NCJ Number
113460
Date Published
1987
Length
365 pages
Annotation
This report presents the results of a survey of the 50 States and the District of Columbia to obtain information on the extent of child abuse and neglect and determine what resources and services have been dedicated by States and the Federal Government to prevent and treat child abuse.
Abstract
Survey results indicate that reports of child abuse are rising, particularly reports of child sexual abuse and child neglect. States report that cases are increasingly serious and complex and that abused children are victimized in more seriously troubled families. Increased public awareness and severe economic hardships are believed to have contributed to the higher number of reports. States' capacity to respond to and prevent this crisis has declined significantly, far behind the need. The greatest shortfall in public resources comes from cuts in Federal assistance. Most States report their child protective service systems are overburdened, and coordination of agencies that should be addressing the problem is difficult. Consequently, States report dealing with a smaller proportion of the cases reported to them, or they are responding primarily to the more dramatic cases. An important finding of the survey is that it is possible to prevent and treat child abuse with a variety of cost-effective programs. States are emphasizing prevention and family preservation to avoid the unnecessary removal of children from their families. Other survey findings pertain to needs, services, staff, effective programs, special initiatives, and recommendations on how to improve current efforts. Extensive tables, survey questionnaire, appended supplementary materials.