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Abuse and Neglect
Identification Prevention Response Programs and Policies Research and Statistics

Research and Statistics

Number of resources found: 32

Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource Indicates a resource from a Land Grant Institution or from a Cooperative Extension Agency.

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General Information Professional Development Programming Resource Research

Child Welfare Information Gateway Language: English
Description: The Clearinghouse provides information products and technical assistance services to help professionals locate information related to child abuse and neglect and related child welfare issues. The Clearinghouse can help you find research, statistics, State laws, and resources on such topics as prevention, child protection, out-of-home care, and permanency planning.
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ChildWelfare.com Language: English
Publisher: Child Welfare Research Institute (2009)
Description: This Web site offers a variety of information on child welfare topics. Sections on adoption, foster care, and abuse are included as well as "report cards" for child welfare in each state.
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Prevent Child Abuse America Language: Spanish, English
Description: Prevent Child Abuse America's mission is to prevent the abuse and neglect of our nations children. This web site provides information about the prevention of child abuse and neglect, and how you can help.
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General Information

After Abuse: Early Intervention Services for Infants and Toddlers Language: English
Author: Scarborough, A.
Publisher: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Aug 2008)
Description: By law each state is required to ensure that all substantiated cases of maltreated infants and toddlers are referred to Part C early intervention services. This news brief discusses findings on why many maltreated infants and toddlers may not be receiving the child development services they need. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services commissioned a report by to gather information to address these challenges and propose solutions.
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ARCH - National Respite Network and Resource Center Language: English
Publisher: Chapel Hill Training-Outreach Project, Inc. (Aug 2008)
Description: "The mission of the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center" is to assist and promote the development of quality respite and crisis care programs; to help families locate respite and crisis care services in their communities; and to serve as a strong voice for respite in all forums." Respite is planned or emergency care provided to a child or adult with special needs in order to provide temporary relief to family caregivers who are caring for that child or adult.
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Child Abuse - The Hidden Bruises (El Maltrato Infantil: Los Golpes Ocultos) Language: Spanish, English
Publisher: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (March 2011 (Spanish version 2004))
Description: The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Pscyhiatry has provided this short, informative piece illustrating how to identify a child that has been abused, and what to do if you know a child has been abused. Child abuse is much more encompassing than solely physical abuse. Child abuse includes emotional, psychological, verbal, sexual abuse, and neglect. Child that have suffered from any type of abuse will need to seek some sort of psychiatric treatment to help cope with their traumatic experience. Also available in Spanish, El Maltrato Infantil: Los Golpes Ocultos at http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/informacion_para_la_familia/el_maltrato_infantil_los_golpes_ocultos_no_5.
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Child Abuse Prevention Month Resources Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Publisher: CYFERnet (2004)
Description: These resources will assist you in defining, recognizing, preventing and reporting child abuse.
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Child Abuse Rises When Economy Sags Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Publisher: American Heart Association (2012)
Description: This article discusses the rise in incidents of child abuse that is related to the downturn in the economy. It states that the risk is highest in families who have lost their homes.
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Child Sexual Abuse (El Abuso Sexual a los Ninos) Language: Spanish, English
Publisher: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (March 2011 (Spanish version 2004))
Description: The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has provided this piece on child sexual abuse to help teachers, parents, and providers identify, stop, and help the child to cope with any sexual abuse that has occured. Children are not able to psychologically cope with the emotional problems that result from sexual abuse and they need to be helped and guided along the path of counseling and healing. Also available in Spanish, El Abuso Sexual a los Ninos at http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/informacion_para_la_familia/el_abuso_sexual_a_los_ninos_no_9 (2004).
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Childhood Experience and the Expression of Genetic Potential: What Childhood Neglect Tells Us About Nature and Nurture Language: English
Author: Perry, Bruce
Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers (2002)
Description: Studies of childhood abuse and neglect have important lessons for considerations of nature and nurture. The neural systems responsible for mediating our cognitive, emotional, social and physiological functioning develop in childhood and, therefore, childhood experiences play a major role in shaping the functional capacity of these systems. When the necessary experiences are not provided at the optimal times, these neural systems do not develop in optimal ways.
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Children’s Exposure to Violence: A Comprehensive National Survey Language: English
Author: Finkelhor, David
Publisher: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (October 2009)
Description: This Bulletin discusses the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV), the most comprehensive nationwide survey of the incidence and prevalence of children’s exposure to violence to date. Conducted between January and May 2008, it measured the past-year and lifetime exposure to violence for children age 17 and younger across several major categories: conventional crime, child maltreatment, victimization by peers and siblings, sexual victimization, witnessing and indirect victimization (including exposure to community violence and family violence), school violence and threats, and Internet victimization. This survey is the first comprehensive attempt to measure children’s exposure to violence in the home, school, and community across all age groups from birth to age 17, and the first attempt to measure the cumulative exposure to violence over the child’s lifetime.
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Estimated Annual Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect (2012) Language: English
Author: Gelles, Richard
Publisher: Prevent Child Abuse America (April 2012)
