2023 Statistics
Experts estimate that 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
2023 Statistics.
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Since inception in 2004 approximately 6,780 children have been interviewed.
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Our Forensic Interviewers provided 503 interviews in 2023, 2 interviews per working day.
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86% of the cases were for sexual abuse
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13% for physical abuse
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1% for neglect or emotional abuse
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68% of the victims interviewed were female and 32% were male.
Ages Race/Ethnicity
1-6 years = 23% 70% were Caucasian
7-12 years = 42% 25% were Hispanic/Latino
13-17 years = 33% 3% were African American
18+ years = 2% 1% Asian or Pacific Islander
1% American Indian or Alaska Native
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Perpetrator Information:
Ages Race/Ethnicity Relationship to Victim
4-12 years = 15% 60% Caucasian Parent 23%
13-17 years = 14% 30% Hispanic/Latino Step-Parent 7%
18-29 years = 18% 3% African American Other Relative 24%
30-59 years = 43% 7% Unknown Parent BF/GF 5% 60+ years = 5% Other Known 38%
Unknown = 5% Unknown 3%
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Our Child & Family Advocates provided advocacy 6,081times for 936 children.
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The 2 Youth Advocates provided 161 mentorship sessions to 26 youth in our communities and provided 5 WhyTry/Resilience for Youth classes in 4 school districts for 26 sessions.
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WKCAC Therapists saw 352 children in 2023 for a total of 4,085 sessions to help heal the trauma of abuse.
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Art Facilitation was provided to 57 youth to express themselves and process their trauma through art when they may not be able to voice it, for a total of 314 sessions.
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107 SANE/Medical exams were performed.
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Over 49,000 miles were traveled in 2023 by our 3 Mobile Therapy Units, 2 Mobile CACs, and 1 Mobile Medical Unit.
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34 counties have signed interagency agreements with the WKCAC to provide services in their counties.
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We lead monthly Multi-Disciplinary Teams in 17 counties cooperating with local partners to coordinate the best care and safety for the children and their non-offending caregivers.
Sexual abuse can occur at all ages,
probably younger than you think
-The median age for reported sexual abuse is 9 years old. Approximately -20% of the victims of sexual abuse are under age eight.
-50% of all victims of forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and forcible fondling are under age twelve.
CONSEQUENCES to children and to our society begin immediately
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70-80% of sexual abuse survivors report excessive drug and alcohol use.
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Serial child molesters may have as many as 400 victims in their lifetimes.
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Approximately 70% of sexual offenders of children have between 1 and 9 victims; 20-25% have 10 to 40 victims.
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Both males and females who have been sexually abused are more likely to engage in prostitution.
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Approximately 40% of sex offenders report sexual abuse as children.
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More than 60% of teen first pregnancies are preceded by experiences of molestation, rape or attempted rape. The average age of the offenders is 27 years old.
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Young girls who are sexually abused are more likely to develop eating disorders as adolescents.
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One study showed that among male survivors, 50% have suicidal thoughts and more than 20% attempt suicide.
Even within the walls of their own homes, children are at risk
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30-40% of children are abused by family members.
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As many as 90% are abused by people the family trusts- abusers frequently try to form a trusting relationship with parents.
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Nearly 40% are abused by older or larger children.
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People who abuse children look and act just like everyone else. In fact, they often go out of their way to appear trustworthy to gain access to children.
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Those who sexually abuse children are drawn to settings where they can gain easy access to children, such as sports leagues, faith centers, clubs, and schools.