Purpose
- Define child abuse
- Identify indicators or signs of child abuse
- Understand reporting requirements
- Provide support and assistance for intervention and referrals
What is Child Abuse?
Harm or threatened harm to a child’s health or welfare by a parent, legal guardian or any other adult responsible for the child’s health and welfare
Scope
- 676,000 children are estimated to have suffered from maltreatment during 2012
- 75% neglect
- 18% physical abuse
- 8.5% sexual abuse
-
78%
Child fatalities caused by parents
-
70%
Child fatalities younger than three years old
-
1640
Estimated to have died as a result of abuse and neglect
- Over 512,000 perpetrators were reported nationally
- 82% of perpetrators were between the ages of 18–44 years
- More than half the perpetrators were women
- Over 80% of perpetrators were parents
Source:
Child Maltreatment 2016
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services