The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) (42 U.S.C.A. § 5106g), as amended by the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010, defines child abuse and neglect as, at minimum:
- “Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation”; or
- “An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.”
This definition of child abuse and neglect refers specifically to parents and other caregivers. A “child” under this definition generally means a person who is younger than age 18 or who is not an emancipated minor. (5)
National Child Abuse Statistics:
- In 2013, approximately 3.5 million reports were made to child protective services concerning the safety and well-being of approximately 6.4 million children. (1)
- A nationally estimated 679,000 children were found to be victims of child abuse or neglect. (1)
- Of these children, 79.5 % were neglected, 18.0 % were physically abused, and 9.0 % were sexually abused. (1)
- Every day in the United States, 1,900 children become victims of abuse or neglect and of those children, four will die. (2)
- In 2013, an estimated 1,520 children died due to abuse or neglect. (1)
- Eighty four percent of foster children will become parents within a few years after reaching adulthood, potentially repeating the cycle of abuse. (3)
Each State is responsible for establishing its own definitions of child abuse and neglect that meet Federal minimum standards. Most definitions include the following: 1. Neglect is failure to provide for a child’s basic needs. 2. Physical abuse is physical injury as a result of hitting, kicking, shaking, burning, or otherwise harming a child. 3. Sexual abuse is any situation where a child is used for sexual gratification. This may include indecent exposure, fondling, rape, or commercial exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials. 4. Emotional abuse is any pattern of behavior that impairs a child’s emotional development or sense of self-worth, including constant criticism, threats, and rejection. (1)
Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASAs, are volunteers who advocate for the rights and well-being of children living in the foster care system to ensure all their needs are met. Voices for Children, a private, nonprofit based in San Diego, has recruited, trained, and supervised thousands of CASA volunteers. Sometimes CASAs are assigned to cases where the child or sibling group witnessed victims of child abuse, and will work with other professionals on the case to secure resources, such as therapy, to help the child(ren) overcome the trauma. Visit www.speakupnow.org to learn more. (4)
According to the San Diego Health & Human Services Agency Child Welfare Services, in fiscal year 2013-2014, there were 40,065 abuse/neglect reports made to the Hotline which represents 75,862 children. Allegation types broke down as follows:
- General Neglect 45%
- Emotional Abuse 34%
- Physical Abuse 30%
- At Risk, Sibling Abused
- 23% Sexual Abuse
- 18% Caretaker
- Absence 3%
- Severe Neglect 2%
- Exploitation 0.1%
*Children may have multiple allegations, therefore the percents will not equal 100% (7)
Additional Resources:
U.S Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Child Welfare; www.childwelfare.gov
Administration for Children and Families; www.acf.hhs.gov
The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline; 1-800-4-A-CHILD (4453)
Sources: (1) The 2015 Prevention Resource Guide: Making Meaningful Connections (2) National CASA Association. (3) Annie E. Casey Foundation, Foster Care Alumni of America. (4) San Diego County Juvenile Court Statistics. (5) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (6) Voices for Children San Diego (7) San Diego Health & Human Services Agency Child Welfare Services
