The juveniles studied were African American and white youths who were 11 or 12 years old in 1992 and whose families varied regarding the reception of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). Each one had been involved in a substantiated case of physical or sexual abuse. To determine the poverty history of the sample, AFDC records were screened to determine the dates each child had received AFDC. Children were defined as persistently poor if they had received AFDC for more than half of their lives. The chronicity of abuse was determined from the number of recorded instances of substantiated physical or sexual abuse and caseworkers' notes that indicated abuse may have been ongoing or recurring. The study concludes that persistent poverty is not a sufficient explanation for chronic abuse. Experiences in the family of origin, such as exposure to domestic violence or current mental and physical health problems, also contribute to child abuse. Still, the study results establish that chronic abuse is more prevalent in families that live in persistent, rather than transient poverty. This suggests that special supports and resources for these especially needy families could assist in preventing the recurrence of child abuse.