The Section on Child Abuse and Neglect (SOCAN) was founded in 1990 and is dedicated to improving the care of infants, children, and adolescents who are abused and neglected by providing an educational forum for the discussion of problems and treatments relating to child abuse and neglect and its prevention. In addition, objectives of the Section include stimulating research in child abuse and neglect and serving in a consulting capacity to the AAP Board of Directors on policy and other issues in this area.
Membership in SOCAN is open to all Fellows of the AAP. SOCAN members need not be trained in, have experience or expertise in, or be practicing in the field of Child Abuse Pediatrics. Membership in the Section should not be construed as evidence of certification or expertise in Child Abuse and Neglect. If you are interested in learning more about subspecialty certification in Child Abuse Pediatrics, visit the American Board of Pediatrics Web site.
What's New
PREP®:CAP - An Update of Child Abuse Pediatrics
July 11-14, 2013 in Norfolk, VA at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel
PREP®:CAP provides an update of child abuse pediatrics for those individuals preparing for the American Board of Pediatrics Subspecialty Certifying Examination in Child Abuse Pediatrics or Maintenance of Certification™ (MOC) and all medical professionals who
provide health care to children. See the PREP®:CAP brochure for more information.
Abusive Head Trauma Fact Sheet
Excerpt from SCAN newsletter - Dr. Martin Finkel's article on Sexual Abuse Prevention
CDC Releases Data on Interpersonal and Sexual Violence by Sexual Orientation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today released the first of its kind report on the national prevalence of intimate partner violence, sexual violence and stalking victimization by respondents' sexual orientation. This report highlights the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual violence (SV), and stalking of respondents who self-identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual at the time of the survey and describe violence experienced with both same-sex and opposite-sex partners, using 2010 data from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS).
National Conferences on Child Abuse & Neglect Virtual Participation Webcast Series
The Children’s Bureau’s Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (CB-OCAN) is sponsoring a series of four free webcasts to provide active learning opportunities between the 18th and the 19th National Conferences on Child Abuse and Neglect. The Virtual Participation Webcast Series will begin on February 13, 2013 and a new topic will be featured quarterly. For more information and to register, visit http://www.pal-tech.com/web/NNCAN/index.cfm?p=4.
A New Resource to Help Pediatricians Identify and Care for Children Exposed to Violence (CEV)
 Children exposed to violence are at higher risk for issues like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Interventions are most effective when initiated early. A grant from the Department of Justice has supported the development of a Web portal that provides pediatricians the resources they need in this area.
Visit www.aap.org/medhomecev to get:
- Research and information on the prevalence and impact
- Sample questions and video demos on how to address exposure to violence with families
- Resources for parents
- Educational opportunities
Contact Heather Fitzpatrick (hfitzpatrick@aap.org) with questions or feedback.
Upcoming Meetings/Conferences
Click here to see upcoming continuing medical education/trainings.
Statistics
The number of reported child abuse and neglect incidents has dropped nationwide for the fifth consecutive year, according to a Child Maltreatment 2011 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The report estimates 681,000 cases of child abuse or neglect across the country in 2011. While this indicates a steady decrease since 2007, when there were approximately 723,000 reports of abuse, it also serves as a reminder that there is much work still to be done.
While child abuse and neglect in general have dropped steadily over the past five years, the estimated number of child fatalities due to maltreatment has fluctuated. After peaking at 1,740 child fatalities in 2009, fatalities are now at a five-year low of 1,570. The report also describes the characteristics of families experiencing maltreatment. According to the report:
- 53.6 percent of the abusers were women.
- 48.4 percent were Caucasian, 20.2 percent were African-American, and 19.2 percent were Hispanic.
- 80.8 percent of the abusers were the victim's parent.
- Some of the victims were exposed to domestic violence (25.1 percent), drug abuse (18.6 percent), or alcohol abuse (9.8 percent) in their homes. Some states did not track risk factors.
Statements/Reports
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