please call the Child Abuse Hotline:
1-877-237-0004
Statistics about abused and neglected children in Tennessee:
According to Kids Count 2006 there were 11,105 indicated cases of child abuse and neglect in Tennessee in 2004, a rate of 7.7 per 1,000 person’s ages 0-17. Nationally, 872,000 children were found to be victims of child abuse and neglect in 2004.
· Fact- According to the Tennessee Department of Children's Services Annual Report FY 2003-2004 there were 10,284 children remaining in state custody as of June 30, 2004 with 7,664 or 75% of those 10,284 children placed in custody because of physical abuse or neglect issues
· Fact- A report released by Prevent Child Abuse America funded by Pew Charitable Trusts estimates the annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States to be 103.8 billion dollars. This figure includes both direct and indirect costs of child abuse.
· Fact- Federal law requires that juvenile and family courts appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in all cases of child abuse and neglect, who, in Tennessee must be an attorney. CASA advocates who are volunteers may also be appointed by the court.
· Fact- the CASA/GAL network consists of over 900 local programs, whose 50,000 volunteers serve 225,000 children.
Links of interest:
National CASA Association
www.nationalcasa.org
Tennessee Bar Association’s Juvenile and Children’s Law Section:
www.tba.org
Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee:
www.pcat.org
Tennessee Department of Children's Services:
www.state.tn.us/youth
Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth:
www.state.tn.us/tccy; for data on children: www.kidscount.org
The Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care
http://pewfostercare.org
Tennessee Court Improvement Project (CIP)
Includes Handbook for Parents and Guardians
www.tsc.state.tn.us/geninfo/programs/courtimprovement/courtimprovement.htm
Tennessee Lives Count Project:
www.tspn.org/tlc.htm
Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative:
http://www.jimcaseyyouth.org
Child Welfare League of America:
www.cwla.org
Children's Defense Fund:
www.childrensdefense.org
National Association of Counsel for Children:
www.naccchildlaw.org
Tennessee Juvenile Court Services Association:
www.TJCSA.com
Administration for Children & Families: Child Maltreatment 2006
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm06/index.htm
Tennessee Department of Children's Services Annual Report 2006
http://state.tn.us/youth/dcsguide/AnnualReport06.pdf
