Neglect and Abuse
Of the nearly 800,000 neglected or abused children in 2007, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports 59 percent of those children suffered neglect, 11 percent were physically abused, 8 percent were sexually abused and 4 percent were emotionally or psychologically abused. Numbers alone don’t tell the whole story: 13 percent of those children were the victims of multiple types of abuse.
Latest in Neglect and Abuse
The Nation’s Children 2010
A compilation of the latest statistics on the health and welfare of U.S. children, including individual fact sheets on each state.
Persistent Fear and Anxiety Can Affect Young Children’s Learning and Development
The report summarizes the effects of and misconceptions about fear-eliciting experiences that occur early in life.
Conceptualizing Juvenile Prostitution as Child Maltreatment: Findings from the National Juvenile Prostitution Study
The national study finds that nearly one-third of prostituted juveniles taken into custody by police are treated more as criminal offenders than as victims.
"'Choking Game' Awareness and Participation Among 8th Graders -- Oregon, 2008"
A survey on the "choking game," which led to 82 deaths in 31 states from 1995 to 2007.
"Financial and Family Stress Linked to Child Maltreatment in Rural Areas"
The brief finds that rural families that that have been reported of child abuse are more likely than urban families to be headed by a single parent and endure economic and family stress.
"Childhood Maltreatment and Migraine"
The study finds that abuse in childhood is strongly linked to migraines and other pain disorders in adulthood.
“Sexual Victimization in Juvenile Facilities Reported by Youth, 2008-09”
The report estimates that 12 percent of adjudicated youth report sexual victimization in juvenile facilities.
"Shortchanging Survivors: The Family Violence Option for TANF Benefits"
The report finds that the vast majority of domestic violence survivors do not have access to potentially life-saving aid included in TANF.
“Maternal Depression Can Undermine the Development of Young Children”
The report explores recent research on the effects of maternal depression on families and children.
“Hidden Injustice: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth in Juvenile Courts"
The report explores the multiple ways in which LGBT youth experience bias within the juvenile justice system.
“Underperforming Schools and the Education of Vulnerable Children”
The research brief suggests that underperforming schools could improve by connecting students with social workers and mental health professionals.
"The State of City Leadership for Children and Families"
The report highlights the broad range of emerging trends in local policy efforts to promote child and family well-being.
“Preventing Child Maltreatment: Volume 19, Number 2, Fall 2009”
An exploration of effective policies and programs designed to prevent child maltreatment.
“A Child's Right to Counsel: A National Report Card on Legal Representation for Abused and Neglected Children”
A study suggesting that the juvenile court systems in most U.S. states do not adequately protect the rights of abused and neglected children.
“Children’s Exposure to Violence: A Comprehensive National Survey”
The most comprehensive survey to date of U.S. children's exposure to violence, both directly and indirectly.
