Florida is number ONE for the most reported child abuse deaths. Louisiana is among the states with the highest frequency of child deaths related to abuse and neglect, according to an analysis highlighted Tuesday by a coalition of prosecutors and other child advocates. The National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths named Louisiana among 12 states with disproportionate numbers of cases that the consortium’s members said are preventable if the United States makes the issue a priority.

Official government statistics for 2008 put the number of abuse and neglect deaths among children at 1,740. Michael Petit, president of the Every Child Matters Education Fund, said the coalition believes the number is at least 2,500. The government’s numbers are based on official reporting by coroners and law enforcement agencies.
Coalition estimates cite academic research that suggests the deaths are under-reported. Besides Petit’s group, the consortium comprises the National Children’s Alliance, the National District Attorneys Association; the National Association of Social Workers and the National Center for Child Death Review.

Government statistics show that Louisiana had 246 abuse and neglect deaths among children from 2001 to 2008. In 2008, the number was 30 or 2.71 deaths per 100,000 children. Florida had the highest rate at 4.62 deaths per 100,000. Rhode Island reported no such deaths in 2008.

Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Vermont and Wyoming all reported fewer than 1 death per 100,000. Among the state’s with populations closest to Louisiana, Alabama’s rate was 1.78, South Carolina was 1.97 and Kentucky was 2.18, all lower than Louisiana.  The national rate was 2.4, more than double the rates in the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada, and triple the rate in Germany.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/12/louisiana_among_top_12_states.html