If you’re a visual person, read and picture these children:

Drew* is a three month old baby whose father took him to the emergency room because he wouldn’t quit crying or take his bottle. Doctors discovered more than 30 fractures covering his body.

Samantha* is a 14-year old pregnant teen with two other children and nowhere to call home.

Rashaun* is a 17-year old middle school student with the mental and emotional capacity of a 10-year old.

Lupita* is an eight-year old who has been living on the streets for two years.

*names changed to protect the children

If you’re a numbers person, here’s the evidence:

25%               Approximate percentage of Texas’ child population living in poverty

1 in 119         Number of DFW metroplex children confirmed to be victims of child abuse/neglect last year

52 of 1,000    Number of  pregnant teenage girls in the State of Texas in 2012 – the 4th highest figure in the United States

1 in 7             Number of children age 10 – 18 that run away from home annually

20%               Approximate percentage of DFW metroplex homeless population age 18 or younger

4.6%              Percentage of school-age children in the DFW metroplex with a disability

Sources: Texas Department of Family & Protective Services 2012 Data Book, Dallas-Fort Worth area 2012 Point-in-Time Survey Results and 2011 HMIS count, National Runaway Switchboard, U.S. Census Bureau