In 1992, a state-level analysis of the costs associated with child maltreatment and its consequences was undertaken. The costs of child abuse were estimated at 823 million dollars annually (just in Michigan). These costs included those associated with low birthweight babies, infant mortality, special education, protective services, 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.

Abuse of children costs us all. Even a simple economic analysis demonstrates enormous direct costs; medical care for injuries, medical care for the long term effects of survivors, mental health care for survivors; substance abuse treatment for survivors; mental health treatment for abusers; criminal justice costs for police intervention; arrests, prosecution, and incarceration; legal system costs for lawyers, judges and courtrooms; costs to our educational system for special education services and counseling services; and social service costs for shelters, foster care, emergency housing, and case workers.

A closer look reveals hidden costs that may dwarf the direct costs discussed above. How much damage is done to our gross domestic product every year due to the lost productivity of the work force alone? What is the cost of the lost potential of millions of children? What is the cost of human suffering of the child or family? What is the cost to our society of our turning a blind eye? How much does it cost a society to look away from the suffering of it's children?

On a national basis, child abuse costs taxpayers $94 Billion a year ... or $258 million each day!

• A conservative estimate is that child abuse costs each family $1,400 a year.
• Only $1.06 per family is spent each year for programs to prevent child abuse.
• Three children die each day from abuse or neglect- a cost that is incalculable
• Abuse takes an enormous toll on children, both physically and emotionally
• Child abuse causes a drain on social, health and judicial services
• Adults who were abused as children are more likely to go on to commit crimes