Child Protection Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is Child Protection?

A. Child Protection is keeping children safe from child abuse and neglect. This is the foundation on which child protective services [CPS] is established and should always be the first goal of any child protective services response. The CPS response begins with the assessment of reports of child abuse and neglect. If it is determined that the child is at risk of or has been abused or neglected, then CPS should ensure that services and supports are provided to the child and his/her family by the public child protection agency and the community.

Q. How many American children were reported abused and neglected in 1998?

A. In 1998, state and local child protective service agencies received an estimated 2.8 million reports of abuse and neglect because family members, professionals, or other citizens were concerned about the safety and well being of children. (Child Maltreatment: Reports from the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data Systems.) An estimated 903,000 of these reports were substantiated. That is, after follow-up and investigation, officials found reason to believe that abuse and neglect had occurred and/or that the children continued to be at risk of further harm.

Q. How do these numbers compare to previous years?

A. The number of reports received has decreased slightly compared to the nearly 3 million reports received in 1997 and the just over 3 million reports received in 1996. The recent decline may represent a shift in the pattern of the last twenty years Ð it is still too early to know for sure. We do know that for more than a decade the number of reports grew steadily. Between 1980 and 1992, for example, the number of reports more than doubled. These increases were often attributed, at least in part, to increased public awareness of child abuse and neglect issues. Between 1990 and 1993, the national child victimization rate [i.e., substantiated reports] rose from 13.4 abused and neglected children per 1,000 children in the population to 15.3 per 1,000 children. In 1998, the rate declined to 12.9 children per thousand children.

Q. What accounts for the decline in abuse and neglect rates?

A. The reasons for this drop in both the number of children reported and in the number of cases where abuse or neglect was substantiated probably varies from state to state. In some jurisdictions, it may be the result of changes in state policies or procedures used for handling child abuse reports rather than an actual decrease in the number of children reported and maltreated. In others, reforms in child protective services may mean that more children are receiving help before they are seriously injured leading to a real decrease in the number of children hurt by abuse and neglect.

Q. What kinds of injuries did these children experience?

A. In 1998, abused and neglected children endured the following forms of maltreatment:
· more than half (53.5%) were neglected (basic physical needs were not being met)
· 22.7% were physically abused
· 11.5% were sexually abused
· 6% suffered from emotional abuse and other forms of maltreatment
· One quarter of all victims were reported to be victims of more than one type of maltreatment.

Q. How are abuse and neglect defined?

A. State and federal laws define what forms of child abuse and neglect must be reported to authorities. These definitions vary from state to state. The CWLA Standards for Services for Abused or Neglected Children and Their Families provide the following generally accepted definitions of child maltreatment:
· Physical Abuse
Physical acts by parents or caregivers that cause, or could have caused, physical injury to the child.
· Neglect
Failure of parents or other caregiver, for reasons not solely due to poverty, to provide the child with needed, age-appropriate care including food, clothing, shelter, protection from harm, supervision appropriate to the child's development, hygiene, education and medical care.
· Sexual Abuse
Sexual activity by a parent, or other caregiver with a child including, but not limited to, any kind of sexual contact through persuasion, physical force, or other coercive means; exploitation through sexual activity that is allowed, encouraged, or coerced; and child prostitution of pornography
· Emotional Maltreatment
Parental or other caregiver acts or omissions, such as rejecting, terrorizing, berating, ignoring or isolating a child, that cause, or are likely to cause, the child serious impairment of the physical, social, mental, or emotional capacities of the child.

Q. Who are these injured children?

A.One quarter of all child abuse and neglect victims were age 3 and younger and slightly more than half were 7 years old or younger. More than four-fifths (87.1%) were abused and/or neglected by their parents or other adult caregivers living in the home. Evidence suggests that school-aged children may be abused more often but younger children are at greatest risk because they cannot protect themselves or readily seek assistance.

Q. How many children are seriously injured or die because of abuse and neglect?

A. Every day three children die because of abuse and neglect; 1,100 such deaths occurred in 1998. Children less than one year old accounted for 37.9% of the fatalities, and 77.5%of the children who died were less than 5 years of age. Many experts believe that the number of abuse and neglect-related deaths may be much higher than the official figures. Ambiguous family and medical circumstances or incomplete child death investigations can mean that some child abuse and neglect deaths are misclassified as deaths by natural causes.

