THE REAL COST OF

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

July 2014
Children investigated by
the welfare system have
been found to have 1.5X
more chronic health
conditions than the
general population.
Sources:
1 Chronic Conditions Among Children Investigated by Child Welfare: A National Sample. February 18, 2013; Pediatrics - Ofcial Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics
2 Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), (42 U.S.C.A SSA5106g)
3 Child Maltreatment and Pediatric Health Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study of Low-Income Children. June 2010; Journal of Pediatric Psychology
4 The economic burden of child maltreatment in the United States and implications for prevention. Child Abuse & Neglect, February 2012, Volume 36, Issue 2
5 Administration for Children and Families, Ofce of Planning, Research and Evaluation [ACF/OPRE], 2007.
6 Pires, SA, Grimes, KE, Allen, KD, Gilmer, T, Mahadevan, RM. 2013. Faces of Medicaid: Examining Childrens Behavioral Health Service Utilization and Expenditures. Center for
Health Care Strategies: Hamilton, NJ
The estimated lifetime cost per victim of
nonfatal child maltreatment is over
$200,000, which includes $32,648 in
childhood health care costs.
Over 28% of children
involved with maltreatment
investigations are diagnosed
with chronic health conditions
during the three years
following the investigation.
Children with maltreatment
reports have a 74-100% higher
risk of hospital treatment.
Children in foster care represent just 3% of
the Medicaid child population, but account
for 15% of those using behavioral health
services, and 29% of total behavioral
health spending for children.
1.5X
Impacted Brain
Development
Effect of Trauma
and Toxic Stress on
Executive Function
Abusive Head Trauma
Mental Health Disorders
Lack of Cognitive/ Language Abilities
Decreased
Physical Health
Poorer Lung Functioning
High Risk of Liver Disease
Delayed Body Development
Children in foster care who are
prescribed psychotropic medication
are more likely than other Medicaid
children to receive multiple
medications.
49%
prescribed 2+
20%
prescribed 3+
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
$5,000
$6,000
$7,000
$8,000
$9,000
$10,000
$4,868
$3,652
$8,094
$4,036
All Children Foster Children
Average behavioral and physical health
expenditures for children in foster care are
much higher than other similar Medicaid peers:
3% 15% 29%
Child Welfare agencies and Medicaid
programs can collaborate to reduce these
costs and improve health outcomes for children.
To learn more about these opportunities and
examples of successful collaboration go to
http://www.publicconsultinggroup.com/landingpage/
white_papers/approaches.html
Physical Behavioral Physical Behavioral