Child Maltreatment

Defined by federal law as neglect or physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of children caused by parents or caregivers. A majority of child maltreatment cases don’t involve abuse, but instead are a direct result of poverty (e.g., missing school, not keeping up with medical care). Child welfare investigations are also impacted by racial or other forms of bias (e.g., Black mothers more likely reported for drug-positive newborns than white mothers).