Child Abuse & Neglect Cost Alabama $3.7B in 2018

Direct economic losses attributable to child abuse and neglect cost the State of Alabama $3.7 billion in 2018, according to a study conducted by The University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences and The University of Alabama Center for Business and Economic Research.

Researchers found that “the tangible cost of child maltreatment (or child abuse and neglect) to the Alabama economy in 2018 is conservatively estimated to be $3.7 billion.”

The report entitled “The Cost of Child Maltreatment to the Alabama Economy” found that figure is the direct cost which the state bears if only the child victims are considered, and does not include associated costs to families (including extended ones) and communities that are known to occur.

The research which was conducted in collaboration with the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and The Children’s Trust Fund, found that cost of lost worker productivity of victims was the single greatest financial cost – $2,629,685,802, while costs to the state child welfare system exceed $281,886,848, and Adult Criminality costs were conservatively found to be $109,469,664.

Child maltreatment causes preventable infant mortality and low birthweight, chronic health and mental health problems, developmental and educational delays, lower work productivity, and higher involvement with the criminal justice system.

The cost to the state is not borne exclusively by the state, however, and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) reported that the State of Alabama spent $281,886,848 on child welfare for fiscal year 2016 (FY2016), including $67,172,306 from Federal sources.

Every year in Alabama there are over 10,000 child victims of child abuse and neglect.

The report found that in 2018, 38,634 children received an investigation or alternative response, while there were 10,043 first-time child victims.

Preventable infant mortality and low birthweight babies are a form of child abuse, which the report found cost the state $91,371,123.

Prenatal care is available for pregnant women, but those who do not take advantage of that care are not changing harmful behaviors that cause low weight births.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in Alabama in 2018, 405 infants died, which was a rate of 7.0 per 1000 births – the 8th highest infant mortality rate in the nation.

Preterm births were also problematic in Alabama. In 2018, 379,777 babies were born preterm, and the CDC estimates that 10.7% of all babies born in Alabama suffered low birthweight, which is defined as weighing less than 2500 grams (5.5 pounds/ 88 ounces). The state ranks 3rd nationally in low birthweight babies.

Low birthweight babies in Alabama cost the state over $91 million in 2018 alone. Chronic illness such as childhood asthma among maltreated children in Alabama cost $23.67 million in 2018, while associated mental health costs associated were $20.19 million.

Law Enforcement costs to taxpayers which were associated with maltreated children in 2018 were $34.2 million.

The Children’s Defense Fund estimates that 16.3% of low birth weights ate the result of prenatal neglect.

In 2018, in addition to 10,043 first-time child victims, Alabama had 43 child deaths from abuse or neglect, while the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Center for Health Statistics reported 6186 low birthweight babies, and maltreated children which required expending state resources due to either abuse or neglect, or law enforcement intervention for the same, including associated medical costs.

By maltreatment type for child victims, the report found 3,810 children suffered neglect only, while 5,103 suffered physical abuse only, 22 suffered psychological maltreatment only, 39 suffered medical neglect only, 1 suffered sex trafficking only, with 1,778 children who were victims of sexual abuse only, and 1,405 suffered multiple maltreatment types.

Some of the abuse has resulted in death of children.

In 2018, 43 children in Alabama died from abuse or neglect, which is a 34.4% increase from 2013.

Sallye Longshore, Director of the Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention said, “The cost of child maltreatment to Alabama is staggering. This report reinforces the stance that we must do more to prevent child abuse and neglect before it can occur.”

Stuart Usdan, Ph.D., Dean of The University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences, and one of 6 coauthors of the study said, “No one can dispute the devastating toll child maltreatment has on the physical and emotional health of children and families in Alabama. By documenting its substantial financial impact on our state, this report shines a light on how far-reaching the issue is and how the prevention of child abuse and neglect should be a priority for us all.”

Representative Terri Collins, Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board Chair, said the study’s findings are not new, and that the “study was also conducted in 2015 by The University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences and The University of Alabama Center for Business and Economic Research in collaboration with the Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention/The Children’s Trust Fund.

Representative Collins added that, “this follow-up study shows an almost $1.5 billion dollar increase in costs associated with child maltreatment to our state’s economy from the previous report from $2.3 billion in 2015 to $3.7 billion in 2018. The Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention works to ensure programs are provided all over the state, so healthy communities are strengthened, and children are protected. We all do better when children and families are thriving!”

Samuel Addy, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research and Outreach in The University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business, another coauthor said, “This study indicates the State of Alabama must invest more in preventing child maltreatment because prevention will reduce its cost on the state economy and contribute to economic growth by expanding the workforce and its productivity. About 73 percent of the $3.7 billion cost is due to lost productivity caused by child maltreatment.”