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Child Abuse - USA

Page history last edited by Robert Hackett 3 years ago

Front Page / Issue Briefs / Children, Youth and Families / Child Abuse / USA

 

Issue Brief

 

Child Abuse - USA

 

Scope of the Problem  factual statements on the extent of the problem in the past, current, or future

Rates:
  • For 2011, the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) reported 3.4 million referrals (not substantiated) involving 6.2 million children; some of the children were the subject of more than one referral.[1]
    • 75%+ of these cases are classified as neglect[2]
    • 18% as physical abuse[3]
    • 9% percent as sexual abuse [4]
    • Victims are evenly divided between males and females[5]
    • 81% of perpetrators are parents, 88% of which are biological[6]
    • Somewhat more than half of perpetrators are female[7]

 

  • In 2011 the NCANDS reported 1,545 child fatalities resulting from abuse and neglect [8]
    • 80% of victims were less than four years old [9]
    • 70% of fatalities involve neglect[10]

 

  • Difficulties arise in determining rates of child abuse and neglect. When researchers attempt to identify instances of child abuse and neglect through survey instruments, results can vary based on the types of questions asked and the point in time and circumstances under which respondents provide the information. Conducting retrospective surveys of childhood experiences, asking children about recent experiences, and surveying parents about their behaviors toward children all can yield different results.[11]

 

Trends

  • The 2011 NCANDS reports sexual child abuse declined 62% since 1992, all states saw a significant decline.[12]
  • The 2010 NCANDS reports physical child abuse declined 56% from the 1990s, all states saw a significant decline.[13]
  • The 2010 NCANDS reports a 10% decline in neglect from 1990 nationwide, with huge variations between states.[14]
  • The NCANDS reported a 46% increase in child fatalities due to neglect and/or abuse from 1993 and 2007.[15]

 

Correlation and Causation

  • Poverty, Unemployment, and Low Socioeconomic Status have been reported as risk factors for child abuse and neglect. Among all types of abuse and neglect, neglect is most strongly associated with poverty and low socioeconomic status; though, physical abuse is also linked. There have been no studies showing a causal link, but poverty may reduce a parent’s capacity to nurture, monitor, and provide consistent parenting by contributing to the number of stressful life events experienced, while also limiting available material and emotional resources.[16]
  • Inter-generational transmission (parents who are abused will also abuse) is a risk factor in predicting child abuse, but only about 30% of parents who were abused, abuse their children. This implies risk, but not causality. [17]
  • Cultural acceptance of physical discipline most states have outlawed corporeal punishment by non-parental entities, but all states allow parents to physically discipline their children. This attitude has led to a  'normalization of violence', which varies by cultural group, which finds corporeal punishment to be appropriate and even loving as part of discipline. However, the line between discipline and abuse is often ambiguous in these situations.[18]
  • Parental depression is found at high rates among abusive parents, and there is at least some evidence that a causal link exists at times for depression to lead to higher cases of physical abuse and neglect.[19]
  • Substance abuse is considered a major risk factor for child abuse.[20]
    • Parents with a substance abuse disorder are 4 times more likely to commit physical abuse and 2.5 times more likely to have episodes of neglect. [21]
    • Parental drinking is also a risk factor for childhood sexual and physical abuse.[22] 
  • Children with a physical or mental disability are at a higher risk of abuse or neglect. Abuse in these cases is 1.7 times more likely compared to non-disabled children.[23]
    • Children with physical or mental disabilities are at a higher risk for emotional neglect and serious injury, while actually at a lower risk for moderate neglect and abuse. Also, in some instances, disabilities themselves might be caused by abuse. [24]
  • Certain family structures have also been correlated with higher rates of child abuse. [25]
    • Multi-partner fertility (children with multiple partners) may introduce unequal treatment of various children, which can result in abuse or neglect.[26]
    • Single parent are also overrepresented as perpetrators of child abuse and neglect[27]
    • Children living with a single parent who had a cohabiting partner in the household had the highest rates of abuse and neglect in all categories. 10 times the rate of abuse and 8 times the rate of neglect.[28]
    • Overall, children living with their married biological parents had the lowest rates of abuse and neglect. [29]
  • Deficient parenting skills are often characteristics of parents who abuse or neglect their children as engaging in less interaction with their children, engaging in harsher discipline, having unrealistic expectations of their children , knowing less about child development, and overreporting their children’s negative behaviors, having less empathy toward their children, less proficient caretaking skills, poorer stress management, and less maternal motivation. Note that a causal link has not been established.[30]
  • Numerous studies show a link between interparental, domestic violence and rates of child abuse. Studies found rates of child abuse to be significantly higher in these families, physical abuse being 2.7 times more likely, neglect 2.0 times, psychological abuse 9.8 times, and sexual abuse 4.9 times.[31]
  • Social isolation, a lack significant social connections with their extended families, neighborhoods, and communities, has been associated with risk for abusing and neglecting children. The link is particularly strong between social isolation and neglect.[32]

