You are here

OUR COMMITMENT

At Safe Kids, a commitment to equity in child safety 
is critical to achieving our mission to keep 
every child safe from preventable injuries.

THE FACTS

Fatality data show that kids from communities that are marginalized and underserved have been left behind and are dying at higher rates. Below are unintentional injury death rates per 100,0000 children, ages 0 -14, based on 2018 - 2022 U.S. data.

BLACK AND NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN DIE AT HIGHER RATES THAN WHITE CHILDREN. 

RURAL CHILDREN DIE AT ALMOST TWICE THE RATE OF URBAN CHILDREN. 

 

Poverty worsens each of these inequities.

 
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [online]). Available from URL: www.wisqars.cdc.gov
 

DATA DRIVEN APPROACH

Safe Kids uses data to prioritize efforts in the injury areas that will have the highest impact on reducing deaths and serious injuries.
 
In addition to a focus on groups that are marginalized and underserved, Safe Kids is placing an increased emphasis on the three leading causes of fatal unintentional injury among children under age 14: car crashes, drowning, and unsafe infant sleep.
Efforts are guided by the Safe Kids Injury Risk Index (SKIRI), a new data driven tool developed by Safe Kids to help identify geographic areas where children are at increased risk of fatal unintentional injury.
 

GUIDED BY LEADING EXPERTS

“By focusing on equity, we can drastically reduce injuries and deaths for the communities most impacted, and for everyone.”

Dr. Sadiqa Kendi

Safe Kids established the Equity Advisory Council (EAC) to help advance our efforts around Equity in Child Safety. Composed of leading experts in the field of unintentional child injury, the EAC provides guidance, leadership, and support while collaborating on applied research in key focus areas identified within the Safe Kids Worldwide Strategic Plan, including child passenger safety, water safety, safe sleep, and reaching groups that are marginalized and underserved.

Safe Kids has also developed a Collaborative Partners Group (CPG), which includes collaborative partners such as government agencies, national cross-injury organizations, and equity partners.

To learn more about our commitment to Equity in Child Safety,
download our 2024 - 2026 Strategic Plan.