Description: This economic impact study focuses on the cost of child abuse and neglect in the United State in 2012 ($80 Billion in 2012). It provides direct costs and indirect costs (early intervention, special education, adult homelessness, juvenile delinquency, and involvement in the criminal justice system, etc.). All costs reported are the annual costs associated with child maltreatment – and not lifetime costs. References are noted.
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Homeland Insecurity: Investments in Children Language: English
Publisher: Every Child Matters (January 2009)
Description: Why new investments in children and youth must be a priority for the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress The data in this report focus on a few key issues: health, child abuse, imprisonment, school readiness, child care, afterschool, and poverty. These are big issues affecting millions of children and families. The disturbing trends in the data presented are understated. Although they are the most recent available, they lag by at least a year the sharp downturn in the economy and its impact on families.
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National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect Language: English
Publisher: Family Life Development Center: Cornell University (2010)
Description: This Web site was developed by the Family Life Development Center of Cornell College to provide the reader with information, facts, and the statistics concerning child abuse and neglect. This site has links to datasets, publications, workshops avaliable, and other resources.
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Persistent Fear and Anxiety Can Affect Young Children’s Learning and Development Language: English
Publisher: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (Feb 2010)
Description: Science shows that early exposure to circumstances that produce persistent fear and chronic anxiety can have lifelong consequences by disrupting the developing architecture of the brain. Unfortunately, many young children are exposed to such circumstances. While some of these experiences are one-time events and others may reoccur or persist over time, all of them have the potential to affect how children learn, solve problems, and relate to others. This report from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child summarizes in clear language why, while some of these experiences are one-time events and others may reoccur or persist over time, all of them have the potential to affect how children learn, solve problems, and relate to others.
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Preventing Child Maltreatment Language: English
Author: Paxson, Christina
Publisher: The Future of Children (Fall 2009)
Description: The Future of Children has released its latest publication, Preventing Child Maltreatment (Vol. 19, No. 2). Accompanying the journal is an Executive Summary and two related Policy Briefs. Contributors to this volume present the best available research on policies and programs designed to prevent child abuse and neglect. They examine a gradual shift in the field of child maltreatment toward prevention and explore how insights into the risk factors for maltreatment can help target prevention efforts. They assess whether programs such as community-wide interventions, parenting programs, home-visiting, drug and alcohol treatment, and school-based educational programs on sexual abuse, can prevent maltreatment. They also explore how the Child Protective System might take a more active role in prevention.
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Rural Children at a Glance Language: English
Author: Rogers, Carolyn
Publisher: USDA- Economic Research Service (March 2005)
Description: Economic Information Bulletin No. (EIB1) 6 pp, April 2005 This report provides the latest information on the demographic, social, and economic characteristics of rural children in families. Child poverty in 21st century America is higher (18 percent in 2003) than the rate for the general population (12.5 percent), as well as above the rates in most other industrialized countries. Child poverty is a significant social problem that negatively affects children's development. Although rural child poverty rates declined in the 1990s, they remain higher than the rates for urban children (21 percent vs. 18 percent). In 2003, 2.7 million rural children were poor, representing 36 percent of the rural poor. Nonmetro children are more likely than metro children to receive food stamps and free or reduced-price school lunches, in part a reflection of higher nonmetro poverty. The geographic distribution of child povertyÂ—heavily concentrated in the SouthÂ—is important for targeting poverty reduction policies and program assistance such as child nutrition programs, food stamps, and health insurance coverage in rural areas.
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The Growing Crisis in Child Protections: a sampling of news stories from across America Language: English
Publisher: Every Child Matters (January 2010)
Description: A weak economy and resulting state budget cuts are putting even more children at risk, as evidenced by the multitude of recent newspaper stories from across America that suggest an increase in child abuse due to the worsening recession. This document, which we’ve entitled, The Growing Crisis in Child Protection, is a compendium of stories from each state and is part of our campaign to help stop child abuse and neglect deaths. According to official federal statistics, 12,180 children died from child abuse and neglect during the 2001-2008 period examined in this report. Additionally, several studies have concluded there actually is significant under-counting of maltreatment deaths and that the true number may be several thousands more.
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Total Estimated Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect in the United States Language: English
Author: Wang, Ching-Tung
Publisher: Prevent Child Abuse America (2007)
Description: This economic impact study focuses on the cost of child abuse and neglect in the United State. It provides estimated and actual costs as well as additional resources.
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We Can Do Better: Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in the U.S. Language: English
Publisher: Every Child Matters (2008)
Description: This report provides information on the number of U.S. children who died from abuse and neglect from 2001-2007. Recommendations for public policy are included. According to official federal statistics, 10,440 children died from child abuse and neglect during the 2001-2007 period examined in this report. Additionally, several studies have concluded there actually is significant under-counting of maltreatment deaths and that the true number may be several thousands more over the 2001-2007 period than the 10,440.
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We Can Do Better: Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in the U.S. Second Edition Language: English
Publisher: Every Child Matters (Sept 2010)
Description: This report provides information on the number of U.S. children who died from abuse and neglect from 2001-2008. This report includes new data for 2008. State by state data is included. According to official federal statistics, 12,180 children died from child abuse and neglect during the 2001-2008 period examined in this report. Additionally, several studies have concluded there actually is significant under-counting of maltreatment deaths and that the true number may be several thousands more.
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Professional Development

