FACTS TO CONSIDER

There are approximately 16 million children between ages 14-17        

Average of 11 teens completed suicide each day; that's one every 2 hours and 12 minutes

90,349 reported runaways last year; 33,152 under age 15; 1,126 under 10 years of age

Nearly 1000 juveniles age 17 and under were charged for murder last year

44,281 teens 17 and under were charged with aggravated assault

1,095 under age 17 were charged for prostitution

133,754 under age 17, were charged for drug abuse violations

15,214 age 17 and under arrested for drunk driving

6,572 teens age 17 and under, arrested for offenses against family. 91,144, age 18 and under

Of youth under age 18, 1 in 2 live in single parent homes;

1 in 3 born to unmarried parents

1 in 8 born to teenage mothers

1 in 24 lives with neither parent

1 in 60 sees their parents divorce in a year

1 in 1,056 will be killed by a gun before age 20

1 in 139 dies before their first birthday

More than 9000 girls under 15 get pregnant each year

Average age of first use of alcohol is 15

 “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.”

Mark 10:14