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The Big Secret
Unless you are in the Child Abuse movement, I would
bet that you didn't know that almost two-thirds of
the perpetrators of child maltreatment are women
and that 68% of these women are younger than 30.
This is not to hide the fact that there are a
substantial number of male perpetrators and that
men represent 77% of the perpetrators of sexual
abuse. It does bring out, however, a curious
situation that women, and particularly young women
are the primary perpetrators in all the remaining
categories of child maltreatment (physical abuse,
neglect, medical neglect, psychological abuse and
other abuse) and no one seems to let that fact be
known.
I wonder how many men whose partners abuses the
children, are afraid to report the situation
because they (1) Assume that women are the primary
nurturers of children and that men are the primary
abusers so the neglect, psychological, and physical
abuse of the children must not be that bad, or (2)
If he reports it, the finger might be pointed at
him (which happens in many such cases).
What these men should know is that women, not
men are the primary abusers of children and that if
they don't report her actions and someone else
does, he is likely to serve more time than she
does. After all, it is the man in this culture who
has been assigned the role of protector. And, while
it is scary and sometimes dangerous to report a
woman perpetrator, it is more devastating to the
children, and possibly to you, not to report
her.
Information can be given through a therapist,
health care professional, lawyer, or educational
personnel (most of whom are required by law in most
states to report this information to Child
Protective Services) or directly with the police.
For your own safety, so there is less likelihood of
you being accused as the perpetrator (assuming you
are not a perpetrator), a lawyer or therapist might
be the best route.
Snippets
- The United States leads the world in
homicides against children and youth under age
15, accounting for 73 percent of all
homicides-and 54 percent of all suicides-of
children from birth to age 15 in the world's top
26 industrialized countries. The causes include
guns, motor vehicles and child abuse" (CWLA).
See also www.cwla.org/advocacy/memorialflagdescription.htm
- Of the six categories of maltreatment, 62%
of all perpetrators were female and
females lead in five of the six
categories. (Physical abuse - 52%,
neglect - 74%, medical neglect -
82%, sexual abuse - 26%, psychological
abuse - 52%, and other abuse -
57%.)
- Perpetrators of maltreatment tend to be
young and female: 81% of the perpetrators were
under the age of 40 and females lead in
each of those categories: 0-19 - 52%,
20-29 - 72%, 30-39 - 63% . Males
lead in the 40-49 - 51% and 50+ - 51%.
- Slightly more victims of maltreatment were
female (52%). They represent 48% of
physical abuse victims, 48% neglect, 47% medical
neglect, 77% of sexual abuse, 51% of
psychological abuse and 51% of other
abuse.
- 84% of child fatalities
happened with perpetrators under the age of 40.
Females led overall representing 63% of
the perpetrators of child fatalities and led in
each of these age categories 0-19 - 67%,
20-29 - 69%, 30-39 - 54% and
represented 75% of the 50+ category.
Males lead in the 40-49 - 56% which represented
only 10% of total child fatalities.
- 57% of child fatalities were male.
- Over three-quarters of child fatalities were
under the age of 4: 0-3 - 77%, 4-7 - 13%,
8-11 - 4%, 12-13 - 4% and 16+ - 2%.
- Three-quarters of perpetrators of child
maltreatment were parents, and an additional
tenth were other relatives. Non Caretakers
represented 5%,child care providers 0.9%, foster
parents 0.5%, facility staff 0.3% and 8% are
unknown.
- Nearly 3 million children were alleged
victims of maltreatment (42 children per 1,000).
34% resulted in a disposition of either
substantiated or indicated child maltreatment.
56% resulted in a finding that child
maltreatment was not substantiated.
- More than half of child abuse and neglect
reports were received from professionals.
(Substantiated/unsubstantiated) Educational
personnel represented 15% of all reports
(28%/51%). Legal personnel represented 13% of
reports (47%/32%). Social services/Mental Health
personal re[resented 13% of reports
(30%/48%). Anonymous Reports represent 10% of
reports (16%/64%). Medical Personnel represented
10% of reports (42%/41%).
