National Child Abuse Prevention Month, funded by The Children’s Bureau, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services every April, recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to strengthen families to prevent child abuse and neglect. Through this collaboration, prevention services and supports help protect children and produce thriving families.
KEY FACTS AND STATISTICS
The most common type of maltreatment is neglect. In Federal fiscal year 2020, about 3.9 million referrals were made to child protective services concerning the safety and well-being of approximately 7.1 million children. Last year, an estimated 618,000 children were found to be victims of child abuse or neglect nationwide.
Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. (2022). Child Maltreatment 2020.
Child abuse and neglect are preventable. There are a number of factors that may increase or decrease the risk for perpetrating and/or experiencing child abuse and neglect. To prevent child abuse and neglect violence, we must understand and address the factors that put people at risk for or protect them from violence.
Everyone benefits when children have safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments. Different types of violence are connected and often share root causes. Child abuse and neglect are linked to other forms of violence through shared risk and protective factors.
Risk and protective factors: CDC
Addressing and preventing one form of violence may have an impact on preventing other forms of violence.
More prevention resources from Prevent Child Abuse Indiana
