Child Maltreatment and Mortality in Young Adults

The authors of this study are absolutely correct that the best solution to the problem they identified is to provide more family support in order to reduce child maltreatment. A second avenue of intervention is to fix the foster care system into which many of these children are placed. Such placement is a traumatic experience for many children, compounded by multiple placements, discontinuous health care, estrangement from their families, and inadequate preparation for transition out of the system. It is no wonder that children and youth experiencing such "care" will be prone to excess morbidity and mortality.