Child Abuse 

and Neglect 

General 

InformatIon 

Packet 

Disponible en español 

www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/ 

sp_can_info_packet.cfm 

This packet is provided for anyone interested in learning more about child abuse and neglect. 

Contents include: 

• What is Child Abuse and Neglect? 

• Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect 

• Leaving Your Child Home Alone 

• Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Symptoms 

• How the Child Welfare System Works 

• Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect 

• Child Maltreatment 2006: Summary of Key Findings 

• Toll-Free Crisis Hotline Numbers 

Child Welfare Information Gateway offers many other resources about child abuse and neglect 

and child welfare. For more information or to order additional publications, visit the Information 

Gateway website at www.childwelfare.gov, email Information Gateway at info@childwelfare.gov, 

or call Information Gateway at 703.385.7565 or 800.394.3366. 

If you are concerned that a child is being harmed by abuse or neglect, you can report your 

concerns to your local child welfare or law enforcement agency. For more information or 

assistance with reporting, please call Childhelp® at 800.4.A.CHILD (800.422.4453). 

Child Welfare Information Gateway 

Children’s Bureau/ACYF 

1250 Maryland Avenue, SW 

Eighth Floor 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Administration for Children and Families Washington, DC 20024 Administration on Children, Youth and Families 703.385.7565 or 800.394.3366 

Children’s Bureau Email: info@childwelfare.gov 

www.childwelfare.gov 
FACTSHEET 

April 2008 

Each State provides its own definitions of child 

abuse and neglect based on minimum standards set 

by Federal law. 

What’s Inside: 

• How is child abuse and neglect defi ned 

in Federal law? 

• What are the major types of child abuse

and neglect? 

• Resources 

What Is Child Abuse 

and Neglect? 

Disponible en español 

www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/ 

factsheets/ques.cfm 

Child Welfare Information Gateway 

Children’s Bureau/ACYF 

1250 Maryland Avenue, SW 

Eighth Floor 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Administration for Children and Families Washington, DC 20024 Administration on Children, Youth and Families 703.385.7565 or 800.394.3366 

Children’s Bureau Email: info@childwelfare.gov 

www.childwelfare.gov 
What Is Child Abuse and Neglect?	 www.childwelfare.gov 

How Is Child Abuse 


and Neglect Defi ned 


in Federal Law?
 

Federal legislation lays the groundwork 

for States by identifying a minimum set of 

acts or behaviors that define child abuse 

and neglect. The Federal Child Abuse 

Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), 

(42 U.S.C.A. §5106g), as amended by the 

Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 

2003, defines child abuse and neglect as, 

at minimum: 

• 	Any recent act or failure to act on the 

part of a parent or caretaker which results 

in death, serious physical or emotional 

harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or 

• 	An act or failure to act which presents an 

imminent risk of serious harm. 

Most Federal and State child protection 

laws primarily refer to cases of harm to a 

child caused by parents or other caregivers; 

they generally do not include harm caused 

by other people, such as acquaintances 

or strangers. 

What Are the Major 

Types of Child Abuse 

and Neglect? 

Within the minimum standards set by 

CAPTA, each State is responsible for 

providing its own definitions of child 

abuse and neglect.1 Most States recognize 

four major types of maltreatment: physical 

abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional 

abuse. Although any of the forms of child 

maltreatment may be found separately, they 

often occur in combination. In many States, 

abandonment and parental substance abuse 

are also defined as forms of child abuse 

or neglect. 

The examples provided below are for 

general informational purposes only. Not 

all States’ definitions will include all of the 

examples listed below, and individual States’ 

definitions may cover additional situations 

not mentioned here. 

Physical abuse is nonaccidental physical 

injury (ranging from minor bruises to severe 

fractures or death) as a result of punching, 

beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, 

stabbing, choking, hitting (with a hand, 

stick, strap, or other object), burning, or 

otherwise harming a child, that is infl icted 

by a parent, caregiver, or other person who 

has responsibility for the child.2 Such injury 

is considered abuse regardless of whether 

the caregiver intended to hurt the child. 

Physical discipline, such as spanking or 

paddling, is not considered abuse as long as 

it is reasonable and causes no bodily injury 

to the child. 

Neglect is the failure of a parent, guardian, 

or other caregiver to provide for a child’s 

basic needs. Neglect may be: 

1 See Defi nitions of Child Abuse and Neglect, from the Child 

Welfare Information Gateway State Statutes Series, at www. 

childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/defi ne.cfm 

2 Nonaccidental injury that is infl icted by someone other than 

a parent, guardian, relative, or other caregiver (i.e., a stranger), 

is considered a criminal act that is not addressed by child 

protective services. 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 2 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/whatiscan.cfm. 
What Is Child Abuse and Neglect?	 www.childwelfare.gov 

• 	 Physical (e.g., failure to provide 

necessary food or shelter, or lack of 

appropriate supervision) 

• 	Medical (e.g., failure to provide necessary 

medical or mental health treatment)3 

• 	 Educational (e.g., failure to educate a 

child or attend to special education 

needs) 

• 	 Emotional (e.g., inattention to a child’s 

emotional needs, failure to provide 

psychological care, or permitting the 

child to use alcohol or other drugs) 

These situations do not always mean a child 

is neglected. Sometimes cultural values, 

the standards of care in the community, 

and poverty may be contributing factors, 

indicating the family is in need of 

information or assistance. When a family 

fails to use information and resources, 

and the child’s health or safety is at risk, 

then child welfare intervention may be 

required. In addition, many States provide 

an exception to the definition of neglect for 

parents who choose not to seek medical care 

for their children due to religious beliefs 

that may prohibit medical intervention.4 

3 Withholding of medically indicated treatment is a specifi c 

form of medical neglect that is defi ned by CAPTA as “the 

failure to respond to the infant’s life threatening conditions by 

providing treatment (including appropriate nutrition, hydration, 

and medication) that in the treating physician’s or physicians’ 

reasonable medical judgment, will be most likely to be effective 

in ameliorating or correcting all such conditions.” CAPTA does 

note a few exceptions, including infants who are “chronically 

and irreversibly comatose”; situations when providing treatment 

would not save the infant’s life but merely prolong dying; or 

when “the provision of such treatment would be virtually futile in 

terms of the survival of the infant and the treatment itself under 

such circumstances would be inhumane.” 

4 The CAPTA amendments of 1996 (42 U.S.C.A. § 5106i) added 

new provisions specifying that nothing in the act be construed 

as establishing a Federal requirement that a parent or legal 

guardian provide any medical service or treatment that is against 

the religious beliefs of the parent or legal guardian. 

Sexual abuse includes activities by a parent 

or caregiver such as fondling a child’s 

genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, 

indecent exposure, and exploitation 

through prostitution or the production of 

pornographic materials. 

Sexual abuse is defined by CAPTA as “the 

employment, use, persuasion, inducement, 

enticement, or coercion of any child to 

engage in, or assist any other person to 

engage in, any sexually explicit conduct 

or simulation of such conduct for the 

purpose of producing a visual depiction 

of such conduct; or the rape, and in cases 

of caretaker or inter-familial relationships, 

statutory rape, molestation, prostitution, 

or other form of sexual exploitation of 

children, or incest with children.” 

Emotional abuse (or psychological abuse) is 

a pattern of behavior that impairs a child’s 

emotional development or sense of selfworth. This may include constant criticism, 

threats, or rejection, as well as withholding 

love, support, or guidance. Emotional abuse 

is often difficult to prove and, therefore, 

child protective services may not be able 

to intervene without evidence of harm or 

mental injury to the child. Emotional abuse 

is almost always present when other forms 

are identifi ed. 

Abandonment is now defined in many 

States as a form of neglect. In general, a 

child is considered to be abandoned when 

the parent’s identity or whereabouts are 

unknown, the child has been left alone in 

circumstances where the child suffers serious 

harm, or the parent has failed to maintain 

contact with the child or provide reasonable 

support for a specified period of time. 

Substance abuse is an element of the 

definition of child abuse or neglect in many 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 3 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/whatiscan.cfm. 
Child Abuse and Neglect 

www.childwelfare.gov/can/index.cfm 

Defining Child Abuse and Neglect 

www.childwelfare.gov/can/defi ning/ 

Laws and Policies 

www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/ 

laws_policies/ 

Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect 

www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/ 

Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect 

www.childwelfare.gov/responding/ 

reporting.cfm 

RESOURCES ON THE CHILD 

WELFARE INFORMATION 

GATEWAY WEBSITE 

What Is Child Abuse and Neglect?	 www.childwelfare.gov 

States.5 Circumstances that are considered 

abuse or neglect in some States include: 

• 	 Prenatal exposure of a child to harm due 

to the mother’s use of an illegal drug or 

other substance 

• 	Manufacture of methamphetamine in the 

presence of a child 

• 	 Selling, distributing, or giving illegal 

drugs or alcohol to a child 

• 	Use of a controlled substance by a 

caregiver that impairs the caregiver’s 

ability to adequately care for the child 

Resources 

Child Maltreatment 2006 

www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm06/ 

index.htm 

This report summarizes child abuse statistics 

submitted by States to the National Child 

Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) 

during 2006. It includes information 

about child maltreatment reports, victims, 

fatalities, perpetrators, services, and 

additional research. 

