About Child Abuse
More than
600,000
children are abused
in the U.S. each year.
An estimated 618,000 children (unique incidents) were victims of abuse and neglect in 2020, the most recent year for which there is national data.
More than
600,000
children are abused in the U.S. each year.
An estimated 618,000 children (unique incidents) were victims of abuse and neglect in 2020, the most recent year for which there is national data.
The youngest children were most vulnerable.
Children in the first year of their life comprised 15% of all victims. 1 in 40 infants under 1 year old are victimized by abuse every year.
Girls had a victimization rate of 8.9, higher than boys at 7.9.
American-Indian or Alaska Native children have the highest rate of victimization at 15.5 while African-American children have the second highest-rate at 13.2.
The youngest children were most vulnerable.
Children in the first year of their life comprised 15% of all victims. 1 in 40 infants under 1 year old are victimized by abuse every year.
Girls had a victimization rate of 8.9, higher than boys at 7.9.
American-Indian or Alaska Native children have the highest rate of victimization at 15.5 while African-American children have the second highest-rate at 13.2.
In 2020, an estimated 1,750 children died from abuse and neglect in the United States.
Three-fourths of victims were neglected, 16% were physically abused, 9% were sexually abused, and 0.2% were sex trafficked.
In 2020, an estimated 1,750 children died from abuse and neglect in the United States.
Three-fourths of victims were neglected, 16% were physically abused, 9% were sexually abused, and 0.2% were sex trafficked.
CACs serve far more sexual abuse cases, indicating a deeper problem.
CACs investigated 249,879 cases involving sexual abuse allegations in 2021,
around 65% of all cases our members carried through. While not all these cases resulted in a disclosure, charges, or a conviction, it’s an indication that the problem of sexual abuse may be much larger than federal statistics show.
CACs serve far more sexual abuse cases, indicating a deeper problem.
CACs investigated 249,879 cases involving sexual abuse allegations in 2021,
around 65% of all cases our members carried through. While not all these cases resulted in a disclosure, charges, or a conviction, it’s an indication that the problem of sexual abuse may be much larger than federal statistics show.
The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) had
more than 30,000 approved reports of child abuse or neglect
completed by city and county departments of social services during state fiscal year 2021.
The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) had
more than 30,000 approved reports of child abuse or neglect
completed by city and county departments of social services during state fiscal year 2021.
VDSS further reports that more than 52,000 children were possible victims of abuse or neglect in those approved reports.
5,261 (10.1%) children were involved in 3,047 founded investigations. “Founded” means that a review of the facts gathered during an investigation met the “preponderance of the evidence” standard. Source: Virginia Department of Social Services as of 12-9-2021 and Virginia Child Welfare Outcome Reports (VCWOR) Retrieved December 2021, Version 4.91.
VDSS further reports that more than 52,000 children were possible victims of abuse or neglect in those approved reports.
5,261 (10.1%) children were involved in 3,047 founded investigations. “Founded” means that a review of the facts gathered during an investigation met the “preponderance of the evidence” standard. Source: Virginia Department of Social Services as of 12-9-2021 and Virginia Child Welfare Outcome Reports (VCWOR) Retrieved December 2021, Version 4.91.
In the jurisdictions that Safe Harbor serves there were
more than 10,000 child abuse referrals
to child protective services alone in fiscal year 2022.
Our voice may be small, but our impact is HUGE. No one likes to talk about the darkness of child abuse and neglect, but that doesn’t erase the pain and sadness of so many of our community’s children. Our work at Safe Harbor is vital to not only the children suffering from sexual and/or physical abuse, but to our community as a whole. Consider that Communities that use CACs and multidisciplinary teams have a far higher conviction rate for CAC cases that are carried forward.
Our voice may be small, but our impact is HUGE. No one likes to talk about the darkness of child abuse and neglect, but that doesn’t erase the pain and sadness of so many of our community’s children. Our work at Safe Harbor is vital to not only the children suffering from sexual and/or physical abuse, but to our community as a whole. Consider that Communities that use CACs and multidisciplinary teams have a far higher conviction rate for CAC cases that are carried forward.
