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National Child Abuse Hotline 800-4-A-CHILD 800-2-A-CHILD (TDD)

America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2007

Knowledge is Power

Louise Woodward, 19, -- A teen-age British nanny was convicted of 1st degree murder for shaking to death 8 months old Matthew Eappen.

The Eappen Family Today

Candace Newmaker, 10, began life in the North Carolina backwaters with a teen mom, and violent dad. When she was 5, she was taken by social services and given to a nurse, Jeane Newmaker who took her for 2 weeks of a psychotherapy called rebirthing.

Sharon Marshall, a gifted student in Georgia in the 1980's who lived alone with her father, Warren. Only her name wasn't Sharon and Warren wasn't her father. He was Franklin Delano Floyd a killer and a felon who kidnapped Sharon as a toddler to raise as his daughter. Who was she?

Deanna LaJune Laney, 38, of Tyler, Texas, was charged with capital murder and aggravated assault after allegedly killing two of her young sons, ages 6 and 8, and beating her 14-month-old son so hard the toddler's skull was split.

Little Refugees -- Two-year-olds sleep in an office building. Teenagers are sent to a homeless shelter, then turned out onto the street each morning. Troubled youths are jailed on minor charges because the state can't provide a place to live. Children are shuttled between emergency overnight beds, sometimes in dirty, overcrowded homes.

Alan and Judith Kilshaw paid $12,000 to an Internet baby broker for twin girls. The Internet is a marketplace for buying and selling children.

The Greatest Threat to Young Children

Take Into Consideration

The child disposition rate is computed by dividing the 3,529,172 subjects by the 73,099,128 child population of the States reported data multiplied by 1,000.

A victim may fail to report multiple disabilities. Not every child receives a clinical diagnostic assessment from CPS. Children with risk factors that include disabilities: mental retardation, emotional disturbance, visual or hearing impairment, learning disability, physical disability, behavioral problems and other medical problems go undetected include: 7.7% have an unreported disability --3.2% have unreported behavior problems---1.9% of victims have undocumented emotional disturbances.

Most States investigate all children in the family. Siblings not the subject of an allegation and not victims are categorized as no alleged maltreatment. Maryland was excluded due to incomplete reporting.

Sex and Age of Victims

The rate of victimization was inversely related to the age group overall

The youngest children had the highest rates of victimization

50.7 percent of the child victims were girls

47.3 percent of child victims were boys

From birth to 3 years the child victimization rate was 16.5%

4-7 years was 13.5%

73.1% of neglected children are from birth to 3 years.

52.7% of children 16 years and older are neglected.

Of victims between 4-7 years : 15.6% are physically abused and 8.9% are sexually abused.

Of 12-15 years old, 21.3% are physicallly abused and 17.3% are sexually abused

Data of child victims by maltreatment type in terms of perpetrator victim/relationship

A nonparental perpetrator is a caregiver -- not a parent but a foster parent, or child daycare staff, an unmarried partner of parent, legal guardian, or residential facility staff.

28.7% of sexually abused children are victimized by a relative other than a parent.

86.6% child abuse stems from neglect by a parent.

83.4% of abused children are violated by a parent acting alone or with another.

40.4% of child were maltreated by mothers acting alone

18.3% were maltreated by fathers acting alone

17.3 percent were maltreated by both parents.

Nonparental perpetrators of children accounted for 10.7 % of the abuse/neglect.

A 2005 Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) reports the types and frequency of child abuse in the United States.

3.6 million children received CPS investigations or assessments.

899,000 children were victims of maltreatment; 12.1 per 1,000 children

75.3% (three-quarters) of the victims had no prior history of victimization.

62.8% suffered from neglect

16.6% suffered physically abused

14.3% of victims experienced abandonment, threats of harm to the child, or congenital drug addiction or other types of maltreatment

9.3% were sexually abused

7.1% were psychologically maltreated

2 % were medically neglected.

These total more than 100% because child victims who experienced more than one type of maltreatment were counted for each maltreatment.*"other" is the code for a condition that does not fall into the main categories—physical abuse, neglect, medical neglect, sexual abuse, and psychological or emotional maltreatment—

Who Is Watching the Children?

