In 2006, 34 children died at the hands of their parents or caregivers.  The number of parent/caregiver homicides had been increasing since 2001; 2006 was the first year since then that the number of deaths did not increase. 

“The news of 34 children who died at the hands of their caregivers in our state last year is deeply disturbing.  Each of these deaths is a tragic occurrence from which this state and the communities and families involved may never recover,” said Donna Albertone, President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina.

 According to data released by the NC Child Fatality Prevention Team, 76% of the children were under the age of 5 years.  Blunt trauma to the head was the cause of death in over 60% of the deaths. Additional causes included  multiple blunt trauma,  gunshot wounds, stabbing, asphyxiation, fire-related injuries and carbon monoxide poisoning. 

 “While we did not see an increase in these deaths in 2006, 34 homicides of children at the hands of a parent or caregiver is still 34 too many,” said Krista Ragan, NC Child Fatality Prevention  Team Researcher and Child Death Investigator for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Child abuse and neglect continue to be an epidemic in the United States.  Last year more than 5 million children were reported as abused or neglected nationally, while in North Carolina more than 111,000 children were assessed for maltreatment.  Each year, an estimated 1,300 children die in the United States because of child abuse.

Child deaths from abuse and neglect can be prevented.  "We must weave increased support for parents and parenting into the fabric of our healthcare system, schools and communities," says Albertone. "Only then will we see a decrease in child deaths from abuse and neglect." 

A number of programs and strategies have been proven to be effective in preventing maltreatment, including home visiting for new mothers and skills-based education efforts to help parents raise healthy, successful children.  Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina works with over 300 agencies across the state to support these effective programs and strategies in many counties across North Carolina.

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