Newsletters: Treasures or Trash? Parenting Newsletter Series Results in Positive Behavior Changes Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Author: Garton, Martha
Publisher: Journal of Extension (February 2003)
Description: A study that takes a look at whether or not parents read parenting newsletters and if they do, to what extent do their parenting behaviors change as a result.
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Prevention and the Child Protection System Language: English
Author: Waldfogel, Jane
Publisher: The Future of Children (Fall 2009)
Description: This article is part of a Journal on Preventing Child Maltreatment from the Future of Children. The nation’s child protection system (CPS) has historically focused on preventing maltreatment in high-risk families, whose children have already been maltreated. But, as Jane Waldfogel explains, it has also begun developing prevention procedures for children at lower risk—those who are referred to CPS but whose cases do not meet the criteria for ongoing services. Preventive services for lower-risk families often focus on increasing parents’ understanding of the developmental stages of childhood and on improving their child-rearing competencies. The evidence base on the effectiveness of these services remains thin. Most research focuses on home-visiting and parent education programs. Studies of home visiting have provided some promising evidence. Little is as yet known about the effects of parent education.
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Rural Children at a Glance Language: English
Author: Rogers, Carolyn
Publisher: USDA- Economic Research Service (March 2005)
Description: Economic Information Bulletin No. (EIB1) 6 pp, April 2005 This report provides the latest information on the demographic, social, and economic characteristics of rural children in families. Child poverty in 21st century America is higher (18 percent in 2003) than the rate for the general population (12.5 percent), as well as above the rates in most other industrialized countries. Child poverty is a significant social problem that negatively affects children's development. Although rural child poverty rates declined in the 1990s, they remain higher than the rates for urban children (21 percent vs. 18 percent). In 2003, 2.7 million rural children were poor, representing 36 percent of the rural poor. Nonmetro children are more likely than metro children to receive food stamps and free or reduced-price school lunches, in part a reflection of higher nonmetro poverty. The geographic distribution of child povertyÂ—heavily concentrated in the SouthÂ—is important for targeting poverty reduction policies and program assistance such as child nutrition programs, food stamps, and health insurance coverage in rural areas.
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The Role of Home-Visiting Programs in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect Language: English
Author: Howard, Kimberly
Publisher: The Future of Children (Fall 2009)
Description: This article is part of a Journal on Preventing Child Maltreatment from the Future of Children. Kimberly Howard and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn examine home visiting, an increasingly popular method for delivering services for families, as a strategy for preventing child abuse and neglect. They focus on early interventions because infants are at greater risk for child abuse and neglect than are older children. Theorists and policy makers alike believe strongly that home visiting can be a beneficial and cost-effective strategy for providing services to families and children.
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Research

