NCPCA  200 South Michigan Avenue  17th Floor  Chicago, Illinois  60604-2404  Phone: (312) 663-3520

Contact: Ching-Tung Wang  Phone: (312) 663-3520

Data released today by the Chicago-based National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse (NCPCA) suggest that child abuse and neglect continue to be a major threat to the well-being of the nation's children.

Based on an annual survey of child welfare officials in all fifty states and the District of Columbia, over three million children were reported as victims of child abuse and neglect in 1997.  This figure represents a 1.7% increase over the previous year.  A similar increase in the number of confirmed cases also occurred, with over one million new cases entering child protective caseloads last year.

"Child abuse continues to be a major problem, and the youngest children remain the most vulnerable population," said Dr. Deborah Daro, NCPCA Research Director.  "We must focus on preventing child abuse before it occurs if we hope to see a significant decrease in the number of children who are reported victims."

Substance abuse was identified as one of the primary presenting problems reported by 88% of states responding to the new survey.  This percentage is higher than in previous years and suggests that parental substance abuse puts children at increased risk for child abuse and neglect.

According to A. Sidney Johnson III, Executive Director of NCPCA, "Although statistics of child abuse reports are chilling, I am encouraged by the successes of parents who participate in our Healthy Families America program.  We know that states that have embraced home visitation services for new parents are seeing a decline in overall reports of child abuse."

The data on child abuse fatalities is inconclusive, as only 29 states were able to provide statistics for 1997.  States such as California, New York, and Florida, with significant populations, are among those that were unable to provide 1997 data at the time of the survey.  Consequently, this year's 50-state survey is lacking information that would normally provide a more detailed report on the number of child maltreatment fatalities nationwide.

The National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit organization, established in Chicago in 1972.