5 For more information about this issue, see Child Welfare 

Information Gateway’s Parental Drug Use as Child Abuse at 

www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/ 

drugexposed.cfm 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 4 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/whatiscan.cfm. 
FACTSHEET 

Disponible en español 

www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/ 

factsheets/preventingcan_sp.cfm 

Preventing Child
 

Abuse and Neglect
 

The statistics can feel overwhelming. In 2006, 

an estimated 905,000 children in the United 

States were found to be victims of child abuse 

and neglect. However, child abuse and neglect 

can be prevented. State and local governments, 

community organizations, and private citizens take 

action every day to protect children. You can help. 

Research has shown that parents and caregivers 

who have support—from family, friends, neighbors, 

April 2008 

What’s Inside: 

• Prevention programs 

• Protective factors 

• How you can help 

Child Welfare Information Gateway 

Children’s Bureau/ACYF 

1250 Maryland Avenue, SW 

Eighth Floor 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Administration for Children and Families Washington, DC 20024 Administration on Children, Youth and Families 703.385.7565 or 800.394.3366 

Children’s Bureau Email: info@childwelfare.gov 

www.childwelfare.gov 
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect	 www.childwelfare.gov 

and their communities—are more likely to 

provide safe and healthy homes for their 

children. When parents lack this support or 

feel isolated, on the other hand, they may 

be more likely to make poor decisions that 

can lead to neglect or abuse. 

Increasingly, concerned citizens and 

organizations are realizing that the best 

way to prevent child abuse is to help 

parents develop the skills and identify the 

resources they need to understand and 

meet their children’s emotional, physical, 

and developmental needs and protect their 

children from harm. 

Prevention Programs
 

Prevention activities are conducted by 

many State, local, and Tribal governments, 

as well as community and faith-based 

organizations. The services they provide 

vary widely. 

Some prevention services are intended 

for everyone, such as public service 

announcements (PSAs) aimed at raising 

awareness about child abuse within the 

general population. Others are specifi cally 

targeted for individuals and families who 

may be at greater risk of child abuse or 

neglect. An example of this might be a 

parenting class for single teen mothers. 

Some services are developed specifi cally 

for families where abuse or neglect has 

already occurred, to reduce the negative 

effects of the abuse and prevent it from 

happening again. 

Common activities of prevention 

programs include: 

• 	Public awareness, such as PSAs, posters, 

and brochures that promote healthy 

parenting, child safety, and how to report 

suspected abuse 

• 	 Skills-based curricula that teach children 

safety and protection skills. Many of 

these programs focus on preventing 

sexual abuse 

• 	Parent education to help parents 

develop positive parenting skills and 

decrease behaviors associated with child 

abuse and neglect 

• 	Parent support groups, where parents 

work together to strengthen their families 

and build social networks 

• 	 Home visitation, which focuses on 

enhancing child safety by helping 

pregnant mothers and families with 

new babies or young children learn 

more about positive parenting and 

child development 

• 	Respite and crisis care programs, which 

offer temporary relief to caregivers in 

stressful situations by providing shortterm care for their children 

• 	 Family resource centers, which work 

with community members to develop 

a variety of services to meet the 

specific needs of the people who live in 

surrounding neighborhoods 

Two elements have been shown to make 

prevention programs more effective, 

regardless of the type of service or intended 

recipients. Involving parents in all aspects 

of program planning, implementation, 

and evaluation helps ensure that service 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 2 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/preventingcan.cfm. 
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect	 www.childwelfare.gov 

providers are working in true partnership 

with families. Parents are more likely 

to make lasting changes when they are 

empowered to identify solutions that make 

sense for them. 

Another key to success is providing 

prevention services that are evidence based. 

This means that rather than relying on 

assumptions or “common sense,” research 

has been conducted to demonstrate that a 

particular service improves outcomes for 

children and families. This helps service 

providers feel confident in what they are 

doing. It can also help justify a program’s 

continued funding when resources 

are scarce. 

Protective Factors 

Prevention programs have long focused 

on reducing particular risk factors, or 

conditions that have been found through 

research to be associated with child abuse 

and neglect in families. Increasingly, 

prevention services are also recognizing the 

importance of promoting protective factors, 

conditions in families and communities that 

research has shown to increase the health 

and well-being of children and families. 

These factors help parents who might 

otherwise be at risk of abusing or neglecting 

their children to find resources, supports, or 

coping strategies that allow them to parent 

effectively, even under stress. 

The following protective factors have been 

linked to a lower incidence of child abuse 

and neglect: 

• 	Nurturing and attachment. When 

parents and children have strong, warm 

feelings for one another, children develop 

trust that parents will provide what they 

need to thrive. 

• 	 Knowledge of parenting and of child 

and youth development. Parents who 

understand how children grow and 

develop can provide an environment 

where children can live up to 

their potential. 

• 	Parental resilience. Parents who are 

emotionally resilient have a positive 

attitude, creatively problem solve, 

effectively address challenges, and are less 

likely to direct anger and frustration at 

their children. 

• 	 Social connections. Trusted and caring 

family friends provide emotional support 

to parents by offering encouragement and 

assistance in facing the daily challenges 

of raising a family. 

• 	 Concrete supports for parents. Parents 

need basic resources such as food, 

clothing, housing, transportation, and 

access to essential services that address 

family-specific needs (such as child care, 

health care, and mental health services) 

to ensure the health and well-being of 

their children. 

How You Can Help 

Parenting is one of the toughest and most 

important jobs in America, and we all have 

a stake in ensuring that parents have access 

to the resources and support they need to 

be successful. Entire communities play a 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 3 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/preventingcan.cfm. 
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect	 www.childwelfare.gov 

role in helping families find the strength 

they need to raise safe, healthy, and 

productive children. 

Here are some things you can do: 

• 	Get to know your neighbors. Problems 

seem less overwhelming when support 

is nearby. 

• 	 Help a family under stress. Offer to 

babysit, help with chores and errands, or 

suggest resources in the community that 

can help. 

• 	Reach out to children in your 

community. A smile or a word of 

encouragement can mean a lot, 

whether it comes from a parent or a 

passing stranger. 

• 	Be an active community member. Lend 

a hand at local schools, community or 

faith-based organizations, children’s 

hospitals, social service agencies, or 

other places where families and children 

are supported. 

• 	 Keep your neighborhood safe. Start 

a Neighborhood Watch or plan a local 

“National Night Out” community event. 

You will get to know your neighbors 

while helping to keep your neighborhood 

and children safe. 

• 	Learn how to recognize and report 

signs of child abuse and neglect. 

Reporting your concerns may protect 

a child and get help for a family who 

needs it. 

Child Abuse and Neglect 

www.childwelfare.gov/can/index.cfm 

Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect 

www.childwelfare.gov/can/identifying/ 

Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect 

www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/ 

Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect 

www.childwelfare.gov/responding/ 

reporting.cfm 

RESOURCES ON THE CHILD 

WELFARE INFORMATION 

GATEWAY WEBSITE 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 4 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/preventingcan.cfm. 
 

FactSheet 

July 2007 

Every parent eventually faces the decision to 

leave their child home alone for the first time. 

Whether they are just running to the store for a 

few minutes or working during after-school hours, 

parents need to be sure their children have the 

skills and maturity to handle the situation safely. 

Being trusted to stay home alone can be a positive 

experience for a child who is mature and well 

prepared. It can boost the child’s confidence and 

What’s Inside: 

• What to consider before leaving your

child home alone 

• Tips for parents 

• Resources 

Leaving Your Child 

Home Alone 

Disponible en español 

www.chidlwelfare.gov/pubs/ 

factsheets/homealone_sp.cfm 

Child Welfare Information Gateway 

Children’s Bureau/ACYF 

1250 Maryland Avenue, SW 

Eighth Floor 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Administration for Children and Families Washington, DC 20024 Administration on Children, Youth and Families 703.385.7565 or 800.394.3366 

Children’s Bureau Email: info@childwelfare.gov 

www.childwelfare.gov 
Leaving Your Child Home Alone	¬ www.childwelfare.gov 

promote independence and responsibility. 

However, children face real risks when left 

unsupervised. Those risks, as well as a child’s 

ability to deal with challenges, must be 

considered. This factsheet provides some 

tips to help parents and caregivers when 

making this important decision. 

Depending on the laws and child protective 

policies in your area, leaving a young 

child unsupervised may be considered 

neglect, especially if doing so places the 

child in danger. If you are concerned about 

a child who appears to be neglected or 

inadequately supervised, contact your local 

child protective services (CPS) agency. If you 

need help contacting your local CPS agency, 

call the Childhelp® National Child Abuse 

Hotline at 800.4.A.CHILD (800.422.4453). 

Find more information on their website: 

www.childhelp.org 

What to consider 

Before Leaving Your 

child home alone
Ê

When deciding whether to leave a child 

home alone, you will want to consider your 

child’s physical, mental, and emotional 

well-being, as well as laws and policies 

in your State regarding this issue. There 

are many resources you can refer to for 

guidance. (See the end of this factsheet for 

some of them.) These resources typically 

address the considerations below. 

