Child Maltreatment Prevention
Child maltreatment includes all types of abuse and neglect of a child under the age of 18 by a parent, caregiver, or another person in a custodial role (e.g., clergy, coach, teacher). There are four common types of abuse:
- Physical Abuse
- Sexual Abuse
- Emotional Abuse
CDC's research and programs work to understand the problem of child maltreatment and prevent it before it begins.
Data & Statistics
- There were 678,932 victims of child abuse and neglect reported to Child Protective Services (CPS) in 2013.
- The youngest children are the most vulnerable with about 27% of reported victims being under the age of three.
- CPS reports may underestimate the true occurrence of abuse and neglect. A non-CPS study estimated that 1 in 4 children experience some form of child maltreatment in their lifetimes.
- About 1,520 children died from abuse and neglect in 2013.
- The total lifetime cost of child maltreatment is $124 billion each year.