As a leading health care provider in Central New York, and as professionals stridently committed to family-focused care, FCMG is compelled, each April, to call attention to continuing challenges of protecting our society’s most vulnerable population from all forms of abuse.

This year, as we participate in National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we’re dedicating this news article on our website to once again sharing the 2021 Child Maltreatment Report (published by U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children and Families Children’s Bureau), which spotlights child abuse and neglect data collected by child protective services agencies in the United States. While the report is primarily aimed at and serves as an important resource relied upon by researchers, practitioners, and advocates throughout the world, it also provides insight and compelling information for the public at large – answering such questions as:

• How many instances of child abuse and neglect are reported each year?
• What types of maltreatment or abuse are reported?
• What are the ages, genders, and other characteristics of maltreated children?
• How many children die each year as a result of abuse?

The report also affords information about the services provided by State and local child protective services (CPS) agencies to children and families each year, who are charged with remedying and intervening in situations where child abuse is evident AND preventing future instances of child maltreatment. Some notable stats include:

• Approximately 1.8 million children received prevention services in fiscal year 2021.
• Approximately two-thirds (58.0%) of victims received post-response services (such as family preservation, family support, or foster care) because of needs discovered during an investigation or alternative response.
• During fiscal year 2021, fewer than one-quarter (20.2 percent) of confirmed maltreatment victims were removed from their homes because of an investigation or alternative response

Interested in learning more about CPS and other agencies focused on preventing or intervening child abuse? Visit the State Child Abuse and Neglect Policies Database.

And, of course, if you are concerned about the safety, conditions, or circumstances of a family known to you – including your own – please do not hesitate to speak in confidence with your FCMG provider.