Summary: The Battered Child Syndrome

Social Issues and Impacted Population Description Prioritizing the needs of children who have experienced or are at risk for maltreatment is essential due to the lasting impact of adverse childhood experiences. These experiences can greatly heighten the likelihood of health and mental health issues, as well as lead to adverse economic and employment outcomes in adulthood. In 1962, the groundbreaking article "The Battered Child Syndrome" brought attention to the alarming rates of severe physical abuse suffered by children. This pivotal work by Dr. C. Henry Kempe and his colleagues sparked crucial awareness and action on this critical issue (Kempe, C.H., et al, 1962). Child abuse and neglect is a significant social, health, and economic issue

Among these victims, 269,690 received foster care services. Unfortunately, there were at least 1,720 child maltreatment-related fatalities in 2017. Many confirmed cases of child maltreatment today are due to neglect. Among children identified as victims of maltreatment, 75 percent experienced neglect, 18 percent were physically abused, and nearly 9 percent were sexually abused (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2017). Every child deserves to live in a safe and loving household; yet, for hundreds of thousands of children across our Nation, abuse and neglect are a tragic reality. Children are a vulnerable population due to age, poverty, illness of self or parents and lack of education in which children rely on parents and adults to grow and develop in health, mental health and overall wellness. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF), every year, an estimated 1,580 children lose their lives due to child abuse and neglect. Shockingly, experts believe that the actual number may be even

However, there is no evidence that the law has reduced the mistreatment of children. Instead, for 50 years, CAPTA has enabled the growth of a massive family regulation system that makes children less safe (Children’s Right, 2024). Action Plan & Sustainability The National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) is a service of the Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, and the Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau's Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (Administrations for Children and Families, 2005). NCSACW works to develop knowledge and provide technical assistance to improve outcomes for families with substance use disorders in the child welfare and family court systems. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides extra funding for the CBCAP and CAPTA State Grant Programs. This is for agencies administering Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention grants and the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act State