74.8% of the cases of abuse were reported by nonspecified professionals

11.6% were made by medical staff

25.2% were reported by nonprofessionals.

24.3% victims of physical abuse, were reported by teachers

23.0% were reported by law enforcement officers or lawyers

Reports of neglect and sexual abuse victims were similar—

28.3% reports of sexual abuse victims come from law enforcement and lawyers (largest sources)

26.6% reports neglect victims come from law enforcement and lawyers (largest sources)

Victims of neglect by Race and Ethnicity

The largest percentage of neglect by race:

49.7% white; 23.1% African-American; Hispanics 17.4%

Rates of victimization by race:

19.5% African-American, 16.5%, American Indian or Alaska Native, and 16.1% Pacific Islander children have the highest rates of victimization.

10.8% White and 10.7% Hispanic children have lower rates.

2.5% Asian children have the lowest rate of child victimhood .

The Children's Bureau established a national standard for the incidence of child abuse or neglect in foster care is defined as:

"Absence of Maltreatment in Foster Care. Of all children in foster care during the reporting period, what percent were not victims of a substantiated or indicated maltreatment by foster parents or facility staff members?"

In 2005, only 15 States were in compliance, 9 States did not provide data.

Children covered by private health insurance has dropped.

Babysitters were responsible for 4.2 % of the reported crimes against children under 6 years, a small percentage, fewer than committed by family members, acquaintances, or strangers. Primary efforts should shield young children from crimes committed by family perpetrators, not childcare providers (Finkelhor and Ormrod, 2001)

Seventy-three million children under 18, comprise of 25% of the population; 60% are White, 19% Hispanic, 16% Black, and 4% Asian.

5% of the parents reported children over age 4 with emotional, behavior, or social problems, concentration difficulties, problems. Of these, 65% of the parents contacted a mental health professional, physician, and/or special education services.

Per 1,000 juveniles, 15 committed serious violent crimes. Per 1,000 juveniles, 18 were victims of homicide, rape, aggravated and assault.

In 2003, 48 per 100,000 firearm homicides were children

11% of children under the age of 7 live with regular cigarettes smokers.

36 states do not require child care providers to complete any training before beginning work.

Only 55% of family child care providers and 57% of center assistants have had some college education. 80% Center teachers have some college education. National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies

Child Abuse: Statistics, Research, and Resources Child Abuse and Neglect Studies show 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 8 boys are sexually abused before they are 18 years old. One in 20 children are physically abused each year. Sexual abuse includes inappropriate touching of a child's breasts or genitalia and exposing their genitalia to a child. Physical abuse injures a child's body by burning, beating, and breaking bones. A bruise indicates that body tissue has been damaged and blood vessels have broken, any discipline method that leaves bruises is not appropriate.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). 7,000 to 8,000 babysitter offenses a year the majority are sex crimes.

Preventing child maltreatment: a guide to taking action and generating evidence

Research shows that child abuse can be prevented. Cruelty to children is the willful infliction of pain and suffering through physical, sexual, or emotional mistreatment including incest and other sexual molestation or rape, prostitution or pornography, unjustifiable verbal abuse; failure to furnish proper shelter, nourishment, medical treatment, or emotional support,The need to increase prevention is urgent and global.

The CPS system has not been successful in stopping the repeat maltreatment, neglect, abuse and victimization.

Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report National Crime Victimization Survey Juvenile Victimization and Offending, 1993-2003

Statistics estimate hundreds of thousands of children are physically abused, some to death, by a parent or close relative each year.

Early treatment minimizes long term emotional trauma. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

UNICEF, the Oak Foundation, the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse, and Neglect (ISPCAN) developed questionnaires and interview guides on the extent and depth of child abuse. This is the first UN Study on Violence Against Children. The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children Child Maltreatment 2004 Administration for Children and Families

2006 Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics

How can violence against children be prevented? World Health Organization

Prevention of child maltreatment. World Health Organization Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect Child Welfare Information Gateway

Mindfulness: An Inner Resource for Healing from Child Abuse. The benefits of cultivating mindfulness; new and healing ways of thinking about and experiencing your own mental and emotional processes.

