Definition

The number and rate of individual victims of child abuse and neglect birth to age 17 for whom assessment led to a finding of a threat to a child’s health or welfare by physical, mental or emotional injury or impairment, sexual abuse or exploitation, deprivation of essential needs or lack of protection from these by a person responsible for the child (22 MRSA §4002). The numerator is the unique number of children in a calendar year who are victims of child maltreatment as defined above and the denominator is the number of children in the state birth to age 17. The rate is per 1,000 children birth to age 17.

Data Source

Maine DHHS, Office of Child & Family Services, Division of Child Welfare

Notes

County refers to where the child abuse occurred, not to the county where the child abuse victim may have been subsequently placed. In cases where the county is reported to be unknown, the number is included in the state total.

Last Updated

2025-10