April 2012, National Child Abuse Prevention Month

More than 688,000 children were victims of child abuse and neglect across the Unites States; a rate of 9.2 per 1,000 children. American Indian and Alaska Native children are victims of child abuse and neglect at a rate of 11.0 per 1,000 - the third highest rate of victimization after African American and mixed-race categories.
The Child Maltreatment 2010 Report (National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, 2010)

The impact of child abuse and neglect on American Indian or Alaska Native children is profound. Research suggests that child abuse is related to increased risk for developing adverse physical and mental health outcomes in children and family members affected. To effectively address this multi-faceted public health problem, professionals working in the Indian Health Service must work in collaboration with law enforcement, social services, and the various court systems as well as entities from the private sector, to respond to and support and promote healthy development for child victims of abuse and neglect.

The Indian Health Service:

1. Provides direct services, advocacy, and interagency consultation; coordinates multidisciplinary child protection teams in the Area; and collaborates with other Federal agencies to provide child/family protection services to AI/AN children and families;
2. Promotes the development of telehealth to improve access to behavioral health services for children and youth in areas where facilities and providers are not readily available;
3. Acts as an information clearinghouse for child abuse and neglect information and resources; and
4. Funds the Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative, comprised of 65 projects nation-wide aimed at prevention of family violence, including child abuse and neglect.

For more information on child maltreatment see the following resources:

• Prevention month resources: http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/preventionmonth/ Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
• Resource, materials, laws, and other information on child abuse and neglect: http://www.childwelfare.gov/ Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
• Resources for parents, professionals and kids: http://www.childhelp.org/pages/get-help Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
• Resources that are specific to AI/AN children: http://www.icctc.org/ Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
• For an information packet on child sexual abuse prevention: http://www.nsvrc.org/publications/child-sexual-abuse-prevention-information-packet Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
• For national data and reports on child maltreatment and child welfare outcomes: http://transition.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
• Resource on child maltreatment: http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/childmaltreatment/ Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov