NCJ Number
176922
Date Published
1997
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse began collecting detailed information from all 50 States and the District of Columbia in 1986 on the number and characteristics of child abuse reports, the number of child abuse fatalities, and changes in the funding and scope of child welfare services.
Abstract
The 1996 survey sought information on the actual number of children reported as alleged victims of child maltreatment during 1994, 1995, and 1996; the number of substantiated and indicated victims for the 3-year period; factors accounting for observed changes in child abuse reporting levels; and the number of reported and substantiated cases by type of maltreatment. Findings revealed that the rate of children reported as being abused or neglected increased during the 3-year period. In 1996, an estimated 3,126,000 children were reported to child protective services (CPS) as alleged victims of maltreatment. Neglect represented the most common type of reported and substantiated form of maltreatment. In 1996, 25 States provided the following breakdown for reported cases: 62 percent neglect, 25 percent physical abuse, 7 percent sexual abuse, 3 percent emotional maltreatment, and 4 percent other. For substantiated cases, 31 States provided the following breakdowns: 60 percent neglect, 23 percent physical abuse, 9 percent sexual abuse, 4 percent emotional maltreatment, and 5 percent other. Only 16 States could provide estimates on the percentage of substantiated cases that receive CPS services. Figures ranged from 15 to 100 percent, with an average of 70 percent receiving some type of service. Of those who received services, individual or family counseling was the most common intervention. Data suggested a decrease in the total number of child abuse fatalities between 1994 and 1996; 41 percent of fatalities involved children who had current or prior contact with CPS agencies. 8 references, 3 tables, and 2 figures