Economical Impact of Child Exploitation
The familial cycles of child exploitation and its economic impact are undeniable. We must look at the scope of the child exploitation statistics and the human and social impacts to fully understand the long-term implications. When we ignore our most vulnerable children, we enable the reactive destruction of our communities.
$210,012 per Victim
The financial costs for victims and society are substantial. A CDC study, The Economic Burden of Child Maltreatment in the United States and Implications for Prevention, found that the estimated average lifetime cost per victim of nonfatal child maltreatment was $210,012 (in 2010 dollars). With a total lifetime estimated financial expense of approximately 585 billion for approximately 2.7 million victims. This estimate is extremely conservative and based on the number of reported victims vs. actual victims.
Number of Victims is Not Accurate
Reports have continued to climb by more than 50%. In addition, some experts still project that nearly two-thirds of victims’ abuse goes unreported. Nearly 8 million reports each year of child abuse are made. Approximately 70% of those are made by mandated reporters. Causing experts to believe that the realistic number of victims swells to 15 million children per year.
This is validated by the more than 50 million sexual abuse survivors within the United States. Estimating that there are still over 30% who have never told anyone about the abuse they endured.
Actual Cost
Based on the experts’ annual projections of 15 million child exploitation victims. The actuality of economic impact according to the 2010 baseline of $210,012 lifetime cost per victim, is over $3 trillion! Based only on 1 year of victims. Within 20 years, when we have a whole generation impacted by this child exploitation epidemic what will the cost be then?
Join the Movement to PREVENT Exploitation!
There is always a starting point for every great movement—a place where you become aware of a need and decide to be the solution. Join the mass movement of adults around the nation who are gaining the knowledge & skills needed to stop exploitation of all forms!
