Child Abuse Prevention Center of Riverside County, California

Statistics

Riverside County is the fastest growing county in California and many of the new residents are low-income families. Every 9 minutes a teen mother gives birth in California. Unrelated statistics? No, both of these populations are at greater risk of abuse and neglect.

Child abuse is increasing and will continue to increase unless we put forth the needed effort to prevent it from happening. In 2003, Riverside County had a more referrals to Child Protective Services and substantiated abuse cases per capita then Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties.

The following stats are as up to date as possible, but for the most current statistics for all counties in California you can visit the Child Welfare Research Center.

In Riverside County:

In the United States:

Total Annual Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect in the United States in Billions of Dollars

An additional $55.4 billion dollars is spent each year on adult criminals with a history of childhood abuse. (Miller, Cohen & Wiersema, 1996)

Regardless of the economic costs associated with child abuse and neglect, it is impossible to overstate the tragic consequences endured by the children themselves. Each year, more than three million children are reported as abused or neglected in the United States. And three children die each day from abuse and neglect in this country. The costs of such human suffering are incalculable.-- Prevent Child Abuse America, Total Estimated Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect In the United States Statistical Evidence -- Fromm, Suzette © 2001

For more national child abuse statistics, visit http://www.preventchildabuse.org.