The costs of child abuse vs child abuse prevention: Michigan’s experience

A state-level analysis of the costs associated with child maltreatment and its consequences was undertaken. These costs were then compared to the costs of providing child maltreatment prevention services to all first time parents. The costs of child abuse were estimated at 823 million dollars annually. These costs include those associated with low birthweight babies, infant mortality, special education, protective service, foster care, juvenile and adult criminality, and psychological services. The costs of prevention programming were estimated to be 43 million dollars annually. This yields a 19 to 1 cost advantage to prevention. The Costs of Child Abuse vs. Child Abuse Prevention: Michigan's Experience Economic conditions in the 1990's have put our nation's children at increased risk for child abuse and neglect. The added stresses and reduction in resources that characterize an economic recession combine to put children at risk for maltreatment. However, the 90's have also brought good news to those concerned with the protection of children: 49 of the 50 states have created and funded agencies specifically for preventing child abuse (National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, 1990). These agencies (often named "Children's Trust an