BY THE NUMBERS
By The Numbers, a look at what’s in the news . . . by the numbers. These are just numbers, not suggestions that they mean more or less than what they are. We do not suggest that one number is connected to another. These are simply facts with no extraneous details, bias or slanted reporting. To borrow (and perhaps mangle a bit) a quote from legendary fictional detective Joe Friday, it’s just the numbers, ma’am!
Today is the 21st day of July, the 202nd day of the year . . . and just another day for most everyone. But what if it wasn’t? What if we all took a moment to make the life of a child better today? And why today? Because today is National Be Someone Day. Read on.
7-21-21
Founded in 2021 by National Day Calendar and Project Harmony, National Be Someone Day is a day set aside to be someone who changes a child’s life for the good. And when you stop and think about it – what’s better than that.
10 seconds
According to National Day Calendar, #BeSomeDay offers this: “What can you do in ten seconds? We can shift gears or water a plant. We can hear or tell a bad joke. In ten seconds, we can change our minds, and after doing so, say a prayer of thanks. When we walk into a room, in that time, we can register the pain in someone’s eyes and begin to provide comfort. We can praise and honor someone who deserves it.”
5 steps
When it comes to Project Be Someone, there are five steps you can take to help put an end to child abuse.
- Learn the facts
- Minimize Opportunity
- Talk About It
- Know the Signs
- React Responsibly
1 in 13
According to the CDC, one in 13 boys in the United States are estimated to experience child sexual abuse.
1 in 4
According to the CDC, that number is a shocking one in four when it comes to girls in the United States experiencing child sexual abuse.
1,000,000,000
Yes, one billion children globally are estimated to experience sexual violence.
558,899
According to the National Children’s Alliance, 558,899 children (unique incidents) were victims of abuse and neglect in the U.S. in 2022, the most recent year for which there is national data.
1,990
In 2022, an estimated 1,990 children died from abuse and neglect in the United States, a number consistently on the rise over the previous five years. Boys have a higher child fatality rate at 3.26 per 100,000 compared to girls at 2.25. African-American child fatalities (6.37 per 100,000) are over three times greater than that of white children (1.99), and nearly four times greater than Hispanic children (1.68). Source: National Children’s Alliance
4
Although there are many, here are four possible risk outcomes for children who are sexually abused:
- Lack of progress in school
- Substance abuse
- Missed work
- Severe obesity
10 seconds
That’s all it takes today. Won’t you take 10 seconds to help a child today?