How many American children were reported abused and neglected in 1998?
A. In 1998, state and local child protective service agencies received an estimated 2.8 million reports of abuse and neglect because family members, professionals, or other citizens were concerned about the safety and well being of children. (Child Maltreatment: Reports from the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data Systems.) An estimated 903,000 of these reports were substantiated. That is, after follow-up and investigation, officials found reason to believe that abuse and neglect had occurred and/or that the children continued to be at risk of further harm.