Q. Do these figures tell us how many children are actually abused and neglected?

A. No. Most experts maintain that many abused children are not reported to authorities. It is also believed that many reported cases may not be substantiated because the harm to the child is not obvious to investigators. Sexual abuse, for example, often leaves no physical evidence unless the child is examined immediately after it occurs. The Third National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect, conducted in 1995, estimates that the real incidence of abuse and neglect may be three times greater than the numbers reported to authorities. In 1995, the Gallup Organization polled parents nationwide. They too concluded that child maltreatment is far more prevalent than the official data suggests. Gallup estimated that three million children were victims of physical abuse alone--16 times greater than the number of children reported to authorities. An estimated one million children are believed to be victims of sexual abuse--ten times the official figures.

Q. What agencies are currently responsible for responding to reports of abuse and neglect?

A. Government child protective service agencies, law enforcement, and the courts all carry statutory mandates to respond to the concerns of abused and neglected children and their families. Other government services, including certain public assistance programs, mental health, juvenile justice, public health, and substance abuse supplement the work of these mandated agencies. Community-based programs provide placements for abused and neglected children and their parents. Services assist children who cannot safely remain at home, parents needing support and training programs, and family members needing health, mental health, and other treatment services.

Q. What happens when a child is reported abused or neglected?

A. Child protective services and/or law enforcement typically receive reports of maltreatment and determine what sort of response is warranted in each case. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the report, law enforcement and/or child protective services may make an initial visit to the home to ensure the immediate safety of a child. In the most serious cases, law enforcement will intervene to provide immediate safety for all parties and decide whether an arrest or further criminal investigation is warranted. Child protective services will also investigate and assess the situation to decide whether mandated services or civil court intervention is required. They are also responsible for helping to put in place a plan for safety and services to the children and families. This may include childcare, medical care, parenting education, family supervision, drug treatment, and a placement for the child.

Q. Is child maltreatment a health issue for children and adults?

A. Yes! To begin with, many abused and neglected children start their lives with significant health problems. For example, some are born with low birth weights because their mothers have not had adequate prenatal care. Other children are prenatally exposed to illegal drugs, alcohol, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases. Research has shown that children who are born with these and other health problems are especially vulnerable to maltreatment when their parents do not have needed parenting skills or are unable to manage the stress that comes with providing for their special care needs. Some children require immediate medical assistance to treat the injuries that result from physical or sexual abuse. For example, infants who survive being shaken, slapped, hit, or tossed against a wall are likely to require care for physical trauma leading to blindness, brain injury, and retardation. Children who are neglected often miss routine immunizations and pediatric care. Others have not been treated for illness or injuries that would be minor in impact if treated promptly. Untreated, these illnesses can result in hearing loss, impaired vision, and other impairments that affect a child's ability to learn and grow. Some neglected children experience drops in I.Q. due to lack of proper stimulation and care from adults. An estimated 30 to 40% of children in the child welfare system have chronic medical problems, including delayed growth and development, HIV infection, neurological disabilities, malnutrition, and asthma. Twenty percent of children in foster care have serious developmental disabilities, such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and learning disabilities.

Q. What are some other consequences of child maltrealtment?

A. The effects of child abuse and neglect can be devastating. There is a growing body of evidence that the experience of abuse and neglect inhibits a child's healthy psychological, emotional, cognitive and social development and can impair adult functioning. Children who have been abused and neglected, as they get older, are more likely to perform poorly in school; to commit crimes, and experience emotional problems, sexual problems and alcohol/substance abuse. Research indicates that adult women who have experienced physical or sexual abuse as children show exaggerated levels of stress hormones. This persistent change in the body increases the risk of psychopathological conditions. While negative effects of abuse and neglect can be reversed, it requires timely identification of the maltreatment and appropriate intervention.

Q. Are current policies or programs enough to keep children safe from maltreatment?

A. No. Americans are increasingly troubled by the many problems they see with the existing system of child protection. First, they are concerned that child deaths reported in the media are evidence that authorities are failing to protect all of the children in need of assistance. At the same time, they also believe that an uncalled for or disproportionate reaction to minor family problems has traumatized some families. Their concerns are well founded. While child protection services are able to assist many children and families, current policies do not ensure that the right level of intervention reaches the right children at the right time.

Q. Why is child abuse still an issue?

A. State officials tell us that they are ill equipped to handle the range of concerns experienced by abused and neglected children and their families today. Their limited resources go to the most serious cases of maltreatment, while other families with less serious problems receive little, if any, attention. Families where there is abuse and neglect experience a range of social and health problems. Most states site parental alcohol and drug abuse as their most pervasive child safety concern. Poverty, economic stress, housing, mental health problems, and adult domestic abuse are also significant issues affecting the well-being of children. Parenting ability is also a concern, particularly for teen parents and inexperienced young families who have a poor understanding of child development. Limited community resources complicate these problems. These vast social problems cannot be solved easily. They most certainly cannot be solved within the limited mandate and resources of government agencies. They must be tackled broadly, beginning with comprehensive community education and planning efforts that are only beginning to take shape in a few communities. These efforts must be supplemented by a strong response from government to the most serious child safety concerns.

