"For some children, their childhood experiences are not times of family picnics and trips to Grandma's. Instead their memories will be times of family turmoil, confusion, adults asking them questions, and moving to unfamiliar places. This is where a CASA Volunteer is able to come in and support the children when they need someone to care. Every child who is involved in the court system needs an advocate, and that is why I am a CASA Volunteer."

-Joan Kniss, CASA Volunteer, Brighton Resident

Child Abuse Facts

Child Abuse in Adams and Broomfield Counties

Each year, Adams County Human Services Department and Broomfield Health and Human Services receive over 7000 calls of suspected child abuse or neglect in our communities.

Each year, over 1500 children in Adams and Broomfield Counties become part of the child welfare court system due to abuse or neglect, through no fault of their own.

National and State Statistics

According to Child Maltreatment 2005, the most recent report of data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, approximately 899,000 children in the U.S. were found to be victims of child abuse or neglect in Federal fiscal year 2005. The maltreatment rate was 12.1 per 1,000 children in the population in 2005.

Defining Child Abuse & Neglect

Learn how child abuse and neglect are defined in Federal legislation and State laws, and find resources that distinguish between discipline and abuse.

Visit http://www.childwelfare.gov/can/defining/ for more information.