• An estimated 906,000 children are victims of abuse & neglect every year. The rate of victimization is 12.3 children per 1,000 children
• Children ages 0-3 are the most likely to experience abuse. They are victimized at a rate of 16.4 per 1,000
• 1,500 children die every year from child abuse and neglect. That is just over 4 fatalities every day.
• 79% of the children killed are younger than 4.

What can be done?

Treatment, Prevention and Research are key. Childhelp, one of the largest and oldest national, non-profit organizations dedicated to treatment and prevention of child abuse, provides a broad continuum of programs that directly serve abused children and their families. Childhelp also leads public awareness campaigns to educate the public and rally communities behind the child abuse.

What can I do?

By supporting Childhelp, you are playing a direct role in the treatment and prevention of child abuse. Your donations, purchases from the Childhelp store and the Gift of Hope gift catalogue, and time spent volunteering help a dedicated and passionate staff carry out Childhelp's mission of meeting the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused and neglected children.

Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect in USA

• 80% of young adults who had been abused met the diagnostic criteria for at least 1 psychiatric disorder at the age of 21 (including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, & post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy
• Children who experience child abuse & neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.
• 14.4% of all men in prison in the United States were abused as children and 36.7% of all women in prison were abused as children
• Children who have been sexually abused are 2.5 times more likely develop alcohol abuse
• Children who have been sexually abused are 3.8 times more likely develop drug addictions
• Nearly 2/3’s of the people in treatment for drug abuse reported being abused as children

Cycle of Abuse in USA
 

• There are nearly 3 million reports of child abuse made annually
• In 2003, there were 906,000 child abuse convictions
• The rate of child abuse is estimated to be 3 times greater than is reported.
• The rate of victimization is 12.3 children per 1,000 children
• Children ages 0-3 are the most likely to experience abuse. They are victimized at a rate of 16.4 per 1,000
• 79% of the children killed are younger than 4.
• These statistics are from the Administration for Children & Families of the US Department of Health & Human Services “Child Maltreatment Report 2003” 

• 80% of young adults who had been abused met the diagnostic criteria for at least 1 psychiatric disorder at the age of 21 (including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, & post-traumatic stress disorder) 
• Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy
• Abused teens are 3 times less likely to practice safe sex, putting them at greater risk for STDs
• These statistics are from the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse & Neglect Information. Long-term Consequences of Child Abuse & Neglect 2005 

The Link Between Abuse As a Child & Future Criminal Behavior

• 14.4% of all men in prison in the USA were abused as children
• 36.7% of all women in prison were abused as children
• Children who experience child abuse & neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.

These statistics are compiled from US Department of Justice Reports

• Children who have been sexually abused are 2.5 times more likely develop alcohol abuse
• Children who have been sexually abused are 3.8 times more likely develop drug addictions
• Nearly 2/3’s of the people in treatment for drug abuse reported being abused as children

These statistics are compiled from the National Institute on Drug Abuse 2000 Report  & Child Abuse & Neglect Study by Arthur Becker-Weidman PhD