What does this measure?

The number of children in indicated Child Protective Service reports, expressed as a rate per 1,000 children under age 18. Indicated reports are those in which there is credible evidence that a child has experienced abuse, neglect or maltreatment from a parent or legal guardian. This includes sexual abuse committed or allowed by a parent or guardian.

Why is this important?

Children who have been abused or neglected may experience long-term psychological and emotional/behavioral consequences. Victims of abuse are also at higher risk of abusing their own children when they become parents.

How is the Greater Capital Region performing?

There were 22 abused children for every 1,000 in the Greater Capital Region in 2007, dramatically higher than the state rate of 16. The region’s rate has been substantially higher than the state every year since 2000, driven by high rates in Albany, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties. Schenectady County had the highest rate in 2007 with 31 children per 1,000, after increasing 48% since 2005. Schoharie County showed the largest increase of 69% to 27 children per 1,000 during the same period. Since 2003, Saratoga County consistently had the lowest rate of reported child abuse in the Greater Capital Region.

Notes about the data

Reports of abuse or neglect may be influenced by many factors such as outreach, education and media publicity. Additionally, it is unknown how many cases of abuse or neglect are never reported to authorities. Each child is counted only once in this data.