Legal Guidelines 

Some parents look to the law for help in 

deciding when it is appropriate to leave a 

child home alone. According to the National 

Child Care Information Center, only Illinois 

and Maryland currently have laws regarding 

a minimum age for leaving a child home 

alone.1 Even in those States other factors, 

such as concern for a child’s well-being and 

the amount of time the child is left alone, 

are considered. States that do not have laws 

may still offer guidelines for parents. For 

information on laws and guidelines in your 

State, contact your local CPS agency. If you 

need help contacting your local CPS agency, 

call Childhelp® at 800.422.4453. 

age and Maturity 

There is no agreed-upon age when all 

children are able to stay home alone safely. 

Because children mature at different rates, 

you should not base your decision on 

age alone. 

You may want to evaluate your child’s 

maturity and how he or she has 

demonstrated responsible behavior in the 

past. The following questions may help: 

•	¬Is your child physically and mentally able 

to care for him- or herself? 

•	¬Does your child obey rules and make 

good decisions? 

•	¬Does your child feel comfortable or 

fearful about being home alone? 

circumstances 

When and how a child is left home alone 

can make a difference to his or her safety 

and success. You may want to consider the 

following questions: 

1 See Children Home Alone and Babysitter Age Guidelines, 

from the National Child Care Information Center: 

www2.nccic.org/poptopics/homealone.html 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 2 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/homealone.cfm. 
Leaving Your Child Home Alone	¬ www.childwelfare.gov

•	¬How long will your child be left home 

alone at one time? Will it be during the 

day, evening, or night? Will the child 

need to fix a meal? 

•	¬How often will the child be expected to 

care for him- or herself? 

•	¬How many children are being left home 

alone? Children who seem ready to stay 

home alone may not necessarily be ready 

to care for younger siblings. 

•	¬Is your home safe and free of hazards? 

•	¬How safe is your neighborhood? 

Safety Skills 

In addition to age and maturity, your child 

will need to master some specific skills 

before being able to stay home alone safely. 

In particular, your child needs to know what 

to do and whom to contact in an emergency 

situation. Knowledge of basic first aid is also 

useful. You may want to consider enrolling 

your child in a safety course such as one 

offered by the Red Cross.2 The following 

questions may also help: 

•	¬Does your family have a safety plan for 

emergencies? Can your child follow 

this plan? 

•	¬Does your child know his or her full 

name, address, and phone number? 

•	¬Does your child know where you are and 

how to contact you at all times? 

•	¬Does your child know the full names 

and contact information of other trusted 

adults, in case of emergency? 

For information on course offerings from the Red Cross, visit 

www.redcross.org/services/hss/courses/community.html 

tips for Parents 

Once you have determined that your child 

is ready to stay home alone, the following 

suggestions may help you to prepare your 

child and to feel more comfortable about 

leaving him or her home alone: 

• Have a trial period. Leave the child 

home alone for a short time while staying 

close to home. This is a good way to see 

how he or she will manage. 

• Role play. Act out possible situations to 

help your child learn what to do. 

• Establish rules. Make sure your child 

knows what is (and is not) allowed when 

you are not home. Some experts suggest 

making a list of chores or other tasks to 

keep children busy while you are gone. 

• Check in. Call your child while you are 

away to see how it’s going, or have a 

trusted neighbor or friend check in. 

• Talk about it. Encourage your child to 

share his or her feelings with you about 

staying home alone. 

• Don’t overdo it. Even a mature, 

responsible child shouldn’t be home 

alone too much. Consider other options, 

such as programs offered by schools, 

community centers, youth organizations, 

or churches, to help keep your child busy 

and involved. 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 3 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/homealone.cfm. 

2 
Leaving Your Child Home Alone www.childwelfare.gov 

Resources 

American Academy of Child and 

Adolescent Psychiatry 

Home Alone Children (Facts for Families 

No. 46)
¬

www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Facts%
¬

20for%20Families&name=Home%20Alone%
¬

20Children
¬

Childhelp® 

www.childhelp.org 

KidsHealth (The Nemours Foundation’s 

Center for Children’s Health Media) 

Leaving Your Child Home Alone 

www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/ 

home/home_alone.html 

National Child Care Information Center 

Children Home Alone and Babysitter 

Age Guidelines 

www2.nccic.org/poptopics/homealone.html 

National Network for Child Care 

Home Alone 

www.nncc.org/SACC/sac31_home.alone. 

html 

Prevent Child Abuse America 

“Home Alone” Child Tips 

www.preventchildabuse.org/publications/ 

parents/downloads/home_alone.pdf 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 4 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/homealone.cfm. 
• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

W

FactSheet 

June 2007 

 

 

Disponible en español 

www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/ 

factsheets/sp_signs.cfm 

Recognizing Child 

Abuse and Neglect: 

Signs and Symptoms 

The first step in helping abused or neglected 

children is learning to recognize the signs of 

child abuse and neglect. The presence of a single 

sign does not prove child abuse is occurring in a 

family, but a closer look at the situation may be 

warranted when these signs appear repeatedly or 

in combination. 

If you do suspect a child is being harmed, reporting 

your suspicions may protect the child and get 

hat’s Inside: 

Recognizing child abuse 

Types of abuse 

Signs of physical abuse 

Signs of neglect 

Signs of sexual abuse 

Signs of emotional maltreatment 

Child Welfare Information Gateway 

Children’s Bureau/ACYF 

1250 Maryland Avenue, SW 

Eighth Floor 

Washington, DC 20024 

703.385.7565 or 800.394.3366 

Email: info@childwelfare.gov 

www.childwelfare.gov 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Administration for Children and Families 

Administration on Children, Youth and Families 

Children’s Bureau 
Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Symptoms	¬ www.childwelfare.gov 

help for the family. Any concerned person 

can report suspicions of child abuse and 

neglect. Some people (typically certain types 

of professionals) are required by law to 

make a report of child maltreatment under 

specific circumstances—these are called 

mandatory reporters. For more information, 

see the Child Welfare Information Gateway 

publication, Mandatory Reporters of Child 

Abuse and Neglect: www.childwelfare.gov/ 

systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/manda. 

cfm 

For more information about where and 

how to file a report, contact your local 

child protective services agency or police 

department. An additional resource 

for information and referral is the 

Childhelp® National Child Abuse Hotline 

(800.4.A.CHILD). 

Recognizing child abuse
Ê

The following signs may signal the presence 

of child abuse or neglect. 

The Child: 

•	¬Shows sudden changes in behavior or 

school performance 

•	¬Has not received help for physical or 

medical problems brought to the parents’ 

attention 

•	¬Has learning problems (or difficulty 

concentrating) that cannot be 

attributed to specific physical or 

psychological causes 

•	¬Is always watchful, as though preparing 

for something bad to happen 

• Lacks adult supervision 

•	¬Is overly compliant, passive, or 

withdrawn 

•	¬Comes to school or other activities early, 

stays late, and does not want to go home 

The Parent: 

• Shows little concern for the child 

•	¬Denies the existence of—or blames the 

child for—the child’s problems in school 

or at home 

•	¬Asks teachers or other caregivers to use 

harsh physical discipline if the child 

misbehaves 

•	¬Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless, 

or burdensome 

•	¬Demands a level of physical or academic 

performance the child cannot achieve 

•	¬Looks primarily to the child for care, 

attention, and satisfaction of emotional 

needs 

The Parent and Child: 

• Rarely touch or look at each other 

•	¬Consider their relationship entirely 

negative 

• State that they do not like each other 

types of abuse 

The following are some signs often 

associated with particular types of child 

abuse and neglect: physical abuse, neglect, 

sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. It is 

important to note, however, that these 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare  Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/signs.cfm. 
Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Symptoms	¬ www.childwelfare.gov 

types of abuse are more typically found 

in combination than alone. A physically 

abused child, for example, is often 

emotionally abused as well, and a sexually 

abused child also may be neglected. 

Signs of Physical abuse
Ê

Consider the possibility of physical abuse 

when the child: 

•	¬Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, 

broken bones, or black eyes 

•	¬Has fading bruises or other marks 

noticeable after an absence from school 

•	¬Seems frightened of the parents and 

protests or cries when it is time to 

go home 

• Shrinks at the approach of adults 

•	¬Reports injury by a parent or another 

adult caregiver 

Consider the possibility of physical abuse 

when the parent or other adult caregiver: 

•	¬Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no 

explanation for the child’s injury 

•	¬Describes the child as “evil,” or in some 

other very negative way 

•	¬Uses harsh physical discipline with 

the child 

• Has a history of abuse as a child 

Signs of Neglect 

Consider the possibility of neglect when 

the child: 

• Is frequently absent from school 

• Begs or steals food or money 

•	¬Lacks needed medical or dental care, 

immunizations, or glasses 

•	¬Is consistently dirty and has severe 

body odor 

• Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather 

• Abuses alcohol or other drugs 

•	¬States that there is no one at home to 

provide care 

Consider the possibility of neglect when the 

parent or other adult caregiver: 

• Appears to be indifferent to the child 

• Seems apathetic or depressed 

•	¬Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre 

manner 

• Is abusing alcohol or other drugs 

Signs of Sexual abuse
Ê

Consider the possibility of sexual abuse 

when the child: 

• Has difficulty walking or sitting 

•	¬Suddenly refuses to change for gym or to 

participate in physical activities 

• Reports nightmares or bedwetting 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare  Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/signs.cfm. 
 

Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Symptoms	¬ www.childwelfare.gov 

• Experiences a sudden change in appetite 

•	¬Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or 

unusual sexual knowledge or behavior 

•	¬Becomes pregnant or contracts a venereal 

disease, particularly if under age 14 

• Runs away 

•	¬Reports sexual abuse by a parent or 

another adult caregiver 

Consider the possibility of sexual abuse 

when the parent or other adult caregiver: 

•	¬Is unduly protective of the child or 

severely limits the child’s contact 

with other children, especially of the 

opposite sex 

• Is secretive and isolated 

•	¬Is jealous or controlling with family 

members 

Signs of emotional 

Maltreatment 

Consider the possibility of emotional 

maltreatment when the child: 

•	¬Shows extremes in behavior, such as 

overly compliant or demanding behavior, 

extreme passivity, or aggression 

•	¬Is either inappropriately adult (parenting 

other children, for example) or 

inappropriately infantile (frequently 

rocking or head-banging, for example) 

•	¬Is delayed in physical or emotional 

development 

•	¬Has attempted suicide 

•	¬Reports a lack of attachment to the parent 

Consider the possibility of emotional 

maltreatment when the parent or other 

adult caregiver: 

•	¬Constantly blames, belittles, or berates 

the child 

•	¬Is unconcerned about the child and 

refuses to consider offers of help for the 

child’s problems 

•	¬Overtly rejects the child 

ResouRCes on the ChIld 

WelfaRe InfoRmatIon 

GateWay WebsIte
¬

Child Abuse and Neglect 

www.childwelfare.gov/can/index.cfm 

Defining Child Abuse and Neglect 

www.childwelfare.gov/can/defining/ 

Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect 

www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/ 

Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect 

www.childwelfare.gov/responding/
¬

reporting.cfm
¬

This factsheet was adapted, with permission, 

from Recognizing Child Abuse: What Parents 

Should Know. Prevent Child Abuse America. 

© 00. 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 4 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/signs.cfm. 
FACTSHEET 

April 2008 

How the Child Welfare 

The child welfare system is a group of services 

designed to promote the well-being of children 

by ensuring safety, achieving permanency, and 

strengthening families to successfully care for their 

children. While the primary responsibility for child 

welfare services rests with the States, the Federal 

Government plays a major role in supporting States 

in the delivery of services through funding of 

programs and legislative initiatives. 

What’s Inside: 

• What happens when possible abuse

or neglect is reported? 

• What happens after a report is

“screened in”? 

• What happens in substantiated

(founded) cases? 

• What happens to people who

abuse children? 

• What happens to children who

enter foster care? 

• Resources 

System Works 

Disponible en español 

www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/ 

factsheets/spcpswork.cfm 

Child Welfare Information Gateway 

Children’s Bureau/ACYF 

1250 Maryland Avenue, SW 

Eighth Floor 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Administration for Children and Families Washington, DC 20024 Administration on Children, Youth and Families 703.385.7565 or 800.394.3366 

Children’s Bureau Email: info@childwelfare.gov 

www.childwelfare.gov 
How the Child Welfare System Works www.childwelfare.gov 

The primary responsibility for implementing 

Federal child and family legislative 

mandates rests with the Children’s Bureau 

within the Administration on Children, 

Youth and Families, Administration for 

Children and Families, U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services. The 

Children’s Bureau works with State and local 

agencies to develop programs that focus on 

preventing the abuse of children in troubled 

families, protecting children from abuse, 

and finding permanent families for those 

who cannot safely return to their parents. 

THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION
 

AND TREATMENT ACT
 

The Child Abuse Prevention and 

Treatment Act (CAPTA), originally passed 

in 1974, brought national attention to 

the need to protect vulnerable children 

in the United States. CAPTA provides 

Federal funding to States in support of 

prevention, assessment, investigation, 

prosecution, and treatment activities 

as well as grants to public agencies 

and nonprofit organizations for 

demonstration programs and projects. 

Additionally, CAPTA identifi es the 

Federal role in supporting research, 

evaluation, technical assistance, and 

data collection activities. CAPTA also 

sets forth a minimum definition of child 

abuse and neglect. Since it was signed 

into law, CAPTA has been amended 

several times. It was most recently 

amended and reauthorized on June 

25, 2003, by the Keeping Children and 

Families Safe Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-36). 

To see the 2003 amendment to CAPTA, 

visit: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/ 

laws_policies/cblaws/capta03/index.htm 

Most families first become involved with 

their local child welfare system due to a 

report of suspected child abuse or neglect 

(sometimes called “child maltreatment”). 

Child maltreatment is defined by CAPTA as 

serious harm (neglect, physical abuse, sexual 

abuse, and emotional abuse or neglect) 

caused to children by parents or primary 

caregivers, such as extended family members 

or babysitters.1 Child maltreatment also 

can include harm that a caregiver allows to 

happen or does not prevent from happening 

to a child. In general, child welfare 

agencies do not intervene in cases of harm 

to children caused by acquaintances or 

strangers. These cases are the responsibility 

of law enforcement.2 

The child welfare system is not a single 

entity. Many organizations in each 

community work together to strengthen 

families and keep children safe. Public 

agencies, such as departments of social 

services or child and family services, often 

contract and collaborate with private 

child welfare agencies and communitybased organizations to provide services 

to families, such as in-home family 

preservation services, foster care, residential 

treatment, mental health care, substance 

abuse treatment, parenting skills classes, 

employment assistance, and fi nancial or 

housing assistance. 

1 Each State has its own laws that defi ne child abuse and 

neglect for purposes of stating the reporting obligations of 

individuals and describing required State/local child protective 

services agency interventions. For State-by-State information 

about civil laws related to child abuse and neglect, visit the Child 

Welfare Information Gateway website at www.childwelfare.gov/ 

systemwide/laws_policies/state 

2 While some States authorize child protective services 

agencies to respond to all reports of alleged child maltreatment, 

other States authorize law enforcement to respond to certain 

types of maltreatment, such as sexual or physical abuse. 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 2 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/cpswork.cfm. 
How the Child Welfare System Works	 www.childwelfare.gov 

Child welfare systems are complex, and 

their specific procedures vary widely by 

State. The purpose of this factsheet is to 

give a brief overview of the purposes and 

functions of child welfare from a national 

perspective. Child welfare systems typically: 

• 	Receive and investigate reports of possible 

child abuse and neglect 

• 	 Provide services to families who need 

assistance in the protection and care of 

their children 

• 	Arrange for children to live with foster 

families when they are not safe at home 

• 	Arrange for adoption or other permanent 

family connections for children leaving 

foster care 

Appendix A provides a graphic overview 

of the process described in the following 

sections. 

What happens when 


possible abuse or 


neglect is reported?
 

Any concerned person can report suspicions 

of child abuse or neglect. Most reports 

are made by people who are required by 

State law to report suspicions of child 

abuse and neglect—mandatory reporters.3 

In approximately 18 States and Puerto 

Rico, any person who suspects child abuse 

See Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect (www. 

childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/manda.cfm) 

and Making and Screening Reports of Child Abuse and Neglect 

(www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/ 

repproc.cfm), available from Child Welfare Information Gateway. 

or neglect is required to report.4 Reports 

of possible child abuse and neglect are 

generally received by child protective 

services (CPS) workers and either “screened 

in” or “screened out.” A report is screened in 

if there is sufficient information to suggest 

an investigation is warranted. A report 

may be screened out if there is not enough 

information on which to follow up or if 

the situation reported does not meet the 

State’s legal definition of abuse or neglect.5 

In these instances, the worker may refer 

the person reporting the incident to other 

community services or law enforcement for 

additional help. 

In 2006, an estimated total of 3.3 

million referrals involving 6 million 

children were made to CPS agencies. 

Approximately 61.7 percent were 

screened in, and 38.3 percent were 

screened out (U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services [HHS], 2008). 

What happens after a 

report is “screened in”? 

CPS workers, often called investigators, 

respond within a particular time period, 

which may be anywhere from a few hours 

to a few days, depending on the type 

of maltreatment alleged, the potential 

4 The word approximately is used to stress the fact that States 


frequently amend their laws. The information in this publication 


is current through June 2007.
 

5 See Defi nitions of Child Abuse and Neglect (www.
 

childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/defi ne.cfm), 


available from Child Welfare Information Gateway. 


This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 3 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/cpswork.cfm. 

3 
How the Child Welfare System Works www.childwelfare.gov 

severity of the situation, and requirements 

under State law. They may speak with the 

parents and other people in contact with 

the child, such as doctors, teachers, or 

childcare providers. They also may speak 

with the child, alone or in the presence of 

caregivers, depending on the child’s age 

and level of risk. Children who are believed 

to be in immediate danger may be moved 

to a shelter, foster care placement, or a 

relative’s home during the investigation 

and while court proceedings are pending. 

An investigator’s primary purpose is to 

determine if the child is safe, if abuse or 

neglect has occurred, and if there is a risk of 

it occurring again. 

