Nationwide • In 2003, an estimated 2.9 million reports of child maltreatment were received. Of those reports, 944,531 were referred for investigation, as reported by 34 states. • In 2003, 906,000 children were substantiated or indicated as abused or neglected, as reported by 50 states. Of those children, 61 percent were neglected, 19 percent were physically abused and 10 percent were sexually abused. • In 2003, 12.4 children per 1,000 suffered from maltreatment. • On Sept. 30, 2003, 523,085 children lived apart from their families in out-of-home care. Of those children, 25 percent were 5-years-old or younger.* Statewide • In 2003, 248,702 reports of child maltreatment were received; 157,474 were referred for investigation. • In 2003, 138,499 were substantiated or indicated as abused or neglected. Of these children, 30.2 were neglected, 13.9 were physically abused and 4.5 were sexually abused. • In 2003, 35.3 children per 1,000 suffered from maltreatment. • On Sept. 30, 2003, 30,677 children lived apart from their families in out-of-home care. Of those children, 41.2 percent were 5-years-old or younger; 9.6 percent were 16 or older.*

Circuitwide  The GAL program has a total of 375 volunteers who represent nearly 1,000 children. Unfortunately the number of children waiting for a GAL far exceeds the number of available volunteers. *— SOURCE: National and State Fact Sheets, 2006, Child Welfare League of America, http://www.cwla.org