• Every 10 seconds a report of child abuse is made
• More than five children every day die as a result of child abuse
• About 80% of the children who die from child abuse and neglect are under age 4
• It is estimated that 50-60% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates, making it more difficult to track victims of child abuse and neglect, and more difficult to add perpetrators on the registered sex offender database.
• More than 90% of sexually abused children know their perpetrator. Prevention education about abuse helps children and parents in the prevention of child abuse and neglect. It is important to know the signs of potential child abuse and to check registered sex offender database in your area.
• About 30% of abused children will later abuse their own children to continue the cycle of child abuse and neglect.
• About 80% of 21 year old abused as children exhibit at least one psychological disorder.
• The estimated cost of child abuse in the United States in 2008 is $124 Billion. Prevention and education about abuse can significantly reduce the frequency of child abuse and neglect.
• 14% of all men in prison in the United States were victims of child abuse.
• 36% of all women in prison in the United States were victims of child abuse.
• Children victims of child abuse and neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.

FACTS ABOUT DISABLED CHILD RISKS

• Children with disabilities are 1.68 times more likely to become victims of child abuse and neglect.
• 11% of victims of child abuse and neglect are disabled children.
• Children with emotional or behavioral disorders are at the highest risk of child abuse and neglect.
• The belief that caregivers would never harm children with disabilities results in lack of attention to the problem. Again, education about abuse is important.
• Children with disabilities are often viewed as asexual and results in caregivers denying sex education that help prevent child abuse and neglect. Education about abuse and neglect is very necessary.
• Lack of proper training impacts the ability of social workers teachers, and other professionals to identify and report child abuse and neglect.This allows victims of child abuse to suffer more systematic abuse and neglect.

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2. United States Government Accountability Office, 2011. Child maltreatment: strengthening national data on child fatalities could aid in prevention (GAO-11-599). 
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4. Snyder, Howard, N. (2000, July). Sexual assault of young children as reported to law enforcement: victim, incident, and offender characteristics. 
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6. Fang, X., et al. The economic burden of child maltreatment in the United States and implications for prevention. Child Abuse & Neglect (2012), 
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8. Parental substance abuse. 
9. National Council on Child Abuse and Family Violence. Parental Substance Abuse A Major Factor In Child Abuse And Neglect. R
10. Swan, N. (1998). Exploring the role of child abuse on later drug abuse: Researchers face broad gaps in information. NIDA Notes, 13(2).
11. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. (2006). Child Maltreatment2004.