Dr. Robert Sanborn, President, Children at Risk was the guest speaker at our first Justice For Children dinner on April 19, 2009.
Here are some facts about children in Houston that he shared with us.
There are over a million children in the Houston area.
47% of the children are at or near the poverty rate of $20,0000 per year for a family of 4.
There are 26 school districts in Harris County.
Houston has the 7th largest school district in the USA.
Only 2 school districts in the Houston area serve the universal free school breakfast.
50% of Houston children in the 9th grade won't graduate high school.
58% of Houston children are Latino children and that number is increasing.
24% of Harris County children live in poverty and a total of 47% live in low income families.
Texas is #1 in the USA in uninsured children.
The USA ranks 29th in the world on infant mortality - tied with Poland and Slovakia, and behind Cuba.
50% of children in the Harris County Juvenile Justice System have a mental health disorder. Texas ranks 49fh nationall in funding for outpatient mental health services.
Houston sends twice as many children to the Texas Youth Commission as does Dallas.
Houston is the American hub of human trafficing in the US. 14,000 to 17,000 persons are tracficked into the US each year - Houston is the hub. 70% are female and 50% are children.
Mentoring children is one way churches may be part of the solution.
Here is another way to get involved: Visit www.childrenatrisk.org and sign up for the e-advocacy email newsleter.