Kids For Sale: Young, On The Street Between 200,000 and 400,000 children nationwide are selling sex.

Lives cut short: Crimes against defenseless children too often are going unpunished Deseret Morning News

An extract from Carmel Bird's introduction to: The Stolen Children -- Their Stories Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families.

Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Questions and Answers about Memories of Childhood Abuse Questions and answers that reflect the best current knowledge about reported memories of childhood abuse will help you understand how repressed, recovered, or suggested memories may occur and what you can do if you or a family member is concerned about a childhood memory. American Psychological Association

Child Care Aware is a non-profit initiative committed to helping parents find information on locating quality child care and child care resources in their community.

The International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, is the only multidisciplinary international organization of professionals working towards the prevention and treatment of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children promotes community-centred action research on violence against women and children. The Centre facilitates individuals, groups and institutions representing the diversity of the community to pursue the understanding and prevention of abuse.

National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse is a program of the American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI), responding to child abuse cases, as a central resource for training, expert legal assistance, court reform, state-of-the-art information on criminal child abuse investigations and prosecutions.

APR Protecting Children in Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings All states have statutory provisions outlining programs of protective services for children who are abused and neglected. These laws have been shaped in very important ways by two federal initiatives: The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974 and The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980. University of Wisconsin-Madison

A Multi-Family Approach: Families and Schools Together (FAST) Builds Protective Factors In Potentially Neglectful Families

Research helps identify signs of child abuse Children’s researchers report that infants who come into the Emergency Department with a serious head injury and no mention of trauma to explain the injury are highly likely to be victims of child abuse.

The Child Abuse Prevention Network: World Wide Internet Nerve Center for professionals in the field of child abuse and neglect.

The Shaken Baby Alliance is for the prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome, and justice for the victims.

International Family Law: A Selective Resource Guide includes major international agreements pertaining to the status of children. In recent years, the United Nations and the Hague Conference on Private International Law has harmonized some aspects of family law across national regimes to avoid the consequences of conflicts of law in this area.

The Jacob Wetterling Foundation was established in 1990, four months after Jacob Wetterling, 11, was abducted at gun-point by a masked man near his home in St. Joseph, Minnesota. JWF seeks missing children and educates children,parents, caregivers and teachers about safety.

Megan's Law in All 50 States -- May 17, 1996, President Clinton signed Megan's Law . Megan's Law goals include Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification programs.

Prevent Child Abuse America is involved in prevention of abuse and neglect of children.

At Health, Inc is a provider of mental health services for mental health practitioners and those who they serve.

Child Welfare League of America assists over 3.5 million abused and neglected families annually.

Misconception of Child Abuse and Discipline There is a misunderstanding in the way Westerners and Asians define and understand child abuse. In Eastern languages, have no phrase as "child abuse."

The Last Hope: Inside Foster Care -- The number of children in the foster care system has doubled in the last decade. Meet people doing their best to help them at the residential treatment center Children's Village in Dobbs Ferry, New York.

SexCriminals.com has news stories related to sex offenders, crimes, abuse, and legislation.

Child Labor Coalition (CLC) research, education and advocacy has made it an effective source of information for consumers and workers.

Child Witness Cases How credible are child witnesses?

A Guide for Including Information on Child Abuse and Neglect in Graduate and Professional Education and Training American Psychological Association

Parents are often the last to know when their children are exposed to harm. Overburdened licensors usually don't intervene until after a child has been put at risk, and the worst centers are allowed to stay in business - getting chance after chance to make amends.

Children in a state of neglect -- Parents and caregivers have fatally abused and neglected dozens of children who are supposed to be protected by the state. In many cases, children perished in homes child-protective workers knew were unsafe. The state does not know how many children have died because of its failure to track or review the deaths.

Caring for mentally and physically abused children can be a challenge, and in the Netherlands, people in De Glind believe it takes a village to meet the needs of victimized children.

