Facts & Figures:

Tennessee ranks 36 out of 50 in child well-being. That means this is 14th most unsafe state in the U.S. to be a child.

  • Fact: According to KidsCountTN, there were 67,457 reported cases of child abuse and neglect in Tennessee, in 2023.
  • Fact: Per the 2021-2022 TN DCS annual report, there were 70,718 investigation and assessment hotline cases.
  • Fact: More rural counties in Tennessee report higher rates of severe abuse cases, with particular concerns about physical and sexual abuse, and drug exposure, especially in East Tennessee.
  • Fact: Annually, child abuse costs the state between $3.33 billion & $4.97 billion.
  • Fact: Up to 90% of kids have been approached by an adult online.
  • Fact: One in eight children in Tennessee will experience a substantiated case of abuse or neglect before turning eighteen.
  • Fact: Tennessee has concerningly high rates of child poverty, food insecurity, and housing instability, which contribute to the problem of child abuse.
  • Fact: One in eight children in Tennessee will experience a substantiated case of abuse or neglect before turning eighteen.
  • Fact: The estimated annual economic impact of child abuse in Tennessee ranges from $3-5 billion.
  • Fact: LGBTQ+ young people are not inherently prone to suicide risk due to their sexual orientation / gender identity, but due to stigmatization, mistreatment, and a lack of acceptance from family & community.
  • Fact: The report’s economic impact figures are considered conservative, as they are based only on substantiated cases reported to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.
  • Fact: According to a report released by Prevent Child Abuse America funded by Pew Charitable Trusts estimated the annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States to be $220 billion dollars. This figure includes both direct and indirect costs of child abuse.
  • Fact: Federal law requires that juvenile and family courts appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in all cases of child abuse and neglect, who, in Tennessee must be an attorney.  CASA advocates who are volunteers may also be appointed by the court. See Tennessee Code Annotated 37-1-149.
  • Fact: Each case of child abuse has a lifetime economic cost of over $285,000.
  • Fact: The estimated annual economic impact of child abuse in Tennessee ranges from $3-5 billion.
  • Fact: The report’s economic impact figures are considered conservative, as they are based only on substantiated cases reported to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.
  • Fact: The consequences of child abuse in Tennessee ripple across a victim’s lifetime, impacting mortality rates, healthcare costs, educational needs, involvement in the criminal justice system, and workforce potential.
  • Fact: Tennessee has concerningly high rates of child poverty, food insecurity, and housing instability, which contribute to the problem of child abuse.
  • Fact: The consequences of child abuse in Tennessee ripple across a victim’s lifetime, impacting mortality rates, healthcare costs, educational needs, involvement in the criminal justice system, and workforce potential.

Most unsafe counties to be a child:

Source Links