Kentucky – No. 1 in Child Abuse Deaths
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Kentucky ranks at the top of the list in highest rate of child deaths from abuse and neglect in the United States, according to a report released Oct. 21 from Every Child

Matters Education Fund, a non-profit group in Washington D.C.
In 2007, Kentucky had 41 deaths or a rate of 4.09 per 100,000 children in the state, according to the report. Other states topping the list include South Dakota (4.08), Florida (3.79), Nebraska (3.59) and Missouri (3.51). States with the lowest rate of child death from abuse or neglect in 2007 are Delaware, Rhode Island, Idaho, Maine and Montana.

“About half of all children who die from abuse and neglect were previously brought to the attention of authorities – either by another family member, a teacher, physician, neighbor or someone else who cared about their safety and well-being,” said Teresa Huizar, executive director, National Children’s Alliance in a press release.

“But case workers are routinely stretched too thin, and funding levels are too low. The result is often too little action that is taken too late, and kids die as a result.”

The report showed that 10,440 children in the U.S. are known to have died from abuse and neglect between 2001 and 2007.  In 2007, 1,760 children are documented to have died, a 35% increase from 2001.

This report looked at the most recent state date made available by the federal government.

Addressing poverty is necessary to stop deaths because of child abuse and neglect, experts say. A child living in poverty is 22 times more likely to be abused than children living in families with an annual income of $30,000 or more.

Kentucky ranks among states with the highest levels of children living in poverty, according to recent Census figures. The top five are Arizona (26 %), New Mexico (26%), Kentucky (24%), Alabama (24%) and Mississippi (24%).

To report child abuse or neglect call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.