The Startling Facts

1. Every day in this country, more than 3 children die as a result of abuse and neglect. In 2002, an estimated 1,400 children died as a result of abuse and neglect, 77% of those children died before reaching their third birthday.
   
   
2. An estimated 1.35 million children in the U.S. are homeless. Children made up 23% of the homeless population in 1996, a 10% increase since 1987. Young people ages 17 to 24 comprised 12% of the homeless population in 1996, a total that has doubled since 1987. Twenty-seven percent of homeless adults in 1996 reported having lived in foster care, a group home, or other institutional setting for part of their childhood.
   
   
3. 85,133 children were reported abused or neglected in Missouri in 2004, an increase of 6% from 2000. Forty-one children died as a result of abuse or neglect in 2004.
   
   
4. 104,247 children were reported abused or neglected in Illinois in 2004, an increase of 6% from 2002. Eighty-three children died as a result of abuse or neglect in 2004.
   
   
5. In 2003, 3,353,000 child abuse reports were made.
   
   
6. Every 10 seconds a child is abused.
   
   
7. Child abuse kills more children in America than do accidental falls, drowning, choking on food, fires in the home, or suffocation.
   
   
8. Head trauma is the leading cause of child abuse death among babies. This includes shaken baby syndrome in which 25% of victims die and the majority of survivors suffer brain damage.
   
   
9. More cases of child sexual abuse are never reported than are ever tried in court.
   
   
10. Nationwide, an estimated 90,000 new cases of child sexual abuse were accepted for service in 2002. This number underscores substantial threat to child well-being represented by this form of maltreatment. Make A Difference