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MILWAUKEE (1/31/2008) - Wisconsin ranks among the top 10 states with highest reunification in the nation
An economic impact analysis estimates the costs of child abuse and neglect to society were nearly $104 billion last year alone, and a companion report highlights the lack of availability of federal child welfare funding for programs and services shown to be effective at reducing incidences of child abuse and neglect.
"Total Estimated Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect in the United States," by Prevent Child Abuse America and "Time for Reform: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect," by Kids Are Waiting, a project of The Pew Charitable Trusts, show that while the economic costs associated with child abuse and neglect rose to a staggering $103.8 billion in 2007, merely ten percent of federal money dedicated for child welfare, approximately $741.9 million, can currently be used to prevent child abuse and neglect from occurring.
"Through programs such as Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin, the Child Abuse Prevention Fund and Children's Service Society of Wisconsin's 15 family resource centers located throughout the state, Children's Hospital and Health System plays an active role in preventing child abuse by focusing on strengthening families," said Jon Vice, president and chief executive officer of Children's Hospital and Health System. "But, our programs are not enough. We rely heavily on donations from individuals and corporations to keep a steady stream of child abuse prevention programs available to our community."
The PCAA report documents pervasive and long-lasting effects of child abuse on children, their families, and society as a whole. The $103.8 billion cost of child abuse and neglect includes more than $33 billion in direct costs for foster care services, hospitalization, mental health treatment and law enforcement. Indirect costs of more than $70 billion include loss of productivity, as well as expenditures related to chronic health problems, special education and the criminal justice system.
"Prevention of child abuse and neglect makes sense – and makes 'cents,' too," said PCAA President and CEO Jim Hmurovich. "The data in these reports shows that a greater focus on prevention will decrease both the short and long-term costs to society. But it is impossible to calculate the pain, suffering and reduced quality of life that victims of violence against children experience throughout their lifetime."
The Kids Are Waiting report shows that most children (54 percent) who leave foster care reunite with their families, after having stayed in foster care an average of six months. In fact, safely reunifying foster children with their parents is a primary goal of the child welfare system. States vary widely in the percentage of children rejoining their families upon leaving foster care, from 30 and 33 percent in Washington, DC and Virginia respectively to 76 percent in Idaho. Wisconsin ranks No. 9 and has some of the highest reunification rates in the nation.
The Kids Are Waiting report highlights an array of services that have been shown to be effective at decreasing the incidence of abuse and neglect. The Nurse-Family Partnership program, active in 20 states, resulted in a 48 percent lower level of abuse and neglect for children whose families received home visitation services compared with the control group. An evaluation of the Healthy Families New Jersey program showed that 99 percent of the children served were free from abuse and neglect, reducing short- and long-term trauma to children. In Tennessee, the Renewal House, a residential program for mothers who have an addiction and their children, demonstrated that fewer infants born to mothers in the program require neonatal intensive care, lessening the need to remove children from their families. Due to increased investment in prevention services, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, was able to maintain more than 65 percent of children at home for the entire time they were served by the child welfare system, lowering the costs of care per child. Wraparound Milwaukee decreased the number of children in foster care placement by sixty percent and reduced the cost of care from $5,000 to less than $3,300.
"Taking children away from their families is a traumatic experience that will stay with them forever," said Marci McCoy-Roth, program officer with The Pew Charitable Trusts. "Foster care should not be the only option available to keep children safe and help families in crisis. States and the federal government must work in partnership to prevent child abuse and neglect and ensure that all children have safe families. The importance of family is a fundamental American value. How much longer must our children wait for the permanent families they deserve?"
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