The number of U.S. children victimized by abuse and neglect increased by nearly 3 percent in the latest annual reporting period, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.
It's estimated that more than 700,000 children were victimized in 2014. That's an increase of nearly 20,000 children. Factors contributing to the increased maltreatment include substance abuse, mental health issues and domestic violence.
The report estimated that there were more than 1500 fatalities attributable to child abuse and neglect, also an increase from 2013.
In Kansas, African American children accounted for the highest number of victims of maltreatment per 1000 children, followed by white children and Hispanic children. Kansas was also found to have a more than 30 percent increase in maltreatment over the past five years, according to the report.
Kansas had 13 total child fatalities in 2014, putting the state at just under two deaths per 100,000 children.
Georgia, Illinois, West Virginia, Oklahoma and Michigan had the highest rates of child fatalities with 3.5 per 100,000 children.
The full report can be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/cm2014.pdf
--
Follow Abigail Wilson on Twitter, @AbigailKMUW
To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.