Children Need a Voice

  • An estimated 1 in 4 children experience abuse or neglect in the U.S. 
  • 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys will report they were sexually abused by the age of 18. It is estimated that only 38% of children report.
  • The harm of child abuse can last a lifetime; the total economic burden incurred by California communities for the lifetime cost of survivors of child abuse and neglect in 2023 was $16.5 billion

Protecting children for over 30 years

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The Coalition provides education and advocacy for research-based policy changes that identify, prevent, and treat child abuse. We partner with legislators, agencies, advocacy groups, families, and professionals who provide direct services. We propose legislation and take positions on related bills. Our state and national network is dedicated to creating laws that protect children and offer justice and assistance for victims.
Update on Priority Bill:
​AB 3072 (Petrie-Norris) has passed on the Senate Floor!
Please ask Governor Newsom to sign AB 3072 (Petrie-Norris) to increase child protection.

Take Action

Urge Governor Newsom to sign
​AB 3072 (Petrie-Norris) 
Our work is made possible by donations from the public. Help fund education and legislative advocacy to protect children.
We recommend support for these current child protection bills:
SB 899 (Skinner-Blakespear)
AB 2759 (Petrie-Norris)
AB 2096 (Petrie-Norris)
AB 1974 (Petrie-Norris)

Improving Child Safety One Law at a Time

SB 654 (Min) 2021
​Sponsored

Requires courts to consider a parent’s history of abuse and/or substance abuse and
state reasons on the record before placing a child in unsupervised visitation with
that parent. Specifies that children in custody disputes who choose to address the
court will not do so in the presence of their parents unless the court finds it
necessary and states reasons on the record.

AB 1179 (Rubio) 2019

Requires a mandatory form to be used to ensure essential information is included in
investigations, evaluations, or assessments of allegations of child abuse under
Family Code section 3118.

AB 1651 (Ortiz) 1999
Sponsored

Permitted victims of child sexual abuse to sue third parties who negligently or
intentionally allowed children to be sexually abused. Extended the statute of
limitations to age 26.
For more new law, click on Legislation
“California Impacts.” Safe & Sound, safeandsound.org/about-abuse/the-economics-of-abuse/california-impacts/. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
Child Abuse and Neglect in California, 8 Sept. 2021, capc-coco.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/child-abuse-2018.pdf.
“KidSafe.” Center for Child Counseling, 24 Mar. 2024, www.centerforchildcounseling.org/programs/kidsafe/.