Virginia Performs

Health & Family

Child Abuse and Neglect

One of the most important measures of a government is how it cares for its children. Child abuse and neglect occur in every segment of society, and are often the result of parents who were themselves abused or who do not have the resources to cope with difficult situations. Virginia emphasizes parental outreach and education as well as protection of abused children. Though there is no acceptable rate of child abuse and neglect, the Commonwealth's approach has resulted in a rate that is substantially lower than the national average.

Why is This Important?

In Virginia, a child is abused or neglected every 75 minutes, and every 14 days, a child dies from such mistreatment. The immediate impact of abuse or neglect on a child is tragic, but so, too, are the long-term consequences -- affecting children, their communities and the Commonwealth as a whole.  Child abuse is often hidden, may occur over time, and is usually preventable.

How is Virginia Doing?

Virginia has a relatively low child maltreatment rate. In 2006, the state tied with Kansas for the fourth lowest rate. Nationally, the child maltreatment rate was 12.1 substantiated cases per 1,000 children in 2006. Virginia's rate was much lower, at 3.8 cases per 1,000 children for the same year. Pennsylvania's rate of 1.5 was the lowest in the nation.

Compared to its peer states, Virginia's rate was lower than that of North Carolina (13.2), and Tennessee (13.3). Data for Maryland was not available for 2006, but in 2005 its rate was 10.4. However, it is difficult to compare child maltreatment statistics across states because there is great variation in state laws, definitions, standards of evidence, and record keeping. It is estimated that up to 60% of child fatalities due to abuse are incorrectly reported as accidents or other incidents.

In Virginia in 2006, there were 47,130 children reported as possible victims of abuse and neglect. 7,330 of these were founded reports, meaning that a review of the facts gathered during an investigation met the standard of evidence required in Virginia. Nearly half of the children experiencing maltreatment were under the age of 7, and nearly 75% were under the age of 12. Within Virginia, in 2007 the Northern region had the lowest rate of child maltreatment at 1.7 per 1,000 children. West Central and Southwest regions had the highest rates, with 6.1 and 8.3 substantiated cases per 1,000 children, respectively.

What Influences Child Abuse and Neglect?

Child abuse and neglect are not confined to any particular socioeconomic class, race or ethnicity, or religion. Children younger than 4 are at the greatest risk of severe injury or death. There are a number of situations that place children at particular risk for being abused or neglected, including:

• Parents who were abused as children themselves.
• Teenage parents.
• Parental or family substance abuse.
• Parental depression, stress or other mental health problems.
• Family violence, such as intimate partner violence.
• Unemployment and poverty.
• Community violence.
• Family isolation.
• Lack of parental knowledge of child development and understanding children's needs.
• Lack of caregiver support for dealing with children with disabilities or developmental delays.

What is the State's Role?

The Child Protective Services (CPS) Unit at the Virginia Department of Social Services:

• operates a 24-hour child abuse and neglect hotline;
• administers grant monies to prevent and treat child abuse;
• develops statewide public awareness and education programs; and
• maintains a database of offenders and victims of child abuse and neglect.

Increasing awareness and public education have been shown to increase the percentage of cases reported.

Local social services departments are responsible for receiving reports of abuse and neglect and for conducting investigations or family assessments for valid CPS reports; and for providing services that enhance child safety and prevent further abuse.