STATISTICS: CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, CALENDAR YEAR 2006

Child Welfare in Georgia:

• 92,952 reports were made to the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS):
• 16% of these reports (14,657) were screened out and not entered into the data system or investigated by DFCS
• 25% of these reports (22,833) were diversions
• 60% of these reports (55,462) were accepted for services and entered into the data system
• 22,779 (41%) of the entered reports were substantiated, 12,595 opened to DFCS (23% of investigated cases) and 10, 184 investigated, substantiated, closed (45% of substantiated cases)

• Neglect - 73.9%
• Physical Abuse - 10.8%
• Sexual Abuse - 4.6%
• Emotional and Other Maltreatment - 22.3%

Click here to access the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Family & Children Services report "Protective Services Data System Annual Report 2006".

Nationally:

• $104 billion: the estimated annual cost resulting from child abuse and neglect (Source: Prevent Child Abuse America, 2006)

Information on the costs of child abuse and neglect to society is available in the report

"Time for Reform: Investing in Prevention: Keeping Children Safe at Home"

prepared by Kids Are Waiting (KAW)

 

WE MUST LOOK BEYOND STATISTICS IN ORDER TO

EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS CHILD MALTREATMENT

All of us must learn how to recognize when there may be risk for harm to children and know how to offer support and assistance before child abuse occurs. Prevention means understanding the conditions that make children vulnerable and taking the action necessary to improve those conditions. Preventing child abuse means strengthening the ability of parents and communities to care for their children’s health and well-being.