General CAC Statistics

Statistics:

Every year, 3.3 million reports of child abuse are made in the US involving nearly 6 million children
5 children die each day as a result of child abuse¹
A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds
Before age 18, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually assaulted
A child is assaulted in the US every 6 minutes
In 2006, Cattaraugus County CPS received 1,508 reports of suspected child abuse
In 2006, Allegany County CPS received 596 reports of suspected child abuse
About 80% of 21 year olds that were abused as children meet criteria for at least 1 psychological disorder²
The estimated annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the US for 2008 is $124 billion³

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(Source: Childhelp, http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics)

Child Advocacy Centers - Proof That They Work:

Law Enforcement involvement rates were greater in CAC-based investigations, at a rate of 71.4% as compared to 32.7% in traditional CPS investigations
Annual investigation costs per 1,000 children were on average, 41% lower in a CAC community than in a non-CAC community
In 2010, CAC's in NYS provided services to 15,225 children, increasing to 15,551 children in 2011⁴
The CAC in Erie County decreased the number of interviews from 3.1 interviews per child before starting the CAC, to 1.8 interviews per child

Sources:

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. (2011). Child Maltreatment 2010. Available from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/index.htm#can

2. Long - Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect. Child Welfare Information Gateway.Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2006. Retrieved from http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm

3. Fang, X., et al. The economic burden of child maltreatment in the United States and implications for prevention. Child Abuse & Neglect (2012), doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2011.10.006 Retrieved from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0145213411003140

4. National Children's Alliance. CAC Statistics, New York. Retrieved from: http://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/index.php?s=273&cat=203