Resources
Statistics: Child Abuse and Neglect, Calendar Year 2007
Child Welfare in Georgia:
- 92,268 reports of child abuse and neglect were made to county Departments of Family and Children Services in 2007.
- 16% (15,136) were screened out and not entered into the data system or investigated by DFCS, not meeting the definition of maltreatment.
- 36% (33,366) were Diversions, or Family Support, and thus were not fully investigated.
- 47% (43,766) were accepted for service and entered into the data system.
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Of those reports which were deemed incidents, 34,540 were substantiated, while 39,226 were not.
- Neglect constituted 28,734 substantiated incidents.
- Physical Abuse constituted 3,547 substantiated incidents..
- Sexual Abuse constituted 1,424 substantiated incidents.
- Emotional Abuse constituted 693 substantiated incident
Access the "Protective Services Data System Annual Report 2007," from the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Family and Children Services.
$103.8 Billion: The estimated annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States.
[source: Prevent Child Abuse America, 2007].
However...
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.
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," by Kids are Waiting (KAW).
More information can also be found on Prevent Child Abuse America's research website: PCA America Research.
