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Children.....An Agenda of Urgency


33% of black children live in poverty..... 35% of black children live with two married parents compared to 83% of Asian children...... 77% of white children, and 65% of Hispanic children..... A Black baby is born uninsured every five minutes. One out of every seven babies born uninsured is Black......Black infants are more than twice as likely as White infants to die before their first birthday.....One in three Black children is poor.....Chicago loses more black kids than soldiers in Iraq to gun violence.....7.0% of Black children (767,200 children) had a parent in prison.....70 percent of African American children are born to unmarried mothers.....61% of black children "6.5 million"live in low-income families......Black children are 9 times more likely than White children to have a parent in prison....69% of Black children cannot read in the 4th grade.....Gunfire killed 3,365 children and teens in 1999 "more than 38 percent were Black youth.....Homicide is the leading cause of death among Black males ages 15 to 24.....Firearm death rate for Black males 15-19 is four times that of White males of the same age.....Nationally, Black youths under age 18 represent 15 percent of the juvenile population but make up 26 percent of juvenile arrests.....One of every two Black children lives in poverty.....More than half of Black children live in single-parent homes.....In some inner-city schools the drop out rate climbs higher than 75 percent.....A Black infant born in the U.S. is twice as likely to die before his or her first birthday

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About The Black Children's Institute

BCI was created as the only statewide African American child advocacy organization in the United States. The organization serves as an advocate for children of color, and for children who are poor and vulnerable. BCI advises and consults with the legislature and public and private youth serving agencies. BCI engages in public information/ awareness activities, developing and assessing programs and program standards for children and monitoring for compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations that impact the lives of children. The Institute conducts research, collects and distributes data relating to issues such as the causes and indicators for children entering the juvenile justice system, the child protective service system, the under-education of children, the status of health and mental health services for children and program/services that are culturally competent.

BCI provides information, referral services and technical assistance to parents, youth, governmental agencies, community based organizations and individuals throughout the entire state. The Institute provides information, consultation and training to parents and direct service providers, which will enable them to adequately and appropriately represent their children or children they are trying to help. The public policy and budget advocacy serves as a multi -issue program. BCI monitors public policies and legislation impacting the lives of children and advises and consults with the legislature on the strengths and weakness of specific Public policy and legislation. BCI staff and volunteers serve on many local, state and national committees, boards and task forces that represent children and families. BCI Coordinates and networks with numerous organizations and agencies representing children and families. BCI BCI was created as the only statewide African American child advocacy organization in the United States.

The organization serves as an advocate for children of color, and for children who are poor and vulnerable. BCI advises and consults with the legislature and public and private youth serving agencies. BCI engages in public information/ awareness activities, developing and assessing programs and program standards for children and monitoring for compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations that impact the lives of children. The Institute conducts research, collects and distributes data relating to issues such as the causes and indicators for children entering the juvenile justice system, the child protective service system, the under-education of children, the status of health and mental health services for children and program/services that are culturally competent. BCI provides information, referral services and technical assistance to parents, youth, governmental agencies, community based organizations and individuals throughout the entire state.

The Institute provides information, consultation and training to parents and direct service providers, which will enable them to adequately and appropriately represent their children or children they are trying to help. The public policy and budget advocacy serves as a multi -issue program. BCI monitors public policies and legislation impacting the lives of children and advises and consults with the legislature on the strengths and weakness of specific Public policy and legislation. BCI staff and volunteers serve on many local, state and national committees, boards and task forces that represent children and families. BCI Coordinates and networks with numerous organizations and agencies representing children and families.

BCI maintains a database of programs and services available to meet the needs of children in Tennessee. Many of the programs in our database are interviewed and assessed for their ability to serve children and families in a culturally sensitive and competent manner. BCI has more than 2000 volunteers and supporters across the state, to help achieve its mission. Volunteers provide training, technical assistance and consultation in areas relating to children and families issues that they have a special interest and or expertise


Your money goes directly into our efforts to improve the lives of children right here in Tennessee. Your contribution makes it possible for us to talk to and persuade policy makers, educate the public and convince lots of people to get involved. It helps pay for the research that gives us the hard facts we need. And it gives us the power to wage a difficult, uphill battle on behalf of those who cannot speak out for themselves---our children.

If you prefer, consider becoming a BCI volunteer. BCI has volunteers and supporters across the state, helping to achieve its mission. Volunteers provide training, technical assistance and consultation in areas relating to children and families issues that they have a special interest and or expertise.