 

  • Interaction of risk factors are the best predictors of child abuse. The rate of child abuse in families with no risk factors present was 3%, but it was 24% in families with four or five risk factors present. However, the combination of specific factors is not well understood.[33]

 

Past Policy Milestones  key legislation and milestones including significant policy and funding shifts, major studies, etc.

  • The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) was passed in 1974 and provided funding and guidance for States when dealing with child abuse and neglect. The legislation also established a Federal definition of child abuse and neglect as well as the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect. [34]
  • The Children's Justice Act (CJA) was passed in 1986 and sought to provide grant assistance to States for the purpose of establishing programs targeted towards investigating, prosecuting, and handling child abuse and neglect cases. [35] 

  • In 1993 the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services commissioned a report titled Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect by the National Research Council on Child Abuse in the United States. This was a summary of child maltreatment in the United States at the time. [36]

  • Overview of federal policy 1993-2013 can be found here[37](footnoted)

 

Current Policy and Programs  summary of current policies in the form of legislation, programs, and funding

  • In 2010 the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) authorized the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program to provide $1.5 billion to expand the availability of home visiting programs and create a system of support for families with children aged 0-8. [38]

    • As of the end of the 2012 federal fiscal year, the federal government had awarded $340 million in formula grants and an additional $182 million in competitive grants to states and territories that demonstrated the interest and capacity to expand and/or enhance their home visiting programs. [39]

    • A total of $21 million in funding also has been provided multiple tribal entities for purposes of establishing home visiting programs targeting the unique needs of the Native American population. [40]

    • In terms of direct research support, the legislation provides funding for an interdisciplinary, multicenter research forum to support scientific collaboration and infrastructure building related to home visiting research.[41]

  • In 2013 the the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF) requested an update to the 1993 report, Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect. This report, titled New Directions in Child Abuse and Neglect Research, reflected current knowledge about the status of child abuse and neglect. Many of its core claims reflected an advancement in data reporting and scientific techniques since the 1993 report.[42]

 

 

Key Organizations   contacts for public and private organizations and key individuals

  • Government
    • US Department of Health and Human Services
    • Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA)
    • Child Protective Services (CPS) 
  • Non-Profit - Service Providing
    • Childhelp - A national non-profit which provides a myriad of services from intervention programs to treatment programs. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline provides resources for individuals who are experiencing or suspect child abuse. The hotline receives over 100,000 calls per year on average. Childhelp's Foster Care & Adoption Services also works to place children with long-term matches. Childhelp has also established Residential Treatment Facilities and Advocacy Centers around the country.
  • Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network
    • Child Trends - Child Trends is a non-profit which collaborates with a wide variety of clients and programs to help them meet their goals through research and policy analysis. Child Trends specifically targets how children and their families are faring in the United States either by policy analysis and engagement, consultation, or independent research. [43]
  • Foundation
    •  
  • Other
    •  

 

 

Bibliography   web sites, reports, articles, and other reference material 

Footnotes

  1. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  2. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  3. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  4. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  5. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  6. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  7. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  8. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  9. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  10. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  11. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  12. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  13. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  14. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  15. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  16. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  17. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  18. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  19. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  20. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  21. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  22. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  23. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  24. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  25. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  26. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  27. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  28. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  29. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  30. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  31. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  32. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  33. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  34. https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/about.pdf ▲
  35. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/resource/childrens-justice-act ▲
  36. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=2117 ▲
  37. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=2117 ▲
  38. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  39. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  40. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  41. http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/home-visiting-research-network.aspx ▲
  42. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx ▲
  43. https://www.childtrends.org/ ▲

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