Salt of the Earth: New study tallies child abuse in the 90s

Stat house
April 2001

New study tallies child abuse during the 1990s
Reports of child abuse and neglect in America increased substantially during the last decade, but a study released in March by Prevent Child Abuse America shows the growth rate began to slow toward the end of the 1990s.

State child protective service agencies received more than 3.2 million reports of abuse or neglect in 1999, a 1.6 percent increase from 1998, says the Chicago-based group's study. Overall, reports increased by 33 percent throughout the decade. The largest increases occurred in the early 90s, when reports grew by an average of 18 percent.

A. Sidney Johnson III, Prevent Child Abuse America's president and CEO, says the recent slowdown "could be the result of a stronger economy, an increased focus on prevention, or a slowing down in the actual incidence of abuse and neglect. We certainly hope that is the case."

The number of confirmed cases of child abuse or neglect in 1999 stands at just over 1 million; 1,401 of these children died, according to the Prevent Child Abuse America report. "Four children still die each day from abuse and neglect in this country, and reports of child abuse and neglect continue to grow while all other crime statistics are coming down," Johnson says.

The study, a compilation of data from child protective service agencies in 50 states plus Washington D.C., takes place annually. This year's figures are based on reports from 45 states and Washington.

The agencies said child abuse is often related to poverty and economic strain, parental capacity and skill, other domestic violence incidents, and substance abuse. Eighty-five percent of the agencies named substance abuse the most common problem in families reported for child abuse.

Melissa Pelletier, manager of public relations and advertising at Prevent Child Abuse America, says individuals can help prevent child abuse by babysitting for neighbors, forming parent support groups, or asking politicians to "earmark a certain amount of the state budget to child abuse prevention programs in the state."—Anne Graber

More info:
Current Trends in Child Abuse Prevention, Reporting, and Fatalities: The 1999 Fifty State Survey
Prevent Child Abuse America

Child Abuse Prevention Packet (from Prevent Child Abuse America)

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