How can you support a child in need?
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and organizations across the country are raising awareness about abuse prevention. But child abuse affects vulnerable children every day of the year.
As a mandated reporter, you have a unique awareness of this issue. You also have a legal obligation to act on it.
Here are some things you can do this month, and all year, to raise awareness and help prevent child abuse.
April Is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Child abuse has long-lasting effects on the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of children. It can result in severe physical injuries, developmental delays, mental health disorders, and death.
According to the most recent federal Child Maltreatment report, an estimated 1,773 children died from abuse and neglect in the United States in a single year.
The effects of child abuse extend into adulthood, affecting a person’s ability to form healthy relationships, regulate emotions, and maintain physical health. According to the CDC, three in four high school students reported experiencing one or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and those experiences are linked to higher rates of depression, substance use, and suicidality.
Child abuse also carries significant costs for society, including increased healthcare spending, social welfare expenditures, and criminal justice involvement. 14% of men and 36% of women in U.S. prisons reported experiencing abuse as children.
Prevention strategies, including education, early intervention, and support for at-risk families, are critical tools for breaking the cycle of abuse and protecting children.
Child Abuse by the Numbers
The following statistics reflect the most current federal data available.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Child Maltreatment report:
- An estimated 532,228 children were confirmed victims of abuse and neglect in the United States.
- Neglect is the most common form of maltreatment, accounting for approximately 79% of confirmed cases.
- An estimated 1,773 children died from abuse and neglect.
- Nearly two-thirds of child fatality victims were younger than three years old.
- Children in their first year of life had the highest rate of victimization.
According to the CDC:
- At least 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 20 boys in the United States experience child sexual abuse.
- About 90% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone known and trusted by the child or the child’s family.
What Can You Do to Prevent Child Abuse?
For mandated reporters, the most critical step you can take is to understand how to identify and report suspected child abuse accurately and consistently.
Mandated reporters are usually in close proximity to children due to their profession. This includes medical providers, teachers, child care providers, social workers, counselors, clergy, law enforcement, emergency services personnel, and volunteers for youth-serving organizations.
Each U.S. state/ territory defines who qualifies as a mandated reporter. Some require all adults to report suspected abuse.
Stay Current on Your Training
Mandated reporter training helps you understand your legal responsibilities, recognize the indicators of abuse and neglect, and make informed reporting decisions. Keeping your training current is one of the most effective things you can do to protect children.
Find online training for mandated reporters at the Mandated Reporter Training platform.
Know the Difference Between Poverty and Neglect
Many states are updating their definitions of neglect to clarify that a family’s economic circumstances do not, by themselves, constitute neglect.
Reports involving allegations of neglect make up the majority of all reports to child protective services. Families experiencing poverty are reported to CPS at disproportionately higher rates than families with more resources.
To address this, states including California, Texas, and Kansas have enacted laws to distinguish poverty from reportable neglect. California’s AB 2085 (2022), for example, clarified that a parent’s economic disadvantage does not constitute neglect and defined general neglect as a situation in which a child is at substantial risk of suffering serious physical harm or illness.
More states are following this lead, acknowledging that poverty does not equal neglect, and bills have been proposed to revise CAPTA to make this distinction at the federal level.
Take training and stay current on your state’s definitions so you understand when a situation requires a report and when a family may benefit from resources and support.
What to Do If You Suspect Child Abuse
If you suspect child abuse is occurring, take action. The safety and well-being of the child is always the top priority.
When reporting, provide as much information as possible, including your observations, any indicators you have noticed, and any disclosures the child has made. Reporting requirements vary by state. In general, do not investigate. Your role is to report what you know or what has given you reasonable suspicion.
The following national resources can help you find the right reporting contact for your location and/or the child’s situation:
State Reporting Numbers: State Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Numbers
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline Call or text: 1-800-422-4453 Available 24/7. Counselors provide crisis intervention, information, and referrals in over 170 languages. https://www.childhelphotline.org
NCMEC (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children) Call or text: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) Available 24/7 for reporting missing children. https://www.missingkids.org
CyberTipline report.cybertip.org The nation’s centralized online reporting system for suspected child sexual exploitation, operated by NCMEC.
National Human Trafficking Hotline Call: 1-888-373-7888 | Text: 233733 Available 24/7 for reporting suspected human trafficking, including the trafficking of minors. https://humantraffickinghotline.org
This post was originally published in 2023. It has been updated for 2026 to reflect current statistics, trends, and information about child abuse prevention and reporting.
