Child Abuse and Neglect - Number of reported cases by age group in Pennsylvania

Child abuse and neglect is defined as any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, imminent risk of serious physical or emotional harm, or sexual abuse or exploitation.[1] In Pennsylvania, all reports of child abuse or neglect are either investigated or assessed by Child Protective Services (CPS) or General Protective Services (GPS) depending on the nature of the referral. CPS conducts investigations of cases identified as abuse, such as bodily injury, mental injury, sexual exploitation, serious neglect, human trafficking, or death of a child.[2] GPS, on the other hand, conducts assessments of neglect cases that do not fall under specified categories of abuse and provides services to prevent potential harm of a child. Neglect warranting GPS assistance include abandonment, behavioral health concerns, juvenile delinquency under the age of 10, domestic violence, expulsion or truancy from school, homelessness, and failure to provide basic necessities.[3]

By examining the number of reported child abuse and neglect cases by age group, researchers are able to track longitudinal trends and changes associated with specific age groups of children who are suspected of experiencing maltreatment. Risk factors that can increase the likelihood of child maltreatment include caregiver substance use, mental health issues, and adolescent parenting; child age, health, and developmental status; family violence and parenting attitudes; and neighborhood poverty, crime, and access to high-quality public services.[4] These risk factors not only increase children’s likelihood of experiencing maltreatment, but often worsen the long-term consequences of such abuse and neglect. Maltreatment early in life can lead to physical health problems, stunted development, psychological disorders, diminished cognitive functioning, social difficulties, posttraumatic stress, sexual deviance, adult criminality, substance abuse, and future perpetration of child abuse and neglect.[5] This makes it imperative that all cases of suspected maltreatment in Pennsylvania be reported immediately to ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313.