Some jurisdictions now employ an 

alternative response system. In these 

jurisdictions, when risk to the children 

involved is considered to be low, the CPS 

caseworker may focus on assessing family 

strengths, resources, and diffi culties and 

identifying supports and services needed, 

rather than on gathering evidence to 

confirm the occurrence of abuse or neglect. 

At the end of an investigation, CPS workers 

typically make one of two fi ndings— 

“unsubstantiated” (“unfounded”) or 

“substantiated” (“founded”). These terms 

vary from State to State. Typically, a 

finding of “unsubstantiated” means there 

is insufficient evidence for the worker 

to conclude that a child was abused or 

neglected, or what happened does not meet 

the legal definition of child abuse or neglect. 

A finding of “substantiated” typically means 

an incident of child abuse or neglect, as 

defined by State law, is believed to have 

occurred. Some States have additional 

categories, such as “unable to determine,” 

that suggest there was not enough evidence 

to either confirm or refute that abuse or 

neglect occurred. 

The agency will initiate a court action if 

it determines that the authority of the 

juvenile court (through a child protection 

or dependency proceeding) is necessary to 

keep the child safe. To protect the child, 

the court can issue temporary orders 

placing the child in shelter care during the 

investigation, ordering services, or ordering 

certain individuals to have no contact with 

the child. At an adjudicatory hearing, the 

court hears evidence and decides whether 

maltreatment occurred and whether the 

child should be under the continuing 

jurisdiction of the court. The court then 

enters a disposition, either at that hearing 

or at a separate hearing, which may result in 

the court ordering a parent to comply with 

services necessary to ameliorate the abuse or 

neglect. Orders can also contain provisions 

regarding visitation between the parent and 

the child, agency obligations to provide the 

parent with services, and services needed by 

the child. 

In 2006, approximately 905,000 children 

were found to be victims of child abuse 

or neglect (HHS, 2008). 

What happens 


in substantiated 


(founded) cases?
 

If a child has been abused or neglected, the 

course of action depends on State policy, the 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 4 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/cpswork.cfm. 
How the Child Welfare System Works	 www.childwelfare.gov 

severity of the maltreatment, an assessment 

of the child’s immediate safety, the risk 

of continued or future maltreatment, the 

services available to address the family’s 

needs, and whether the child was removed 

from the home and a court action to protect 

the child was initiated. The following 

general options are available: 

• 	No or low risk—The family’s case 

may be closed with no services if the 

maltreatment was a one-time incident, 

the child is considered to be safe, there 

is no or low risk of future incidents, and 

any services the family needs will not 

be provided through the child welfare 

agency but through other communitybased resources and service systems. 

• 	Low to moderate risk—Referrals may be 

made to community-based or voluntary 

in-home CPS services if the CPS worker 

believes the family would benefi t from 

these services and the child’s present 

and future safety would be enhanced. 

This may happen even when no abuse or 

neglect is found, if the family needs and 

is willing to participate in services. 

• 	Moderate to high risk—The family may 

again be offered voluntary in-home CPS 

services to address safety concerns and 

help ameliorate the risks. If these are 

refused, the agency may seek intervention 

by the juvenile dependency court. 

Once there is a judicial determination 

that abuse or neglect occurred, juvenile 

dependency court may require the family 

to cooperate with in-home CPS services 

if it is believed that the child can remain 

safely at home while the family addresses 

the issues contributing to the risk of 

future maltreatment. If the child has been 

seriously harmed, is considered to be at 

high risk of serious harm, or the child’s 

safety is threatened, the court may order 

the child’s removal from the home or 

affirm the agency’s prior removal of the 

child. The child may be placed with a 

relative or in foster care. 

In 2006, an estimated 312,000 children 

were removed from their homes as a 

result of a child abuse investigation 

or assessment. Nearly two-thirds (63.6 

percent) of the victims who were 

removed from their homes suffered 

from neglect; 8.6 percent from physical 

abuse; 3.2 percent from sexual abuse; 

and 16.8 percent from multiple types of 

maltreatment (HHS, 2008). 

What happens to people 

who abuse children? 

People who are found to have abused or 

neglected a child are generally offered 

support and treatment services or are 

required by a juvenile dependency court 

to participate in services that will help 

keep their children safe. In more severe 

cases or fatalities, police are called upon to 

investigate and may file charges in criminal 

court against the perpetrators of child 

maltreatment. In many States certain types 

of abuse, such as sexual abuse and serious 

physical abuse, are routinely referred to 

law enforcement. 

Whether or not criminal charges are fi led, 

the perpetrator’s name may be placed on a 

State child maltreatment registry if abuse 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 5 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/cpswork.cfm. 
How the Child Welfare System Works www.childwelfare.gov 

or neglect is confirmed. A registry is a 

central database that collects information 

about maltreated children and individuals 

who are found to have abused or neglected 

those children.6 These registries are usually 

confidential and used for internal child 

protective purposes only. However, they 

may be used in background checks for 

certain professions, such as those working 

with children, so children will be protected 

from contact with individuals who may 

mistreat them. 

What happens to 


children who enter 


foster care?
 

Most children in foster care are placed with 

relatives or foster families, but some may 

be placed in group homes. While a child 

is in foster care, he or she attends school 

and should receive medical care and other 

services as needed. The child’s family also 

receives services to support their efforts to 

reduce the risk of future maltreatment and 

to help them, in most cases, be reunited 

with their child. Parents may visit their 

children on a predetermined basis. Visits 

also are arranged between siblings, if they 

cannot be placed together. 

Every child in foster care should have a 

permanency plan that describes where 

the child will live after he or she leaves 

foster care. Families typically participate 

in developing a permanency plan for the 

6 For more information about these databases, see 

Establishment and Maintenance of Central Registries for 

Child Abuse Reports (www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_ 

policies/statutes/centreg.cfm), available from Child Welfare 

Information Gateway. 

child and a service plan for the family. 

These plans guide the agency’s work. Except 

in unusual and extreme circumstances, 

every child’s plan is first focused on 

reunification with parents. If the efforts 

toward reunification are not successful, the 

plan may be changed to another permanent 

arrangement, such as adoption or transfer 

of custody to a relative.7 Whether or not 

they are adopted, older youth in foster care 

should receive support in developing some 

form of permanent family connection, in 

addition to transitional or independent 

living services to assist them in being 

self-sufficient when they leave foster care 

between the ages of 18 and 21. 

Federal law requires the court to hold a 

permanency hearing, which determines 

the permanent plan for the child, within 

12 months after the child enters foster 

care and every 12 months thereafter. Many 

courts review each case more frequently to 

ensure that the agency is actively pursuing 

permanency for the child. 

In fiscal year 2003, 55 percent of 


children leaving foster care were 


returned to their parents. The median 


length of stay in foster care was 12 


months. The average age of a child 


exiting foster care was 10 years old 


(HHS, 2006). 


7 Under the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), while 

reasonable efforts to preserve and reunify families are still 

required, State agencies are required to seek termination of the 

parent-child relationship when a child has been in foster care 

for 15 of the most recent 22 months. This requirement does not 

apply (at the State’s option) if a child is cared for by a relative, if 

the termination is not in the best interest of the child, or if the 

State has not provided adequate services for the family. 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 6 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/cpswork.cfm. 
How the Child Welfare System Works www.childwelfare.gov 

safely to the care of their birth family, a 

relative, or an adoptive home. Summary 

For more detailed information about the 

child welfare system, please refer to the The goal of the child welfare system is resources listed below. For more information to promote the safety, permanency, and about the child welfare system in your State well-being of children and families. Even or local jurisdiction, contact your local among children who enter foster care, most public child welfare agency. children will leave the child welfare system 

References 

Badeau, S. & Gesiriech, S. (2003). A child’s journey through the child welfare system. Washington, 

DC: The Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care. Retrieved April 20, 2006, from 

http://pewfostercare.org/docs/index.php?DocID=24 

Goldman, J. & Salus, M. (2003). A coordinated response to child abuse and neglect: The foundation 

for practice (The User Manual Series). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services. Retrieved April 20, 2006, from www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/ 

foundation/index.cfm 

McCarthy, J., Marshall, A., Collins, J., Milon, J., Arganza, G., Deserly, K. (2003). A family’s 

guide to the child welfare system. Washington, DC: National Technical Assistance Center 

for Children’s Mental Health at Georgetown University Center for Child and Human 

Development. Retrieved May 1, 2007, from www.tapartnership.org/advisors/ChildWelfare/ 

resources/AFamilysGuideFINAL%20WEB%20VERSION.pdf 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2008). Child maltreatment 2006. Washington, 

DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 1, 2008, from 

www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm06/index.htm 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2006). Child welfare outcomes 2003: Annual 

report. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved May 1, 2007, from 

www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cwo03/index.htm 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 7 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/cpswork.cfm. 
How the Child Welfare System Works www.childwelfare.gov 

Appendix A: The Child Welfare System
 

Risk minimized. 

Case closed. 

Professional or community member reports 

suspected abuse to CPS. Worker screens report. 

Suspected child 

abuse or neglect. 

Court petition 

may be fi led. 

Child stays with family. 

Services are provided to 

the child and family. 

Situation does not meet the State’s 

definition of maltreatment, or 

too little information is supplied. 

Report is “screened out.” Caller 

may be referred elsewhere. 

