Reported Child Maltreatment Victims

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Child maltreatment (CM) is a substantial public health problem, with an estimated 905,000 cases substantiated in the US in 2006.  The few cases of neglect or abuse we see in the news are only a small part of the problem.  Each year, an estimated 6 million children in the US are reported to CPS agencies for suspected maltreatment.  Risk for maltreatment in the first year of life is greatest during the first week after birth. Medical professionals are most likely to report maltreatment and neglect is the most prevalent form of maltreatment reported.

• From October 2005 through September 2006, 91,278 unique victims <12 months of age were identified.

• Thirty-nine percent of victimizations occurred in the first 30 days after birth

• Of these victimizations 87.7% occurred in the first week of life.

• Neglect was experienced by 68.5% of the victims in the first week of life and 13.2% experienced physical abuse.

There is overwhelming documentation in the scientific literature of the association between child maltreatment, other adverse exposures, and a broad range of emotional, behavioral, and physical health problems.  

Young children experience their world through their relationships with parents and other caregivers. Safe, stable, and nurturing relationships (SSNRs) between children and adults are a buffer, reducing risk for maltreatment and other adverse exposures occurring during childhood that compromise health over the lifespan. These positive relationships are fundamental to the healthy development of the brain and consequently our physical, emotional, social, behavioral, and intellectual capacities.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nonfatal Maltreatment of Infants – United States, October, 2005--September 2006. MMWR 2008;57:[336-339].

For More Information

• CDC Child Maltreatment Prevention
• CDC Child Abuse Prevention Feature
• Understanding Child Maltreatment Fact Sheet ( 216KB)
• Prevention Child Maltreatment Program Activities Guide ( 303KB)
• Child Maltreatment: Facts At-A-Glance ( 216KB)