Current Trends in Child Abuse Reporting and Fatalities: The Results of the 1989 Annual Fifty State Survey. Working Paper Number 808.

Continuing the practice of conducting an annual national survey to monitor trends in the number and characteristics of child abuse reports nationwide and in the funding and scope of child welfare services, this report summarizes results of the January, 1990 survey. Specific information of interest was: (1) the actual number of reports filed during 1987, 1988, and 1989; (2) the perecentage of these reports involving physical abuse, child neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional maltreatment; (3) state procedures or policies for screening reports and the impact of such screening on caseload size and characteristics; (4) the percentage of reported families presenting substance abuse problems; (5) the number of child abuse fatalities reported for 1987, 1988, and 1989; (6) the existing barriers to effective implementation of child protective services; and (7) funding levels for child welfare services in general. Representatives of all 50 states and the District of Columbia were contacted by telephone to obtain the above data. Of those interviewed, 49 respondents knew or were able to project their child abuse reporting statistics for 1989 and 41 states had 1989 statistics with respect to child abuse fatalities. All state representatives responded to general questions on their state's reporting procedures and child welfare practices. Specific findings are presented and prevention efforts are briefly discussed. (RH)