American Academy of Pediatrics -an organization of 60,000 pediatricians committed to optimal physical, mental, social health and well-being to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.

Frequently Asked Questions about Child Abuse and Neglect Administration for Children and Families

Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect Child Welfare Information Gateway

Learn the definitions, signs of different types of maltreatment, and related research on child neglect, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. Child Welfare Information Gateway.

 The Decline in Child Sexual Abuse Cases Child protective services agencies report that the increases in child sexual abuse of the 1980’s were followed by substantial declines in 1992 to 1998 substantiated cases of child sexual abuse decreased by nearly a third.

2006 Child Abuse Prevention Safe Children and Healthy Families Are a Shared Responsibility is available at no cost. Additional posters are also available at no cost. Child Welfare Information Gateway 2006 - 116 pages View Publication | Printable Version | (2006). Children's Bureau. Office on Child Abuse and Neglect

National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) or the Supplementary Homicide Reports, a part of the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

Evaluation Toolkit to assist family support and child abuse prevention programs conduct meaningful evaluations of their services.FRIENDS National Resource Center for CBCAP

National Action Against Obesity

August 10, 2007

Kari & Associates
PO Box 7372
Olympia, WA 98507

Prom Mom - Melissa Drexler
Amy Grossberg & Brian Peterson
Jon Benet Ramsey
Yates Children
Baby Sabrina
Patty Rebholz
Martha Moxley
Opal Mills

By the Numbers

(statistical data sources)

The statistics shown on this site illustrates trends. Childstate.gov gives snapshot of America's youth overall.

The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) collects case data on reports from State child protective services (CPS) agencies alleging child abuse, neglect, and the outcome annually. In 1992, HHS produced its first NCANDS report based on data from 1990. The mandate for NCANDS is the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), established through the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) a voluntary national reporting system.

Each State defines child abuse and neglect based on Federal legislature's set of behaviors defining child abuse and neglect. The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), (42 U.S.C.A. §5106g), amended by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, defines child abuse and neglect.

Child protective services (CPS) agencies are responsible for protecting children alleged maltreated to ensure safety. National estimates for FFY 2005 based on 50 States, DC, and Puerto Rico. Acts or failure to act as a parent or caretaker resulting in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, exploitation; or failure to act presenting an imminent risk of serious harm.

"Are You There Alone?: The Unspeakable Crime of Andrea Yates" Suzanne O'Malley Journalist, Suzanne O'Malley began covering the murders of Noah, John, Paul, Luke, and Mary Yates hours after their mother, Andrea , drowned them in their suburban Houston home in June 2001. O'Malley's exclusive communications with Andrea and Rusty offers portrayals of people at the center of this case.

Held Captive: The Kidnapping and Rescue of Elizabeth Smart -- by Maggie Haberman, Jeane MacIntosh -- On a June night in 2002, Salt Lake City teenager Elizabeth Smart was abducted at knife point from her own bedroom. March of the following year, Elizabeth was discovered alive a few miles from her home, prisoner of a self proclaimed Messiah and his wife. What happened to Elizabeth during 9 months in captivity is shocking. Startling information about the controversial investigation.

A Parent's & Teacher's Handbook on Identifying and Preventing Child Abuse

Child Abuse and the Criminal Justice System (Studies in Crime and Punishment, Vol. 9) by Kimberley A. McCabe

Slayer of Innocence
by Jim Conover
A predator pedophile serial killer was on the loose for many years. More than 16 young boys throughout the Midwest, California, Oklahoma, and Arizona disappeared and at least 14 were discovered murdered from 1972 until 1979 when lawmen from 7 states and many different agencies, caught his track.

Where Shadows Linger: The Untold Story of the Olson Murder Investigation by W. Leslie Holmes, Bruce Northorp RCMP Superintendent Bruce Northorp was in charge of the Olson hunt in 1981. Clifford Olson was the most hated man in Canada when he confessed his crimes. The agreement to pay $100,000 for him to reveal the locations of his victims led to tension and mistrust within the RCMP.