These startling statistics are why this ministry is committed to this fast-growing segment of the world’s population. We realize that relational problems can be prevalent in children who are not living with both natural parents, so our goal is to reach them early in life to help them walk out their faith and become strong as Christian adults.
 THESE FACTS SHOULD BE KNOWN ABOUT AMERICAN CHILDREN
- 1 in 2 will live in a single parent family at some point in childhood
- 1 in 4 currently lives with only one parent
- 1 in 25 lives with neither parent
- 18,00 young men are single parents, up 5% from a decade ago (U.S. Census Bureau)
HOMES WITHOUT A FATHER IN THE HOUSE
- According to 72.2 % of the U.S. population, fatherlessness is the most significant family or social problem facing America.--Source: National Center for Fathering, Fathering in America Poll, January, 1999. Source: http://www.fathers.com/research/
DIVORCE STATISTICS
- About two and a half million people divorce each year.
- First marriages, which end in divorce, last an average of 11 years.
- The average age of women divorcing for the first time is 33 years old. The average age of women divorcing from their second marriage is 39 years old.
- The average age for men divorcing for the first time is 35 years old. The average age for men divorcing from their second marriage is 42 years old.
- In 19 states reporting custody: 72% of custody were awarded to the wife, 9% were awarded to the husband. In 16% joint custody was awarded.
STEPFAMILY STATISTICS
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1,300 step families are formed daily.
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One of three Americans is now a stepparent, a stepchild, a step sibling, or some other member of a step family.
- More than half of Americans today have been, are now or will eventually be in one or more step situations during their lives
- Each year 500,000 adults become new stepparents. Some 6.4 million children, representing a
tenth of the nation’s children, live with one stepparent and one birth parent (Census Bureau figures). (www.washington.edu/admin)
- By 2010 Step families are projected to be the predominant family form in the U.S.
- Approximately half of all Americans are currently involved in some form of step relationship.
UNWED STATISTICS
- The statistics for 2004, revealed that 35.7 percent of all births were to unmarried women and that the percentage of unmarried mothers increased for all ages and races. The increase translates to almost 1.5 million children being born to unwed mothers last year, up significantly - four percent – from 2003.
- Over half of births to women in their early twenties and nearly three in 10 births to women aged 25–29 were to unmarried mothers, while four out of five teenage women who gave birth were unwed. (http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/nov/05110106.html)
- Nationally, 1.3 million children are born out-of-wedlock each year.
- One out of three children born this year will be born to an unwed mother.
- 99 percent of African American unwed mothers keep their babies.
FOSTER CHILDREN STATISTICS
Children in, entering, and exiting care
- Point in Time As of September 30, 2003, there were an estimated 523,000 children in foster care.
- 2003, 281,000 children exited foster care.
Trends. Between FY 1998 and FY 2003, the number of children in care as of September 30 dropped slightly, while entries into and exits from foster care during those years increased slightly. (http://www.childwelfare.gov/index.cfm)
- Trends. Between 1998 and 2001, entries into foster care stayed relatively stable, while exits increased slightly (15,000) and the number of children in care at any one point in time dropped slightly (18,000).
ADOPTED CHILDREN STATISTICS
- There are 1.5 million adopted children in the United States, over 2% of all U.S. children.
- NCSC estimated that stepparent adoptions accounted for 42% of all adoptions and foster care adoptions 15%.
- There are vulnerabilities shared by all adoptee's. In those most vulnerable, a distinct pattern of behaviors can be seen. Some have labeled this the "Adopted Child Syndrome." (Kirschner)
- Adoptee's are more likely to have difficulties with drug and alcohol abuse, as well as, eating disorders, attention deficit disorder, infertility, suicide and untimely pregnancies. (Young, Bohman, Mitchell, Ostroff, Ansfield, Lifton and Schecter)
HERE IS THE CHILLING TRUTH ABOUT CHILDREN FROM BROKEN HOMES
- 63% of youth suicides
- 70% of juveniles in State Institutions
- 71% of teen pregnancies
- 71% of High School dropouts
- 75% of children in chemical abuse centers
- 85% of youth sitting in prisons
- 85% of children with behavioral problems
- 90% of homeless and runaway children
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