Our Impact

2025

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Over 2,570 suspected cases are reviewed by Collier CAC annually.

5.57 children per 1,000 in our Judicial Circuit had a verified case of maltreatment last year—about one new child every single day in our area.

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In Collier County alone confirmed abuse cases of 389 school-aged children—that is nearly 9 full school buses of kids.

In Florida, 71 % of substantiated perpetrators are the child’s own parents; most of the rest are relatives or trusted caregivers.

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The youngest children are the most at risk. The average age of a child we serve is just 7 years old.

Without support, the impact of abuse lingers for decades physically, emotionally, and economically. Survivors are 4 times more likely to experience mental health challenges, and the The CDC pegs the annual U.S. lifetime economic burden of child maltreatment at $592 billion—on par with heart disease or diabetes.

These are not just statistics.

They are children.

They are families.

They are futures we can help rebuild, together.

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The ACES Study and Child Wellbing

In our mission to improve the lives of abused children in Collier County, the Collier CAC relies on the latest research to guide both prevention and intervention strategies. One of the most influential studies shaping our work is the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, which identifies the lasting impact of abuse, neglect, and other traumatic experiences before the age of 18.

The ACE Study revealed that early trauma can dramatically increase the likelihood of risky behavior, psychological disorders, chronic illness, and even premature death. The long-term effects of these experiences ripple through every stage of life. In today’s terms, the estimated lifetime cost per survivor of nonfatal child abuse is over $300,000, while the lifetime cost per fatal case exceeds $1.8 million, factoring in medical care, lost productivity, and long-term health impacts. The CDC estimates that the total annual cost of child maltreatment in the U.S. now exceeds $177 billion.

Because of this research, every program at the CAC is designed to prevent, minimize, and heal the trauma caused by ACEs. But the need is growing. Right now, more children are coming through our doors than we have the capacity to serve. Gaps in funding and staffing mean some children wait for critical services—services that can change the course of their lives.

It costs us $3,393 to provide a full continuum of care for each child and family we serve. We need your support to invest in the right people, expand our facility, and sustain the evidence-based programs that are proven to work. Together, we can break the cycle of abuse and give every child the chance to thrive.