Child Abuse Facts and Statistics:

The fact that child abuse is against the law in every state is simply not enough. Everyone must play a vital role if we are to change these tragic statistics:

• In 2003, the Child Advocacy Center served 54 child victims through conducted forensic interviews (one of which was a FBI case), therapy sessions, judicial appearances, and/or multi-disciplinary case reviews.

• Not only does prevention save children from harm, it also saves the state and our local community millions of dollars now allocated for intervention and treatment of abuse children. On average, successful prevention programs save taxpayers $4 for every dollar invested. In 2003, TRUST had 116 cases, of those cases 116 mothers and 120 children under the age of four were served.

• In the United States, approximately three million child abuse reports are made each year - on average, one report every ten seconds.

• For children under the age of four, child abuse and neglect in the home is the leading cause of death: more than deaths caused by drowning, car accidents, fires and accidental injuries.

• More than three children die each day as a result of child abuse or neglect.

• The actual incidence of abuse and neglect is estimated to be three times greater than the number reported to authorities.

• Research indicates that one out of every three girls and one out of every five boys will be a victim of sexual abuse by the time they are eighteen years of age.

• Effective child abuse programs succeed because of partnerships created among social service agencies, schools, religious and civic organizations, law enforcement agencies and the business community.

• All citizens should become aware of the negative effects of child abuse and its prevalence within the community and become involved in supporting parents to raise their children in a safe, nurturing environment.

(Link to Prevent Child Abuse Georgia's Statistics Web Page and www.dfcsdata.state.ga.us - search by city/county)