Child abuse affects us all.

Child abuse is a complex problem, an invisible epidemic that happens more than you can imagine. We must recognize child abuse is not somebody else’s problem.

The numbers for one year in the Bay Area.

61,000+
Reports a Year

That's one report every 10 minutes

6,800+
substantiated cases of abuse / year

That’s 19 cases per day

$2.2 BILLION
lifetime costs for a year of abuse victims

That cost could send 20,000 kids to college

Impact on a child: lasts for a lifetime

Although services and support help a child heal and minimize the effects of abuse, the impact can be severe and life-long.

Education

Abused children are 77% more likely to require special education as well as have higher rates of school absenteeism and poorer academic performance.

Criminal Justice

Abused children are 59% more likely to be arrested as juveniles, and 28% more likely to have an adult criminal record, which makes it more difficult for these victims to find employment.

Economic

Adolescent victims of child abuse are 200% more likely to be unemployed as adults and are more likely to receive public assistance.

Healthcare

Victims of abuse have 21% higher long-term healthcare costs, a higher incidence of chronic health problems, mental health issues, and substance abuse throughout adulthood.

Impact on a family: the cycle continues

Parents who have experienced child maltreatment, including exposure to violence, are more likely to abuse their own children.

An estimated 25-35% of all individuals abused as children will grow up and abuse their own children. This cycle of violence can be disrupted through the development of parenting skills, caring relationships, and parental resilience.

Impact on a community

When one child is hurt, our entire community is degraded. Child abuse diminishes a child’s future and negatively impacts our entire community. It’s is a key underlying issue to many society’s challenges:

  • Underperforming schools
  • Homelessness
  • High rates of Incarceration
  • Drug and alcohol abuse
  • Lack of workforce vitality
  • Unemployment
  • Strained government and community resources

 

It’s time to end this epidemic.

SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP