Allegations Of Abuse Prevention & Survival

by Jodee Kulp and Judy Howell

Brief Overview of Statistics

1976-1997 National Estimates Child Abuse & Neglect Reports  


From 1972 - 1997, 25 years over 46 million child maltreatment allegations have been made. Of these allegations 30-40% have been substantiated.
The number of allegations have increased over 500% annually, while the population of the USA has increased only 27.5% or 57.7 million people.
  • 267,636,061 - 1997  77,301 million under 19 years,
  • 272,123,686 - 1999  78,457 million under19 years
It is important to note that estimates are not completely accurate due to differences in states reporting or not reporting, investigation procedures and whether or not families are counted more than once in an annual report if reports against them have been made multiple times.
For the sake of argument let’s deal with a 50% (23 million families)  number of allegations that are unsubstantiated. This leaves 43 million family systems scrutinized, judged and disrupted during the investigation and findings process over the last 25 years.   Presently each year over 1.5 million US families have unsubstantiated allegations and how the investigation is handled will affect many aspects of this families future and quality of life.

Children Reported for Maltreatment (1993 -  1997 US Est.)  

Following is a review of the current trends in child abuse reporting and fatalities in the United States, taken from the 1997 annual 50 States Survey done by the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse.
From 1993-1997 a period of 5 years reports of allegations have increased by 128,000 or 4%. Substantiated cases have increased by 45,000 cases and services provided to clients have remained around 60-70%.
Of significant interest is that sexual abuse substantiated allegations have decreased while neglect substantiated allegations have increased. By comparison to national averages of child abuse and neglect reports from 1993-1996 Minnesota remained less than national average in percentage change.
  • Up 7% in 92-93  New legislation being written
  • Down 6% in 93-94
  • Down 4% in 94-95
  • Down 3% in 95-96
There are yet no published reports for 1997

Minnesota 1996 Child Protection Statistics  


10,200  Substantiated Allegations
40%  of total number

Minnesota's Breakdown of Statistics

  • Neglect - 6,673 (65.4%)

  • Physical Abuse - 3,240 (31.8%)

  • Sexual Abuse - 853 (8.4%)

  • Emotional Abuse - 215 (2.1%)

Statistics have changed nationally in 10 Years

1987 Description 1997 Change
26% Physical 22% -4%
16% Sexual 8%
55% Neglect 54%
8% Emotional 4%
12% Other (medical, educational) 0%

Substance abuse is the cited as one of the top problem areas. Of confirmed cases of child maltreatment 40% involve the use of alcohol or other drugs in the US. This suggests nationally that of the 1.2 million confirmed cases an estimated 480,000 children are mistreated each year by a caretaker with alcohol or drug problems. Additional research suggests that alcohol or drug problems are factors in a majority of cases of emotional abuse and neglect. 

Prenatal exposure to alcohol, drugs or malnutrition complicates childhood development and growth and parenting these children is very difficult. Special needs adoptive parents, foster and kinship caregivers are at significant risk.

Other areas of concern involved:
  • poverty and economic strains
  • parent capacity and skills
  • domestic violence

Minnesota’s Foster Children  

  • 42% Child’s conduct or condition

  • 10% Family interaction/financial hardship

  • 47% Abuse, neglect, substance abuse, disability, death, abandonment, incarceration

  • 1% TPR

 

Minnesota Foster Children Outcomes  

1995 Minnesota had 18,492 children in foster care for some period of time. Approximately 9,000 on any given day

  •  50% in family foster care vs institutional care

  •  50% left within 1 month

  • 24% left within 6 months

  • 18% remained more than 1 year

Minnesota Fatalities Child Protection Statistics  

1996
1995
1994
1993		 8
9
7
6

The death of one child at the hands of a caregiver is tragic. Thirty children died in Minnesota at the hand of a caregiver during 1993-1996. Another 72 children were identified as having life threatening injuries. 

 

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kids.gif (5558 bytes)Better Endings New Beginnings Buttons to access Justice, Allegations, Families at Risk book or Minnesota Enterprises for Children which deals with foster care, adoption, FAS, FAE, legislation, and just for laughs. Enjoy.Making connections to promote restoration and renewal for families and children in crisis and trauma to bridge understanding of FASD. This site does not replace professional medical, legal, nutritional or educational counsel.  The information contained within this website are ideas that have worked for families with FASD members and you must use common sense, your intimate knowledge of your child, professional advise and safety in making appropriate decisions.  
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