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Impact

Download our CASA Impact Sheet (PDF | 168 KB)

Statistics

Abuse in the U.S.

1. Approximately 3.3 million allegations of child abuse and neglect involving 6 million children were made to CPS agencies in 2008.i
2. In 2008, an estimated 772,000 children were substantiated as victims of child maltreatment, a rate of 10.3 per 1,000 children in the US and Puerto Rico.ii
3. African American children, American Indian or Alaska Native children and children of multiple races had the highest rates of victimization at 16.6, 13.9 and 13.8 per 1,000 children, respectively. Hispanic children and White children had rates of 9.8 and 8.6 per 1,000 children, respectively. Asian children had the lowest rate of 2.4 per 1,000 children. Nearly one-half of all victims were White (45.1%), one-fifth (21.9%) were African American, and one-fifth (20.8%) were Hispanic.iii
4. Children who had been prior victims of maltreatment were 94.6% more likely to experience an occurrence than those who were not prior victims. The youngest children (from birth through age 4) were most likely to be determined to be maltreated compared to all other age groups.iv
5. An estimated 1,740 children nationally (compared to 1,760 children for FFY 2007) died from abuse or neglect. The rate per 100,000 children was 2.33 deaths for FFY 2008 compared to a rate of 2.32 for FFY 2007. Children 0–4 years old accounted for 79.8% of child fatalities. Children younger than 1 year old accounted for 45.3% of all child fatalities.v
6. Violence often occurs against women and children in the same family. Research indicates that 50–70% of men who assault their female partners also abuse their children.vi
7. On September 30, 2008, there were 463,000 children in foster care. They spent a median of 15.8 months in foster care.vii

Read the Full Report

Statistics source: The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association, National Statistics 2010

CASA Facts

1. The average cost for CASA to advocate for one child for one year is $1,000.
2. Each year Kent County CASA volunteers donate over 8,000 total hours of service. Calculated at a value of $15 per hour, this represents an annual contribution of at least $120,000.
3. CASA is the only local volunteer organization that empowers everyday citizens to become appointed members of the Kent County court system in order to act on behalf of abused or neglected children
4. Children with a CASA volunteer are substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care (defined as more than three years in care – 13.3% compared to 27%).
5. CASA is effective in identifying the needs of children and parents as shown by CASA cases having more court-ordered services involved.
6. CASA cases are twice as likely to become permanently closed – with the child not reentering the child welfare system.
7. CASA volunteers spend significantly more time in contact with a child than a LGAL (lawyer guardian ad litem).
8. A child with a CASA volunteer is more likely to be adopted (and just as likely as a child without CASA services to be returned to his or her biological parents).