Q. Are there better ways of preventing and addressing reports of child maltreatment?

A. Yes. CWLA believes that current child protection efforts must be improved so that no further harm is done to children who have already been abused and neglected. Even more important, we believe that the only true child protection response will occur when we prevent abuse and neglect in the first place. As with most health concerns, we must not confuse the treatment of the symptoms or even treatment of the disease with finding a cure. A comparable analogy might be our search for a cure for cancer. While we work to improve early detection, and we find quicker and more effective ways to treat cancer, our real goal is to stop it altogether. To date our efforts in child abuse have not focused adequately on prevention. For example, we provide parenting education only after parents have failed. We provide placement only after children are hurt and we provide treatment for problems when correcting them has become nearly impossible.

Q. Is it possible to make changes that will keep children safe and help them to grow up healthy, loved, and thriving?

A. Absolutely! We already know what it takes to raise healthy, safe children. Most parents do a pretty good job of raising their children--although most would like to do better. We also know that some will fail if they do not receive assistance early on, and that a very few parents cannot and will never be able to provide adequately for their children. What is needed is a concerted national effort to ensure that all of these families have support and resources available to them before they encounter problems. Public commitment to and involvement in the prevention of child abuse continues to be high. A recent survey (Prevent Child Abuse America 1999) found that when observing an act of abuse or neglect, over half of the general public and almost two-thirds of all parents would take some action to reduce the child's risk of further harm. Over half of the individuals electing not to intervene in these cases were uncertain as to what action to take or felt the situation was "none of their business". More is also needed for families who are already experiencing problems or where serious harm cannot be averted. In these circumstances interventions must be swift and of sufficient intensity to ensure child safety.

Q. Can these changes in a few communities be replicated across the country?

A. Yes, changes in a few communities can and must be replicated across the country. On the national level, this can be accomplished through a skillfully executed plan that helps to inform Americans about what children need to grow up safe, healthy, and thriving. On the local level, changes will require a mobilization of new partners, including families, community agencies, public officials, civic organizations, businesses, and the citizenry at large. If we all work together, we can effect large scale changes in attitude, behavior, and the way in which we currently conduct services to strengthen families, while at the same time protecting children from abuse and neglect. This effort will require a new way of thinking, an identification and configuration of resources, and a long-term commitment to change the culture. CWLA has the experience, the skill, and the national and local networks to make this goal viable.

Sources

English, Diana, The Extent and Consequences of Child Maltreatment in The Future of Children. (Spring 1998: Vol.8 No.1) David and Lucille Packard Foundation

Heim, Christine (et al). Pituitary-Adrenal and Autonomic Responses to Stress in Women After Sexual and Physical Abuse in Childhood. .Journal of American Medical Association (August 2, 2000: Vol.284, No. 5)

National Center on Child Abuse Prevention Research. (April 1999). Current Trends in Child Abuse Reporting and Fatalities: The Results of the 1998 Annual Fifty State Survey

US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families. Child Maltreatment 1998: Reports from the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data Systems.

Dealing with the Everyday Pressures of Parenting

1. Stop... take time out to calm down, reflect.

2. Go for a walk or run. Work off your frustration through exercise.

3. If someone can watch the children, get away...go outside, go in another room, give yourself a little time alone.

4. Turn negative energy into something productive... clean house, do yard work, tackle some other job you've been putting off.

5. Tune out - turn on some music, watch television, or read a book until you are ready to deal with the problem.

6. Talk with someone else about your feelings..call a friend or a helpline.

7. Write your feelings down on paper.

8. Don't let anger build and build. If your feelings don't go away, get help.

For more information about parenting see our Positive Parenting Page at http://www.cwla.org/positiveparenting/.

What to Do if You Suspect A Child Is Being Abused or Neglected

1. IF IT IS AN EMERGENCY, CALL YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. They can ensure the immediate safety of a child and get medical attention if needed.

2. Call your state or local child abuse hotline.

3. If you are unsure how to report, contact Childhelp USA® National Child Abuse Hotline by telephone at 1-800-4-A-CHILD® or through their website at http://www.childhelpusa.org for information about how to report in your community.

Remember:
Suspicion of abuse is all that is necessary to file a report

Your information can be given anonymously

You will be asked to describe your concerns about the child and it will be helpful if you can provide: the child's name, age, address, gender, school attended (if possible), and names of parents.

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