Child welfare or 

community-based 

services may be offered 

to address family needs. 

No services are found 

to be appropriate. 

Family may be 

referred elsewhere. 

Safety concerns exist 

and/or risk is signifi cant. 

There are no safety 

concerns and risk is low. 

Safety concerns and 

risk are moderate. 

CPS investigates. CPS may conduct a 

family assessment. 

Report is “screened in.” 

Reunifi cation 

with family. 

Custody to 

a relative. 

Termination of parental rights 

and adoption or permanent 

legal guardianship. 

Independent living 

with permanent 

family connections. 

Child is placed in out-of-home care and services 

are provided to the child and family. 

Case closed. 

Family may be referred 

for voluntary services. 

Child has been harmed 

and a risk of future 

abuse or ongoing safety 

concerns are present. 

Evidence of 

abuse or neglect: 

“Substantiated” 

or “Founded.” 

Low or no risk of 

future abuse found. 

Insuffi cient evidence 

of abuse or neglect: 

“Unsubstantiated” 

or “Unfounded.” 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 8
 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/cpswork.cfm. 
 

FactSheet 

April 2008 

An estimated 905,000 children were victims of 

child abuse or neglect in 2006 (U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services, 2008). While physical 

injuries may or may not be immediately visible, 

abuse and neglect can have consequences for 

children, families, and society that last lifetimes, if 

not generations. 

The impact of child abuse and neglect is often 

discussed in terms of physical, psychological, 

What’s Inside: 

• Factors affecting the consequences of

child abuse and neglect 

• Physical health consequences

• Psychological consequences

• Behavioral consequences

• Societal consequences

Long-Term Consequences 

of Child Abuse 

and Neglect 

Disponible en español 

www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/ 

factsheets/sp_long_term_ 

consequences.cfm 

Child Welfare Information Gateway 

Children’s Bureau/ACYF 

1250 Maryland Avenue, SW 

Eighth Floor 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Administration for Children and Families Washington, DC 20024 Administration on Children, Youth and Families 703.385.7565 or 800.394.3366 

Children’s Bureau Email: info@childwelfare.gov 

www.childwelfare.gov 
Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect www.childwelfare.gov 

behavioral, and societal consequences. In This factsheet provides an overview of 

reality, however, it is impossible to separate some of the most common physical, 

them completely. Physical consequences, psychological, behavioral, and societal 

such as damage to a child’s growing brain, consequences of child abuse and neglect, 

can have psychological implications such while acknowledging that much crossover 

as cognitive delays or emotional difficulties. among categories exists. 

Psychological problems often manifest as 

high-risk behaviors. Depression and anxiety, 

for example, may make a person more likely Factors affecting the to smoke, abuse alcohol or illicit drugs, or 

overeat. High-risk behaviors, in turn, can consequences of child 

lead to long-term physical health problems abuse and Neglect such as sexually transmitted diseases, cancer, 

and obesity. 

Not all abused and neglected children 

will experience long-term consequences. 

The Federal Government has made a considerable investment in research regarding the 

causes and long-term consequences of child abuse and neglect. These efforts are ongoing; 

for more information, visit the websites listed below: 

LONGSCAN (Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect) is a consortium of 

longitudinal research studies on the causes and impact of child abuse and neglect, initiated 

in 1990 with grants from the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. The size and 

diversity of the sample (1,354 children from five distinct geographical areas) enables 

LONGSCAN to examine the relative impact of various forms of maltreatment, alone and 

in combination. LONGSCAN studies also evaluate the effectiveness of child protection and 

child welfare services. 

www.iprc.unc.edu/longscan 

NSCAW (The National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being) is a project of the 

Administration on Children, Youth and Families to describe the child welfare system and 

the experiences of children and families who come in contact with the system. Its 2005 

report provides a snapshot of the functioning and the potential service needs of children 

and families soon after a child protective services investigation has taken place. NSCAW will 

continue to follow the life course of these children to gather data about services received 

during subsequent periods, measures of child well-being, and longer-term results for the 

study population. This information will provide a clearer understanding of life outcomes for 

children and families who come into contact with the child welfare system. 

www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/abuse_neglect/nscaw/index.html 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 2 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm. 
Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect	¬ www.childwelfare.gov 

Outcomes of individual cases vary widely 

and are affected by a combination of 

factors, including: 

•	¬The child’s age and developmental status 

when the abuse or neglect occurred 

•	¬The type of abuse (physical abuse, 

neglect, sexual abuse, etc.) 

•	¬The frequency, duration, and severity 

of abuse 

•	¬The relationship between the victim and 

his or her abuser (English et al., 2005; 

Chalk, Gibbons, & Scarupa, 2002) 

Researchers also have begun to explore why, 

given similar conditions, some children 

experience long-term consequences of abuse 

and neglect while others emerge relatively 

unscathed. The ability to cope, and even 

thrive, following a negative experience is 

sometimes referred to as “resilience.” A 

number of protective and promotive factors 

may contribute to an abused or neglected 

child’s resilience. These include individual 

characteristics, such as optimism, selfesteem, intelligence, creativity, humor, and 

independence, as well as the acceptance 

of peers and positive individual influences 

such as teachers, mentors, and role models. 

Other factors can include the child’s social 

environment and the family’s access to 

social supports. Community well-being, 

including neighborhood stability and access 

to safe schools and adequate health care, 

are other protective and promotive factors 

(Fraser & Terzian, 2005). 

Physical health 

consequences
Ê

The immediate physical effects of abuse or 

neglect can be relatively minor (bruises or 

cuts) or severe (broken bones, hemorrhage, 

or even death). In some cases the physical 

effects are temporary; however, the pain 

and suffering they cause a child should 

not be discounted. Meanwhile, the longterm impact of child abuse and neglect 

on physical health is just beginning to 

be explored. According to the National 

Survey of Child and Adolescent WellBeing (NSCAW), more than one-quarter of 

children who had been in foster care for 

longer than 12 months had some lasting or 

recurring health problem (Administration 

for Children and Families, Office of 

Planning, Research and Evaluation [ACF/ 

OPRE], 2004a). Below are some outcomes 

researchers have identified: 

Shaken baby syndrome. Shaking a baby 

is a common form of child abuse. The 

injuries caused by shaking a baby may not 

be immediately noticeable and may include 

bleeding in the eye or brain, damage to 

the spinal cord and neck, and rib or bone 

fractures (National Institute of Neurological 

Disorders and Stroke, 2007). 

Impaired brain development. Child 

abuse and neglect have been shown, in 

some cases, to cause important regions of 

the brain to fail to form or grow properly, 

resulting in impaired development (De 

Bellis & Thomas, 2003). These alterations 

in brain maturation have long-term 

consequences for cognitive, language, and 

academic abilities (Watts-English, Fortson, 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 3 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm. 
Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect www.childwelfare.gov 

Gibler, Hooper, & De Bellis, 2006). NSCAW 

found more than three-quarters of foster 

children between 1 and 2 years of age to be 

at medium to high risk for problems with 

brain development, as opposed to less than 

half of children in a control sample (ACF/ 

OPRE, 2004a). 

Poor physical health. Several studies have 

shown a relationship between various 

forms of household dysfunction (including 

childhood abuse) and poor health (Flaherty 

et al., 2006; Felitti, 2002). Adults who 

experienced abuse or neglect during 

childhood are more likely to suffer from 

physical ailments such as allergies, arthritis, 

asthma, bronchitis, high blood pressure, and 

ulcers (Springer, Sheridan, Kuo, & Carnes, 

2007). 

Psychological 

consequences
Ê

The immediate emotional effects of 

abuse and neglect—isolation, fear, and an 

inability to trust—can translate into lifelong 

consequences, including low self-esteem, 

depression, and relationship difficulties. 

Researchers have identified links between 

child abuse and neglect and the following: 

Difficulties during infancy. Depression and 

withdrawal symptoms were common among 

children as young as 3 who experienced 

emotional, physical, or environmental 

neglect (Dubowitz, Papas, Black, & 

Starr, 2002). 

Poor mental and emotional health. In 

one long-term study, as many as 80 percent 

of young adults who had been abused 

met the diagnostic criteria for at least one 

psychiatric disorder at age 21. These young 

adults exhibited many problems, including 

depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and 

suicide attempts (Silverman, Reinherz, 

& Giaconia, 1996). Other psychological 

and emotional conditions associated with 

abuse and neglect include panic disorder, 

dissociative disorders, attention-deficit/ 

hyperactivity disorder, depression, anger, 

posttraumatic stress disorder, and reactive 

attachment disorder (Teicher, 2000; De Bellis 

& Thomas, 2003; Springer, Sheridan, Kuo, & 

Carnes, 2007). 

Cognitive difficulties. NSCAW found that 

children placed in out-of-home care due 

to abuse or neglect tended to score lower 

than the general population on measures of 

cognitive capacity, language development, 

and academic achievement (U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, 

2003). A 1999 LONGSCAN study also 

found a relationship between substantiated 

child maltreatment and poor academic 

performance and classroom functioning for 

school-age children (Zolotor, Kotch, Dufort, 

Winsor, & Catellier, 1999). 

Social difficulties. Children who experience 

rejection or neglect are more likely to 

develop antisocial traits as they grow up. 