- A comparison of victims by type of
maltreatment, 1990 to 1997: neglect has
increased 8% to 56% of all cases, Physical abuse
has dropped 2% to 25%, sexual abuse has dropped
4% to 13%, other has increased 2% to 12%, and
psychological abuse or neglect has dropped
slightly to 6%.
- Victims by race (% of population/% of
victims): Whites: 79%/67%. African
American: 15%/30%. American Indian/Alaska
Native: 1%/3%, Asian/Pacific Islander:
5%/1%.
* Source: Child
Maltreatment 1997: Reports from the States to
the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data
System, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 330 C Street, SW, Washington,
DC 20447 800.FYI-3366 or www.calib.com/nccanch.
Publication available online at www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb
Child Maltreatment
The number of children who were victims of child
maltreatment increased from 826,000 in 1999 to
879,000 in 2000, reversing a decline between 1996
and 1999. (See Table 1)
Importance
The causes of child maltreatment are not well
understood, although abuse and, especially,
neglect, are more common in poor and extremely poor
families than in families with higher incomes.1
Child abuse or neglect is often associated with
physical injuries, delayed physical growth, and
even neurological damage. Child maltreatment is
also associated with psychological problems such as
aggression, depression, and post-traumatic stress
disorder. It is also linked to an increased risk of
substance abuse in later life.2 In extreme cases,
child abuse and neglect can lead to death. In 2000,
approximately 1,200 children died as the result of
abuse or neglect.3
In the national statistical system that tracks
child maltreatment, children are counted as victims
if an investigation by the state child welfare
agency classifies their case as either
"substantiated" or "indicated" child maltreatment.
Substantiated cases are those in which an
allegation of maltreatment or risk of maltreatment
was supported or founded according to state law or
policy. Indicated cases are those in which an
allegation of maltreatment or risk of maltreatment
could not be substantiated, but there was reason to
suspect maltreatment or the risk of
maltreatment.4
Trends
Between 1990 and 1996, the number of children
for whom child abuse or neglect was either
substantiated or indicated rose from nearly 861,000
to over 1,012,000-a rate of 14.7 maltreated
children per thousand U.S. children under age 18 in
1996. Between 1996 and 1999, the trend reversed as
the number of maltreated children dropped to around
829,000. However, the number of maltreated children
once again increased in 2000 to 879,000-a rate of
12.2 maltreated children per thousand U.S.
children. (See Table 1)
Among maltreated children, the percentage
reported as sexually abused declined from 17
percent in 1990 to 10 percent in 2000. Similarly,
the percentage reported as physically abused
declined from 27 percent to 19 percent over the
same period. Conversely, the percentage of
maltreated children reported as neglected increased
from 49 percent in 1990 to 60 percent in 2000.
Differences by Age
Although children age one and under accounted
for 11 percent of all children under age 18 in
2000, they accounted for 15 percent of child
maltreatment victims. Children ages 14-17, on the
other hand, are underrepresented among victims of
child maltreatment (22 percent of the child
population but only 15 percent of the victims).
(See Figure 1)
Differences by Race5 and Hispanic Origin
Blacks and American Indian or Alaskan Natives
are overrepresented among victims of child
maltreatment. Although blacks account for 15
percent of all children, they accounted for 25
percent of child maltreatment victims in 2000.
American Indian or Alaska natives are also
overrepresented (1 percent of population versus 2
percent of victims). Conversely, white children (79
percent of population versus 51 percent of victims)
and Asian or Pacific Islander children (5 percent
of population versus 1 percent of victims) are
underrepresented among victims of child
maltreatment. Hispanics account for a nearly equal
share of the population and victims (16 percent and
14 percent, respectively). (See Figure 2)
Related Indicators
Mothers Who Smoke While Pregnant, Foster Care,
Attitudes Toward Spanking, Parental Warmth and
Affection, Violent Victimization of Youth
State and Local Estimates
State estimates for 2000 are available at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/cm00/table2_5.htm
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/cm00/table3_8.htm
National Goals
The Healthy People 2010 initiative has set a goal
to reduce child maltreatment (from 12.9 per 1,000
in 1998 to 10.3 per 1,000 by 2010) and maltreatment
fatalities in children (from 1.6 per 100,000 in
1998 to 1.4 per 100,000 by 2010).
