structural:scholar_edition, stylistic:tone
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act

Abused and neglected children are included under IDEA part C due to the growing body of evidence showing increased risk of developmental delay among children in the child welfare system. In 2013, there were an estimated 679,000 victims of child abuse and neglect. Nearly half (47%) were five years or younger. The results of the 2008 National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) reported that children in Child Welfare had below average cognitive, behavioral, daily living, language, social-emotional and social skills compared to their peers. Slightly less than half of children five and under showed developmental delay. A social and emotional assessment given to caretakers of these children showed 34.1% had a possible problem, and 27.0% had a possible social/emotional deficit or delay compared to 25% and 15%, respectively, in a standardized population. Neurodevelopmentally, children in the child welfare system have risks similar to those of premature and low-birth-weight infants. Children in this population scored nearly one standard deviation below the mean of the early-cognitive-development tool used for assessment. Language skills fell almost one standard deviation below the norm as well. Overall, 42.6% of children aged one to five years showed a need for developmental support, making them potentially eligible for early intervention services.