Facts & Contacts

HHS Releases 2008 Statistics on Child Abuse and Neglect

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released Child Maltreatment 2008, an annual report of data collected from the States’ child protective services (CPS) agencies via the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. The report provides national and State statistics on topics that include reports of abuse and neglect, child characteristics, fatalities, perpetrators, and services provided to children and families.

According to the new report:

• An estimated 772,000 children were found to be victims of abuse or neglect during 2008, representing a rate of 10.3 per 1,000 children in the population. This number shows a continued decline from 2006, when 905,000 children were found to be victims of maltreatment.
• An estimated 3.3 million referrals were made to CPS agencies in 2008, involving the alleged maltreatment of approximately 6.0 million children.
• Agencies screened in 62.5 percent of the referrals for investigation or assessment; as a result, at least one child was found to be a victim of abuse or neglect in 23.7 percent of those investigations or assessments.
• Of the children who were abused or neglected in 2008, 71.1 percent experienced neglect, 16.1 percent were physically abused, 9.1 percent were sexually abused, and 7.3 percent were emotionally or psychologically maltreated. A child may have suffered from multiple forms of maltreatment and was counted once for each maltreatment type.
• Children in the age group of birth to 1 year had the highest rate of victimization at 21.7 per 1,000 for children of the same age group in the national population.
• An estimated 1,740 children died from abuse or neglect, reflecting a rate of 2.33 deaths per 100,000 children.
• Approximately 80.1 percent of perpetrators were parents, and another 6.5 percent were other relatives.
• An estimated 63.3 percent of victims and 28.5 percent of non-victims received post-investigation services, and 20.9 percent of victims and 3.6 percent of non-victims were placed in foster care.
• Court-appointed representatives were assigned to 14.7 percent of victims.

To Report Child Abuse or Neglect, Call 1-800-252-5400

• Texas Attorney General

• Texas Foster Family Association

• Texas Legislature

• Greater Texas Community Partners

• Prevent Child Abuse Texas

• Child Welfare Information Gateway

CCCFSB does not accept responsibility for content on other Websites and makes no warranty as to accuracy of data.

Contact Your Legislators On Behalf Of Children & Families

President Barack Obama (D) Website: www.whitehouse.gov

The White House / District of Columbia 20500 Phone: (202) 456-1414 Fax: (202) 456-2461

U.S. Senators:

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) Website: hutchison.senate.gov

Washington, D.C. Office / 284 Russell Senate Office Building  / District of Columbia 20510-4304
Phone: (202) 224-5922 Fax: (202) 224-0776

Dallas Office: 10440 North Central Expressway, #1160   / Dallas, Texas 75231
Phone: (214) 361-3500 Fax: (214) 361-3502

Senator John Cornyn (R) Website: cornyn.senate.gov

Washington, D.C. Office 517 Hart Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-4302
Phone: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856

Washington, D.C. Office   / 129 Cannon House Office Building /    District of Columbia 20515-4305
Phone: (202) 225-3484 Fax: (202) 226-4888

Dallas Office: 6510 Abrams Road, Suite 243  /    Dallas, Texas 75231 Phone: (214) 349-9996 Fax: (214) 349-0738

To Report Child Abuse or Neglect, Call 1-800-252-5400

 County Judge: Chris Davis  Phone: 903-683-2324   Fax: 903-683-2393

Email: cojudge@cocherokee.org