FACTS
- Child abuse and neglect occur across all communities and socioeconomic groups.
- Educators are among the most common reporters of suspected abuse.
- Behavioural changes are often the first visible sign of harm.
- Early reporting increases safety and access to support services.
- Failure to report can place children at continued risk.
STATS
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- Child protection agencies receive hundreds of thousands of reports annually in Canada and the U.S.
- A significant percentage of confirmed cases are identified by educators and childcare workers.
- Neglect is the most commonly substantiated form of child maltreatment.
- Early intervention reduces long-term health, emotional, and developmental impacts.
- In the United States, over 4 million referrals for suspected child maltreatment were made in 2022, involving approximately 7 million children, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- An estimated 558,000 children were identified as victims of abuse or neglect in the U.S. in 2022.
- In Canada, child protection services investigate over 200,000 reports of suspected maltreatment annually, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.