Children who have been abused or neglected may experience long-term psychological and emotional/behavioral consequences. Victims of abuse are also at higher risk of abusing their own children when they become parents.

In 2020, there were 20 abused or neglected children for every 1,000 in the 9-county Rochester region, above the state rate of 15. The rate has increased 40% from 2000 and reached new highs in the last three years. The rate of child abuse was highest in Yates and Seneca counties at 36 and 35 per 1,000, respectively. The rate was lowest in Ontario and Monroe counties at 17 and 18, respectively. As a group, the counties surrounding Monroe had a higher rate than Monroe County at 24.

Reports of abuse or neglect may be influenced by many factors such as outreach, education and media publicity. Additionally, it is unknown how many cases of abuse or neglect are never reported to authorities. Each child is counted only once in these data.