A Year of Living Dangerously Some facts about the world of our children and teens statistics from studies are for the most current year available

Pray for... Children who live in poverty Harris County has the highest percentage of uninsured children in Texas 24% of Harris County children live in poverty 47% live in lower-income families

Pray for... Adequate medical and pre-natal care Since 2000, the infant mortality rate in Harris County has increased by 10% while declining in the nation at large.

Pray for... those who have been arrested or incarcerated and for teens & children who have family members in prison. Over 14,000 ex-offenders return to Harris County annually Many children experienced a parent incarcerated Over 1,000 youth were arrested for violent crime

Pray for... An end to human trafficking Houston is recognized as a national hub for human trafficking Over half of those victims are women and children Annually in the U.S., 200,000 children are at risk for trafficking

Pray for... those who have been victims of violence and for those who are violent toward others 173 teens aged 15 – 19 died a violent death 6,315 children experienced child abuse (confirmed cases)

Pray for... Children and educators in our school systems HISD drop out rates reach as high as 50% 40% of Texas prisoners do not have a high school diploma

Pray for... Single Teen Mothers & their children 6,400 children were born to an unmarried teen-aged mother

Pray for... youth who feel pressured to have sex 52% engaged in sexual intercourse Texas has the highest birth rates for teens in the nation In Harris County, 78% of teen-aged mothers were unmarried

Pray for... youth who find it hard to withstand other destructive social pressures 37% of Texas youth rode with someone who had been drinking 30% engaged in heavy drinking 15% drove a car under the influence of alcohol

Primary Sources of Information Prison Fellowship Kids Count CAHTHouston – Children at Risk –