For additional information visit: www.health.gov/healthypeople/document/html/objectives/15-33.htm
(Goal 15-33
Research References
1National Research Council, Understanding Child
Abuse and Neglect. Washington, DC: National Academy
Press, 1993.
2Guterman, N.B., Stopping Child Maltreatment
Before It Starts: Emerging Horizons in Early Home
Visitation Services. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications, 2001.
3Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
"National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System
(NCANDS) Summary of Key Findings from Calendar Year
2000" (April 2002). www.calib.com/nccanch/prevmnth/scope/ncands.cfm
4U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration on Children, Youth, and Families.
"Child Maltreatment 1999," 2001. www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/cm99/
5Estimates for whites, blacks, American
Indian/Alaskan Native and Asian/Pacific Islanders
include Hispanics.
6Christoffel, K.K., Scheidt, P.C., Agran, P.F.,
Kraus, J.F., McLoughlin, E. & Paulson, J.A.
"Standard Definitions for Childhood Injury
Research: Excerpts of a Conference Report."
Pediatrics 89:1027-1034, 1992.
7U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration on Children, Youth, and Families.
"Child Maltreatment 1999," 2001. www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/cm99/
Definition
Child maltreatment can be defined as "behavior
towards [a child] . . . which (a) is
outside the norms of conduct, and (b) entails a
substantial risk of causing physical or emotional
harm. Behaviors included will consist of actions
and omissions, ones that are intentional and ones
that are unintentional."6 Four types of
maltreatment are generally recognized, including
physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and
emotional maltreatment.
In the national statistical system that tracks
child maltreatment, children are counted as victims
if an investigation by the state child welfare
agency classifies their case as either
"substantiated" or "indicated" child maltreatment.
Substantiated cases are those in which an
allegation of maltreatment or risk of maltreatment
was supported or founded according to state law or
policy. Indicated cases are those in which an
allegation of maltreatment or risk of maltreatment
could not be substantiated, but there was reason to
suspect maltreatment or the risk of
maltreatment.7
Data Source
All estimates for 2000: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration on Children, Youth and Families,
Child Maltreatment 2000. Washington, D.C.: U.S.
GPO. 2002. www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/cmreports.htm
Population estimates for 2000:
Population Estimates Program, Population Division,
U.S. Census Bureau. Internet release date: April
11, 2000. eire.census.gov/popest/archives/national/nat_90s_detail/nat_90s_1.php
All estimates for 1990-1999
(except rate per 1,000): Trends in the Well-Being
of America's Children and Youth 2001. Table HC 2.10
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and
Evaluation. aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/01trends/
(See Table HC 2.10
Rate per 1000 for 1990-1999:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration on Children, Youth, and Families.
"Child Maltreatment 1999." www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/cm99/
Raw Data
Source
U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Children's Bureau, National Child
Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS).
www.calib.com/nccanch/
Approximate Date of Next Update,
June 2003, www.childtrendsdatabank.org/health/violence/40ChildMaltreatment.htm
Non-Familia
Maltreatment
By far the majority of chiold sexual molestation
happens within the family. The remainder falls into
the following categories.
Type of Incident
|
2002
|
2001
|
2000
|
1999
|
1998
|
Grand Total
|
43,078
|
24,442
|
19,245
|
9,668
|
4,560
|
Child Pormography 1
|
37,647
|
21,611
|
16,724
|
7,736
|
3,267
|
Child Prostitution 2
|
587
|
346
|
287
|
187
|
142
|
Child Sex Tourism
3
|
239
|
151
|
142
|
135
|
79
|
Child Sexual Molstation 4
|
1,474
|
794
|
634
|
471
|
365
|
Online Enticement 5
|
2,782
|
1,540
|
1,458
|
1,139
|
707
|
Unsolicited Material
6
|
349
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
Source: Cybertipline.com
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