Ohio Fact Sheet

Quick two-page fact sheet on child abuse and neglect

New Hope for Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect in Ohio

Child Abuse News

Too many of Ohio's police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, and other police leaders are arresting or prosecuting adults who they first met as victims of child abuse and neglect. In 2004, more than 43,000 Ohio children were confirmed as abused or neglected. Though most abused or neglected children grow up to be productive adults, research shows that kids are nearly one-third more likely to be arrested for violent crimes later in life due to abuse. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids estimates that in Ohio alone, child abuse and neglect produces 2,000 new criminals each year. The tragedy is that we can prevent most child abuse and neglect and reduce future crime. In-home parent coaching programs have been shown to cut child abuse and neglect in half. The programs provide a range of support to low-income, first-time mothers before their child is born and through the earliest years. Nurses or other trained professionals help parents manage stress, understand newborn health and nutrition needs, identify early warning signs, make their home child-safe, teach practical steps to avoid hurting their kids and more. The program also saves as much as $4 for every $1 dollar invested. Yet, due to underfunding, three quarters of Ohio's at-risk families are not being helped. When kids are seriously abused and neglected, they need the protection of foster care. Research shows that leaving kids in dangerous homes where they face continuing abuse and neglect increases the risk by 27 percent that they will become violent criminals. Four out of 10 children who are seriously abused and neglected and left in their homes, but later need to be placed in foster care because of further abuse, commit violent crimes when they grow up.

Members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Ohio educate local citizens and lawmakers about the link between child abuse and neglect and crime. Recently Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Ohio partnered with children's hospitals across the state to call attention to child abuse and neglect prevention. Members urge lawmakers to provide sufficient funds for in-home parent coaching to reduce child abuse and neglect and the crime it produces.

Reports

All Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Ohio reports on child abuse and neglect prevention, in-home parent coaching and foster care:

"Child abuse and neglect takes a staggering toll on Ohio in innocent lives. And, tragically, many of those young victims will later fill the docket in Ohio courtrooms. By helping at-risk parents manage the stress and responsibilities of new parenthood, we can greatly reduce child abuse and neglect, cut crime, and save taxpayer dollars."

-Donald White, Clermont County Prosecutor

Membership Info >

• A poor mother who had been abused or neglected as a child is 13 times more likely to abuse or neglect her children than mothers who were not abused.
• Children of mothers not in an in-home parent coaching program had more than twice as many arrests as the children of mothers who received services.