Injury Topics

Child Maltreatment  

Definition: Child maltreatment includes the physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect of a child or adolescent by an adult.

Magnitude of the Problem: In 2005 there were close to 900,000 substantiated cases of abuse and neglect in the U.S. Child maltreatment costs the country close to $104 billion each year. It is associated with a number of short- and long-term health problems and injuries, such as broken bones; developmental delays; depression; alcohol abuse; heart and liver disease; cancer; severe obesity; and elevated risk of becoming an abuser.

Prevention: While providing services to children who have been abused or neglected is essential, the public health approach to child maltreatment relies on a primary prevention focus, examining and addressing risk factors associated with abuse and creating programs that support and promote healthy and safe relationships, such as home visiting programs for new parents.

CSN Publications

• Child Abuse and Neglect Costs Fact Sheet by State
• MCH Approach to Preventing Child Maltreatment

Useful Publications

• A Better Start: Child Maltreatment as a Public Health Priority
• CDC Fact Sheet - Understanding Child Maltreatment
• Child Maltreatment 2008
• Child Maltreatment Surveillance: Uniform Definitions for Public Health and Recommended Data Elements
• Children's Exposure to Violence: A Comprehensive National Study (October 2009)
• Growing What Works: Lessons Learned from Pennsylvania's Nurse-Family Partnership Initiative
• Is it Injury or Neglect? MCHCOM.com Webcast
• Preventing Child Maltreatment through the Promotion of Safe, Stable, and Nurturing Relationships Between Children and Caregivers
• Promising Teen Fatherhood Programs: Initial Evidence Lessons from Evidence-Based Research
• Strengthening Families and Communities: 2009 Resource Guide
• Strengthening Families Research in Brief: Risk and Protective Factors
• The Future of Children Preventing Child Maltreatment Volume 19 Number 2 Fall 2009

CSN Presentations

• Preventing child abuse and neglect: The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) role

CSN Webinar(s)

• Positive Parenting is Key to Preventing Child Maltreatment

Spotlight on the State

• Involving Fathers in Hawaii
• Preventing Child Sexual Abuse in Virginia

Injury Prevention Links

• Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
• CDC Child Maltreatment
• Children's Bureau/ACYF - Child Welfare Information Gateway
• FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention
• National Center for Children in Poverty
• National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome
• Prevent Child Abuse America
• Safe Start Center
• Stop It Now! The Campaign to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

For more information or technical assistance, contact Jennifer Allison, CSN Assistant Director.