Child Neglect
Fact Sheet
Child Neglect** [click here for a printer-friendly version in pdf]
Approximately 498,000 cases of child neglect were substantiated in 2003.
- Neglect constitutes 63% of all substantiated maltreatment cases. It is the most common type of reported and substantiated maltreatment.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau. 2004. Child Maltreatment (2003): Reports from the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
- There has been no clear trend in rate per 1000 of substantiated neglect cases.*
Year |
Estimated Number of Child Victims |
Rate Per 1,000 Children |
1990 |
414,000 |
6.5 |
1991 |
422,000 |
6.5 |
1992 |
523,000 |
7.9 |
1993 |
491,000 |
7.3 |
1994 |
530,000 |
7.8 |
1995 |
525,000 |
7.6 |
1996 |
520,000 |
7.5 |
1997 |
524,000 |
7.5 |
1998 |
503,000 |
7.2 |
1999 |
456,000 |
6.5 |
2000 |
527,000 |
7.3 |
2001 |
517,000 |
7.1 |
2002 |
524,000 |
7.3 |
2003 |
570,000 |
7.8 |
Graph of Child Neglect in the United States: 1990-2003
* CCRC projections basedU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau. 1992 through 1997. Child Maltreatment (1992 - 1997): Reports from the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. Online at: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/cmreports.htm
** Includes medical neglect
.
