Measures of Child Abuse on Kidsdata.org
Child abuse/neglect indicators are broken into two broad categories: the rate of child abuse/neglect reports and the rate of substantiated cases. Generally speaking, most reports of child abuse are not in the end substantiated by Child Protective Services (CPS) after an investigation. Typically, as the public becomes more aware of child maltreatment and how to report it, the rate of reports goes up. The rate of substantiated cases is generally a more accurate measure of the prevalence of abuse because it reflects verified reports of abuse.
Why This Topic Is Important
Children who are abused or neglected, including those who witness domestic violence, often exhibit emotional, cognitive, and behavioral problems, such as depression, suicidal behavior, difficulty in school, use of alcohol and other drugs, and early sexual activity. Children who are abused or neglected also are more likely to repeat the cycle of violence by entering into violent relationships as teens and adults or abusing their own children.
How Children Are Faring
California’s rate of substantiated (verified) cases of child abuse or neglect declined from 12.0 cases per 1,000 children ages 0-17 in 1998 to 9.7 in 2008. The statewide rate of initial child abuse reports (allegations) remained fairly steady over that period, with 48.7 reports per 1,000 children under age 18 in 2008. Neglect was the most common type of substantiated case statewide and in nearly all counties for which these data are available.
Both statewide and in many of California’s counties, child abuse and neglect cases disproportionately involve children of color, particularly African American/Black and Native American children. For more information on racial disproportionality and disparities in child welfare, see the Child Welfare Information Gateway's Disproportionality Resources and a recent synthesis of research on the issue.