Texas Teens Cover - Senate

1968
1973
1978
1983
1988
1993
1998
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CHAPTER 1 JANUARY 2001
80
Figure 1.2
U.S. Family Structure for Children Under 18 (1968-1998)
70
Children in Millions
60
50
40
30
20
10
Total Population of
Children Under 18
Two Parents
Present
Mother Only
Present
Father Only
Present
Neither Parent
Present
0
Years
Although four percent of the population under 18 is still relatively small, the one
percent increase from 1970 to 1998 assumes significance when one considers that
the census bureau identified the absence of both parents from the home as a
“serious” risk factor for children upon reaching adolescence. The number of
these children is small, but their risk is great.
The social changes in American families taking place since 1970 have had a
significant effect on the number of children at risk in our nation. As more
families have experienced divorce or single parenthood, there has been a
concurrent increase in the number of children at risk. The family data does have
one positive indicator: for the last five years there has been no decrease in the
number of two-parent families, an indication that the rate of decrease in such
families may be leveling off. Long-term data will be needed to confirm if this is a
significant trend. Table 1.10 presents the percentage of two-parent families in the
United States over the last five years.
Percent Under 18
Table 1.10
Percent of Children Under 18
Living in Two Parent Families: 1994-1998
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
in Two Parent Family 69.6 68.7 68 68.2
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey
68.1
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SENATE RESEARCH CENTER Safe Passages: Texas Teens on the Road to Adulthood - 12