We Can Do Better: Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in America

Source: Every Child Matters Education Fund, 2009

Much can be done to reduce these child abuse and neglect deaths. There exists a vast body of knowledge about healthy child growth and development, including how to prevent abuse in the first place, and how to protect children from further harm if abuse should occur. But the sheer amount of child abuse and neglect in America--already more than 20 million reports of maltreatment made to government agencies in this decade--is certain evidence that, despite the best efforts of the many who work daily to address this problem, we continue to fall far short in applying our knowledge.