Parental neglect is also associated with 

borderline personality disorders and violent 

behavior (Schore, 2003). 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 4 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm. 
Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect www.childwelfare.gov 

Behavioral 

consequences
Ê

Not all victims of child abuse and neglect 

will experience behavioral consequences. 

However, behavioral problems appear to 

be more likely among this group, even at a 

young age. An NSCAW survey of children 

ages 3 to 5 in foster care found these 

children displayed clinical or borderline 

levels of behavioral problems at a rate more 

than twice that of the general population 

(ACF, 2004b). Later in life, child abuse and 

neglect appear to make the following more 

likely: 

Difficulties during adolescence. Studies 

have found abused and neglected children 

to be at least 25 percent more likely to 

experience problems such as delinquency, 

teen pregnancy, low academic achievement, 

drug use, and mental health problems 

(Kelley, Thornberry, & Smith, 1997). Other 

studies suggest that abused or neglected 

children are more likely to engage in sexual 

risk-taking as they reach adolescence, 

thereby increasing their chances of 

contracting a sexually transmitted disease 

(Johnson, Rew, & Sternglanz, 2006). 

Juvenile delinquency and adult 

criminality. According to a National 

Institute of Justice study, abused and 

neglected children were 11 times more 

likely to be arrested for criminal behavior 

as a juvenile, 2.7 times more likely to be 

arrested for violent and criminal behavior 

as an adult, and 3.1 times more likely to be 

arrested for one of many forms of violent 

crime (juvenile or adult) (English, Widom, & 

Brandford, 2004). 

Alcohol and other drug abuse. Research 

consistently reflects an increased likelihood 

that abused and neglected children will 

smoke cigarettes, abuse alcohol, or take 

illicit drugs during their lifetime (Dube et 

al., 2001). According to a report from the 

National Institute on Drug Abuse, as many 

as two-thirds of people in drug treatment 

programs reported being abused as children 

(Swan, 1998). 

Abusive behavior. Abusive parents often 

have experienced abuse during their own 

childhoods. It is estimated approximately 

one-third of abused and neglected children 

will eventually victimize their own children 

(Prevent Child Abuse New York, 2003). 

Societal consequences
Ê

While child abuse and neglect almost always 

occur within the family, the impact does not 

end there. Society as a whole pays a price 

for child abuse and neglect, in terms of both 

direct and indirect costs. 

Direct costs. Direct costs include those 

associated with maintaining a child welfare 

system to investigate and respond to 

allegations of child abuse and neglect, as 

well as expenditures by the judicial, law 

enforcement, health, and mental health 

systems. A 2001 report by Prevent Child 

Abuse America estimates these costs at $24 

billion per year. 

Indirect costs. Indirect costs represent the 

long-term economic consequences of child 

abuse and neglect. These include costs 

associated with juvenile and adult criminal 

activity, mental illness, substance abuse, and 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 5 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm. 
 

Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect www.childwelfare.gov 

domestic violence. They can also include Ultimately, due to related costs to public 

loss of productivity due to unemployment entities such as the health care, human 

and underemployment, the cost of special services, and educational systems, abuse and 

education services, and increased use of the neglect impact not just the child and family, 

health care system. Prevent Child Abuse but society as a whole. 

America estimated these costs at more than 

$69 billion per year (2001). 

ResouRCes on the ChIld 

WelfaRe InfoRmatIon 

Summary GateWay WebsIte 

Child Abuse and Neglect Much research has been done about the www.childwelfare.gov/can/index.cfm possible consequences of child abuse and 

neglect. The effects vary depending on Defining Child Abuse and Neglect

www.childwelfare.gov/can/defining/
¬ the circumstances of the abuse or neglect, 

personal characteristics of the child, and the Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect child’s environment. Consequences may www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/ be mild or severe; disappear after a short 

period or last a lifetime; and affect the child Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

physically, psychologically, behaviorally, www.childwelfare.gov/responding/ 

or in some combination of all three ways. reporting.cfm

References 

Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation. 

(2004a). Who are the children in foster care? NSCAW Research Brief No. 1. Retrieved August 9, 

2007, from the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect website: www.ndacan. 

cornell.edu/NDACAN/Datasets/Related_Docs/NSCAW_Research_Brief_1.pdf 

Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation. 

(2004b). Children ages 3 to 5 in the child welfare system. NSCAW Research Brief No. 5. 

Washington, DC: Author. 

Chalk, R., Gibbons, A., & Scarupa, H. J. (2002). The multiple dimensions of child abuse and 

neglect: New insights into an old problem. Washington, DC: Child Trends. Retrieved April 27, 

2006, from www.childtrends.org/Files/ChildAbuseRB.pdf 

De Bellis, M., & Thomas, L. (2003). Biologic findings of post-traumatic stress disorder and 

child maltreatment. Current Psychiatry Repots, 5, 108-117. 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 6 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm. 
Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect www.childwelfare.gov 

Dube, S. R., Anda, R. F., Felitti, V. J., Chapman, D., Williamson, D. F., & Giles, W. H. (2001). 

Childhood abuse, household dysfunction and the risk of attempted suicide throughout the 

life span: Findings from the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. Journal of the American 

Medical Association, 286, 3089-3096. 

Dubowitz, H., Papas, M. A., Black, M. M., & Starr, R. H., Jr. (2002). Child neglect: Outcomes in 

high-risk urban preschoolers. Pediatrics, 109, 1100-1107. 

English, D. J., Upadhyaya, M. P., Litrownik, A. J., Marshall, J. M., Runyan, D. K., Graham, J. C., 

& Dubowitz, H. (2005). Maltreatment’s wake: The relationship of maltreatment dimensions 

to child outcomes. Child Abuse and Neglect, 29, 597-619. 

English, D. J., Widom, C. S., & Brandford, C. (2004). Another look at the effects of child abuse. 

NIJ journal, 251, 23-24. 

Felitti, V. J. (2002). The relationship of adverse childhood experiences to adult health: Turning 

gold into lead. Zeitschrift für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie 48(4), 359-369. 

Retrieved June 18, 2007, from www.acestudy.org/docs/GoldintoLead.pdf 

Flaherty, E. G., et al. (2006). Effect of early childhood adversity on health. Archives of Pediatrics 

and Adolescent Medicine, 160, 1232-1238. 

Fraser, M. W., & Terzian, M. A. (2005). Risk and resilience in child development: principles 

and strategies of practice. In G. P. Mallon & P. M. Hess (Eds.), Child welfare for the 21st 

century: A handbook of practices, policies, and programs (pp. 55-71). New York, NY: Columbia 

University Press. 

Johnson, R., Rew, L., & Sternglanz, R. W. (2006). The relationship between childhood sexual 

abuse and sexual health practices of homeless adolescents. Adolescence, 41(162), 221-234. 

Kelley, B. T., Thornberry, T. P., & Smith, C. A. (1997). In the wake of childhood maltreatment. 

Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice. Retrieved April 27, 2006, from www.ncjrs. 

gov/pdffiles1/165257.pdf 

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2007). Shaken baby syndrome. 

Retrieved June 4, 2007, from www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/shakenbaby/shakenbaby.htm 

Prevent Child Abuse America. (2001). Total estimated cost of child abuse and neglect in the United 

States. Retrieved April 27, 2006, from http://member.preventchildabuse.org/site/DocServer/ 

cost_analysis.pdf?docID=144 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 7 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm. 
Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect www.childwelfare.gov 

Prevent Child Abuse New York. (2003). The costs of child abuse and the urgent need for prevention. 

Retrieved April 27, 2006, from http://pca-ny.org/pdf/cancost.pdf 

Schore, A. N. (2003). Early relational trauma, disorganized attachment, and the development 

of a predisposition to violence. In M. F. Solomon & D. J. Siegel (Eds.), Healing trauma: 

Attachment, mind, body, and brain. New York, NY: Norton. 

Silverman, A. B., Reinherz, H. Z., & Giaconia, R. M. (1996). The long-term sequelae of child 

and adolescent abuse: A longitudinal community study. Child Abuse and Neglect, 20(8), 

709-723. 

Springer, K. W., Sheridan, J., Kuo, D., & Carnes, M. (2007). Long-term physical and mental 

health consequences of childhood physical abuse: Results from a large population-based 

sample of men and women. Child Abuse & Neglect, 31, 517-530. 

Swan, N. (1998). Exploring the role of child abuse on later drug abuse: Researchers face 

broad gaps in information. NIDA Notes, 13(2). Retrieved April 27, 2006, from the National 

Institute on Drug Abuse website: www.nida.nih.gov/NIDA_Notes/NNVol13N2/exploring. 

html 

Teicher, M. D. (2000). Wounds that time won’t heal: The neurobiology of child abuse. 

Cerebrum: The Dana Forum on brain science, 2(4), 50-67. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2003). National Survey of Child and Adolescent 

Well-Being: One year in foster care wave 1 data analysis report. Retrieved April 27, 2006, from 

www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/abuse_neglect/nscaw/reports/nscaw_oyfc/oyfc_title.html 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2008). Child maltreatment 2006. Washington, 

DC: Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 1, 2008, from www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ 

cb/pubs/cm06/index.htm 

Watts-English, T., Fortson, B. L., Gibler, N., Hooper, S. R., & De Bellis, M. (2006). The 

psychobiology of maltreatment in childhood. Journal of Social Sciences 62(4) 717-736. 

Zolotor A, Kotch J, Dufort V, Winsor J, Catellier D, & Bou-Saada I. (1999). School performance 

in a longitudinal cohort of children at risk of maltreatment. Maternal and Child Health 

Journal, 3(1), 19–27. 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 8 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm. 
Child Maltreatment 

2006: Summary 

of Key Findings 

This factsheet presents 

excerpts from Child 

Maltreatment 2006, a report 

based on data submissions 

by State child protective 

services (CPS) agencies for 

Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2006. 

The full Child Maltreatment 

2006 report is available on 

the Children’s Bureau website: 

www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ 

cb/pubs/cm06/index.htm 

Numbers 

aNd treNds 

May 2008 

During Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2006, an estimated 3.3 million 

How many referrals, involving the alleged maltreatment of approximately 

children were 6.0 million children, were made to CPS agencies. An estimated 

3.6 million children received an investigation or assessment. 

reported and •	ÊApproximately 60 percent (61.7%) of referrals were screened 

received an in for investigation or assessment by CPS agencies. 

investigation •	ÊApproximately 30 percent of the investigations or 

assessments found at least one child to be a victim of abuse 

or assessment or neglect, with the following report dispositions: 25.2 

for abuse percent substantiated, 3.0 percent indicated, and 0.4 percent 

alternative response victim.1 

and neglect? 

1 The NCANDS disposition category of “alternative response victim”is defined as a conclusion that the child was identified as a victim 

when a response other than an investigation was provided. 

Child Welfare Information Gateway 

Children’s Bureau/ACYF 

1250 Maryland Avenue, SW 

Eighth Floor 

Washington, DC 20024 

703.385.7565 or 800.394.3366 

Email: info@childwelfare.gov 

www.childwelfare.gov 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Administration for Children and Families 

Administration on Children, Youth and Families 

Children’s Bureau 
Child Maltreatment 2006: Summary of Key Findings	¬ www.childwelfare.gov 

Who 

reported child 

maltreatment? 

Who were the 

child victims?
¬

What were the 

most common 

types of 

maltreatment? 

•	ÊMore than 70 percent of the investigations or assessments 

determined that the child was not a victim of maltreatment, 

with the following dispositions: 60.4 percent unsubstantiated, 

5.9 percent alternative response nonvictim2

, 3.2 percent 

“other,” 1.7 percent closed with no finding, and 0.1 percent 

intentionally false. 

For 2006, more than one-half (56.3%) of all reports of alleged 

child abuse or neglect were made by professionals. The term 

professional means that the person had contact with the alleged 

child maltreatment victim as part of the report source’s job. The 

remaining reports were made by nonprofessionals, including 

friends, neighbors, sports coaches, and relatives. 

The three most common report sources were teachers (16.5%), 

lawyers or police officers (15.8%), and social services staff 

(10.0%). 

During 2006, an estimated 905,000 children were determined to 

be victims of abuse or neglect. Among the children confirmed as 

victims by CPS agencies in 2006: 

•	ÊChildren in the age group of birth to 1 year had the highest 

rate of victimization at 24.4 per 1,000 children of the same 

age group in the national population. 

•	ÊJust over one-half (51.5%) of the child victims were girls, and 

48.2 percent were boys. 

•	ÊApproximately one-half (48.8%) of all victims were White; 

one-quarter (22.8%) were African-American; and 18.4 percent 

were Hispanic. 

As in prior years, neglect was the most common form of child 

maltreatment. CPS investigations determined that: 

•	ÊMore than 60 percent (64.1%) of victims suffered neglect. 

•	ÊMore than 15 percent (16.0%) of the victims suffered 

physical abuse. 

2 The NCANDS disposition category of “alternative response nonvictim” is defined as a conclusion that the child was not identified as a 

victim when a response other than an investigation was provided. 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 2 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/canstats.cfm 
 

Child Maltreatment 2006: Summary of Key Findings	¬ www.childwelfare.gov 

How many 

children died 

from abuse 

or neglect? 

Who abused 

and neglected 

children? 

•	ÊLess than 10 percent (8.8%) of the victims suffered 

sexual abuse. 

•	ÊLess than 10 percent (6.6%) of the victims suffered from 

emotional maltreatment. 

Child fatalities are the most tragic consequence of maltreatment. 

During 2006, an estimated 1,530 children died due to child 

abuse or neglect. The overall rate of child fatalities was 2.04 

deaths per 100,000 children. 

•	ÊMore than 40 percent (41.1%) were attributed to neglect; 

physical abuse also was a major contributor to child fatalities. 

•	ÊMore than three-quarters (78.0%) of the children who 

died due to child abuse and neglect were younger than 

4 years old. 

•	ÊInfant boys (younger than 1 year) had the highest rate of 

fatalities, at 18.5 deaths per 100,000 boys of the same age in 

the national population. 

•	ÊInfant girls had a rate of 14.7 deaths per 100,000 girls of the 

same age. 

In 2006, nearly 80 percent (79.4%) of perpetrators of child 

maltreatment were parents, and another 6.7 percent were other 

relatives of the victim. Women comprised a larger percentage 

of all perpetrators than men, 57.9 percent compared to 42.1 

percent. More than three-quarters (77.5%) of all perpetrators 

were younger than age 40. 

•	ÊOf the perpetrators who maltreated children, less than 10 

percent (7.0%) committed sexual abuse, while 60.4 percent 

committed neglect. 

•	ÊOf the perpetrators who were parents, more than 90 percent 

(91.5%) were the biological parent of the victim. 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 3 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/canstats.cfm 
Child Maltreatment 2006: Summary of Key Findings	¬ www.childwelfare.gov 

Who received 

services? 

During an investigation, CPS agencies provide services to 

children and their families, both in the home and in foster care. 

•	ÊNearly 60 percent (58.9%) of child victims received 

postinvestigation services. Of the children who were not 

found to be victims of maltreatment, 30.3 percent received 

such services. 

•	ÊApproximately one-fifth (21.5 percent) of victims were placed 

in foster care. In addition, 4.4 percent of nonvictims were 

removed from their homes. 

The statistics in the Child Maltreatment reports are based on 

data submitted to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data 

System (NCANDS). NCANDS is a voluntary reporting system that 

was developed by the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services to collect and analyze annual 

statistics on child maltreatment from State CPS agencies. 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare 4 Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/canstats.cfm 
Related 

ORganizatiOns 

list 

Toll-Free Crisis 

Hotline Numbers 

June 2007 

Disponible en español 

www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/ 

reslist/sp_tollfree.cfm 

Child abuse Family Violence 

Childhelp® National Domestic Violence Hotline 

Phone: 800.4.A.CHILD (800.422.4453) Phone: 800.799.SAFE (800.799.7233) 

Who They Help: Child abuse victims, Who They Help: Children, parents, 

parents, concerned individuals friends, offenders 

Child sexual abuse Mental illness 

Stop It Now! National Alliance on Mental Illness 

Phone: 888.PREVENT (888.773.8368) Phone: 800.950.NAMI (800.950.6264) 

Who They Help: Adults, parents, offenders, Who They Help: Individuals, families, 

concerned individuals professionals 

Crime Victims 

National Center for Victims of Crime 

Phone: 800.FYI.CALL (800.394.2255) 

Who They Help: Families, communities, and 

individuals harmed by crime 

Child Welfare Information Gateway 

Children’s Bureau/ACYF 

1250 Maryland Avenue, SW 

Eighth Floor 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Administration for Children and Families Washington, DC 20024 Administration on Children, Youth and Families 703.385.7565 or 800.394.3366 

Children’s Bureau Email: info@childwelfare.gov 

www.childwelfare.gov 
Toll-Free Crisis Hotline Numbers www.childwelfare.gov 

Missing/abducted 

Children
Ê

Child Find of America 

Phone: 800.I.AM.LOST (800.426.5678) 

Who They Help: Parents reporting lost or 

abducted children 

Child Find of America – Mediation 

Phone: 800.A.WAY.OUT (800.292.9688) 

Who They Help: Parents (abduction, 

prevention, child custody issues) 

National Center for Missing and 

Exploited Children 

Phone: 800.THE.LOST (800.843.5678) 

Who They Help: Families and professionals 

(social services, law enforcement) 

Rape/incest 

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network 

(RAINN)
¬

Phone: 800.656.HOPE, Ext.1 

(800.656.4673, Ext.1)
¬

Who They Help: Rape and incest victims, 

media, policymakers, concerned individuals
¬

substance abuse 

National Alcohol and Substance Abuse 

Information Center 

Phone: 800.784.6776 

Who They Help: Families, professionals, 

media, policymakers, concerned individuals 

suicide Prevention 

National Suicide Hopeline 

Phone: 800.784.2433 

Who They Help: Families, concerned 

individuals 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 

Phone: 800.273.8255 

Who They Help: Families, concerned 

individuals 

Youth in trouble/ 

Runaways
Ê

National Runaway Switchboard 

Phone: 800.RUNAWAY (800.786.2929) 

Who They Help: Runaway and homeless 

youth, families 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit 2 Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist/tollfree.cfm