Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act: Reauthorization Proposals in the 107th Congress (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Dec. 4, 2002 |
| Report Number |
RL30923 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Emilie Stoltzfus, Domestic Social Policy Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) expired at the end of FY2001. In
2002
legislation to reauthorize CAPTA passed the House and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and
Pensions Committee also approved CAPTA reauthorizing legislation. However no action was taken
by the full Senate on CAPTA reauthorization before adjournment of the 107th Congress and each
of
the CAPTA reauthorizations proposals ( H.R. 3839 , H.R. 5601 , and
S. 2998 ) died with the close of that Congress. Despite expiration of its funding
authorization, Congress provided FY2002 funding ($81.6 million) for the various programs
authorized by CAPTA and FY2003 funding is available at this same level under the continuing
resolution ( P.L. 107-294 ).
First enacted in 1974, CAPTA was intended to create a focal point in the federal government
to identify and address issues of child abuse and neglect, and to support effective methods of
prevention and treatment. The Act was most recently reauthorized in 1996 and authorizes grants to
states to help with their child protective service functions, funding for research and demonstration
projects related to child abuse and neglect, grants to states to improve investigation and prosecution
of child maltreatment, and grants for community-based family resource and support services. The
Act also authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to operate a national
clearinghouse of information related to abuse and neglect, and requires states to submit certain data
to HHS.
The national incidence of state-reported child abuse and neglect declined from 1993 through
1999 but rose slightly in 2000. For that year an estimated 2.8 million reports of abuse and neglect
were made and some 879,000 children were found to be victims. Child abuse and neglect victims
may experience one or more kinds of maltreatment including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse,
psychological or other maltreatment. Neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment and
in 2000 close to 63% of the 879,000 victims suffered neglect (including medical neglect).
This report describes the current structure of CAPTA along with three proposals to reauthorize
CAPTA that were debated in the 107th Congress ( H.R. 3839 , S. 2998 , and
H.R. 5601 ). Each, or most, of these bills also sought to amend the Adoption
Opportunities program, Abandoned Infants Assistance and the Family Violence Prevention and
Services Act; discussion of those programs and proposed changes are also included. This report will
not be updated.
