For Release: IMMEDIATE
Date: November 1, 2005

New Approach to Child Welfare Can be Found in the Numbers

RALEIGH –In 2005, North Carolina charted a slight decline in child abuse and neglect reports and investigations, and some declines in number of children found to be abused or neglected.

In state fiscal year 2004-05, 111,581 children were assessed for child abuse and neglect, a decrease of 1,976 from 2003-04. Of those cases, 20,394 children were found to be abused or neglected, and another 6,276 children were found to need services, for a total of 26,670. These last numbers are not entirely comparable to the year before, because of the rollout of MRS, or the multiple response system of child welfare.

“ For years, the total number of children substantiated for abuse and neglect hovered at 31,000 to 32,000. With our new ‘multiple response’ system approach to assessing reports of abuse or neglect, we’re substantiating or serving a total of 26,670. We’re engaging families sooner and more intensely upfront, and we believe that is helping to prevent child abuse and neglect,” said Jo Ann Lamm, chief, Family Support and Child Welfare Services.

“We’re encouraged that the numbers are going down, but we cannot become complacent. Let’s never forget that every number counted is a child harmed.”

The “multiple response” system of child welfare means that social workers have a more family focused, less adversarial way to interact with families when the problem is neglect and the child is not in immediate danger. (Physical and sexual abuse cases continue to follow the traditional model of investigation.) A finding of “in need of service” means that social workers can immediately start serving the family to ensure the safety of the child. MRS was expanded from 10 to 52 counties during the 2003-04 state fiscal year, and is going statewide at the beginning of 2006.

These numbers are being released following the release of “New Directions for North Carolina: A Report of the NC Institute of Medicine Task Force on Child Abuse Prevention. 2005” found at www.nciom.org/projects/childabuse/childabusereport.html, which outlines a number of recommendations to strengthen families and prevent child abuse at the source. The report acknowledges that the “central registry” data is the only data system that captures information about maltreatment of children, but is limited to children who become known to their county department of social services, were perpetrated by a parent guardian or child care provider, and meet statutory definitions of abuse or neglect. The actual incidence of abuse and neglect is thought to be much higher.

“ What is the take home message? For me, it’s to ‘report report report.’ If you have a safety concern about a child, it is your moral and legal responsibility to report it to your county department of social services. We know that most deaths attributed to child abuse occur when DSS was never notified,” said Lamm.

Jennifer Tolle Whiteside, CEO and President of Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina, said, “North Carolina must identify and provide funding for critical prevention programs and initiatives. Parenting education and support should be provided for all parents - not just those in crisis situations. Until we can make a commitment at all levels - as a state, as communities, and as individuals - North Carolina children will continue to experience abuse and neglect at an unacceptable rate.”

A summary of the new statistics is attached. County statistics can be found at http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/stats/cr.htm

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