations Society of America and a Certified Fund Raising Executive, Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Brigham Young University. He was awarded a Master of Science in Management degree from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational Leadership from IndianaTech. He is the principal of Civicus Consulting Group (www.CivicusConsulting.com), a firm that specializes in assisting nonprofit organizations and governments become more effective, efficient, and strategic in their operations. He is married to the former Shannon Brown of Logan, Utah. They are the parents of five children.