After Abuse: Early Intervention Services for Infants and Toddlers Language: English
Author: Scarborough, A.
Publisher: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Aug 2008)
Description: By law each state is required to ensure that all substantiated cases of maltreated infants and toddlers are referred to Part C early intervention services. This news brief discusses findings on why many maltreated infants and toddlers may not be receiving the child development services they need. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services commissioned a report by to gather information to address these challenges and propose solutions.
More

Child Maltreatment 2003 Language: English
Publisher: Administration for Children and Families Children (2005)
Description: This is a report from Administration for Children and Families Children's Bureau regarding child maltreatment in the United States in 2003. It includes seven chapters summarizing different aspects of child maltreatment such as perpetrators, victims, fatalities, and services. Also available in PDF.
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Child Neglect: Outcomes in High-Risk Urban Preschoolers (Abstract) Language: English
Author: Dubowitz, Howard
Publisher: Pediatrics (June 2002)
Description: This is a longitudinal research study which examined the individual and cumulative relationships among physical, psychological, and environmental neglect and children’s behavior and development at age 3, and the impact on changes in children’s behavior and development between ages 3 and 5. This is the abstract for this article. Full text available to subscribers only.
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Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect in U.S. Language: English
Publisher: Prevent Child Abuse America (April 2, 2001)
Description: This news release article tells how much is spent per day on child abuse and neglect in the U.S.
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Newsletters: Treasures or Trash? Parenting Newsletter Series Results in Positive Behavior Changes Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Author: Nordby, Ann
Publisher: CYFERnet (27 March 2009)
Description: Prevention programs can effectively reduce the incidence of shaken baby syndrome. The main trigger is crying, and prevention is crucial, since a large percentage of victims die or suffer permanent brain damage.
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Rural Children at a Glance Language: English
Author: Rogers, Carolyn
Publisher: USDA- Economic Research Service (March 2005)
Description: Economic Information Bulletin No. (EIB1) 6 pp, April 2005 This report provides the latest information on the demographic, social, and economic characteristics of rural children in families. Child poverty in 21st century America is higher (18 percent in 2003) than the rate for the general population (12.5 percent), as well as above the rates in most other industrialized countries. Child poverty is a significant social problem that negatively affects children's development. Although rural child poverty rates declined in the 1990s, they remain higher than the rates for urban children (21 percent vs. 18 percent). In 2003, 2.7 million rural children were poor, representing 36 percent of the rural poor. Nonmetro children are more likely than metro children to receive food stamps and free or reduced-price school lunches, in part a reflection of higher nonmetro poverty. The geographic distribution of child povertyÂ—heavily concentrated in the SouthÂ—is important for targeting poverty reduction policies and program assistance such as child nutrition programs, food stamps, and health insurance coverage in rural areas.
More

Safety and Stability for Foster Children: A Developmental Perspective Language: English
Author: Brenda, Harden
Publisher: Future of Children (2004)
Description: A review of the research on the effects of child maltreatment and foster care on child development, and a discussion of what steps can be taken to promote the healthy development of children in foster care.
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The Child Trauma Academy Language: English
Publisher: Child Trauma Academy (2004)
Description: The ChildTrauma Academy focuses on service, training and research in the area of child maltreatment. Resources are available to the public.
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The State of America's Children: 2010 Report Language: English
Publisher: Children's Defense Fund (May 2010)
Description: CDF's The State of America's Children 2010, is a compilation of the most recent and reliable national and state-by-state data on poverty, health, child welfare, youth at risk, early childhood development, education, family income and gun violence. According to the CDF report, children in America lag behind almost all industrialized nations on key child indicators. The United States has the unwanted distinction of being the worst among industrialized nations in relative child poverty, in the gap between rich and poor, in teen birth rates, and in child gun violence. Download sections in pdf by topic.
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