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A Nation's Shame: Fatal Child Abuse and Neglect in the United States: A Report of the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect.
By U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect
April 01, 1995

Summary: The U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect was established under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). In its annual reports, the Board is charged with evaluating the nation's efforts to accomplish the purpose of CAPTA and to propose recommendations about ways those efforts can be improved. Noting that every day, five young children die from abuse or neglect at the hands of their parents or caregivers, this report examines existing efforts and opportunities that aid in understanding and preventing child abuse and neglect fatalities. The report also provides a close look at system-wide weaknesses and obstacles, and lack of resources and commitment by policymakers to take action that could save children's lives. The first chapter of the report explores the lack of knowledge over the scope and nature of child abuse and neglect fatalities, attempting to quantify the problem. Chapter 2 examines the need for better investigation and prosecution and for major efforts to improve and train front-line professionals. Chapter 3 discusses the encouraging emergence of Child Death Review Teams. Chapter 4 examines the need for more aggressive efforts to protect children and to facilitate community-based family services and primary prevention efforts to help families live safe and healthy lives. The report offers 26 recommendations for addressing deep-seated problems within the law enforcement, child protection, health agency, and court branches that constitute the child-protection system. These recommendations include: (1) establishing a national commitment to addressing the problem of abuse and neglect fatalities; (2) increasing the number of professionals qualified to identify and investigate such fatalities; (3) enacting legislation establishing child autopsy protocols; (4) enacting model legislation to address confidentiality; (5) including the religious community in prevention efforts; (6) adopting child safety as the goal of family programs and policy; (7) using family support funding for prevention; and (8) adopting regulatory measures to reduce environmental dangers for children. The report's five appendices include, a list of participants in the board's previous congressional hearings and workshops, a review of child fatalities research and literature, and a sample death certificate.

Index Terms: Child Abuse, Child Neglect, Death, Incidence, Statistics, Child Abuse Prevention, Child Care Infrastructure, Child Care Policies, Child Protective Services, Community Role, Confidentiality, Criminal Liability, Crisis Intervention, Data Collection, Data Reporting, Databases, Domestic Violence, Family Preservation, Family Support, Government Role, Health Care Providers, Home Visits, Legal Issues, Model Programs, Parent Education, Provider Training, Public Policy, Reporting Child Abuse, Reporting Child Neglect, State Role, Violence Prevention, California, Child Abuse Prevention And Treatment Act (CAPTA) (P.L. 100-294 Sec. 102), Child Death Review Teams, Colorado, Missouri

Publisher: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families

Publication Type: Reports (Descriptive), Surveys

Pages: 248 pages
Language: English

ERIC Number: ED393570

Availability
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information
330 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20447
800-394-3366 or 703-385-7565
703-385-3206 Fax
http://www.calib.com/nccanch


Availability from EDRS: This item is available from EDRS: http://www.edrs.com/default.cfm

 
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