Topic
Child Abuse & Neglect
√ NY Agencies
Administration for Children's Services (ACS)
This is the main government agency in New York City that deals with child welfare and child protective services. ACS investigates allegations of child abuse and neglect, provides support services to families, and places children in foster care when necessary. Mayor’s Management Report
New York City Police Department (NYPD)
The NYPD investigates criminal cases of child abuse and neglect and works closely with ACS and other agencies to protect children and hold perpetrators accountable. Mayor’s Management Report
New York City Family Court
Family Court hears cases related to child abuse and neglect, including petitions for removal of a child from their home and requests for child protective services.
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
DOHMH provides support services to families and children affected by abuse and neglect, including mental health services, counseling, and medical care. Mayor’s Management Report
Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)
This is a state agency that provides oversight and guidance to local child welfare agencies, including ACS. OCFS also provides training and resources to child welfare professionals and advocates for policies that support child safety and well-being.
New York City Department of Education (DOE)
DOE works closely with ACS and other agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of students. DOE staff are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect, and they receive training on how to identify and report signs of abuse or neglect. Mayor’s Management Report
√ Reports
The New York City Child Fatality Review Advisory Team Report
This report examines child fatalities in New York City and identifies areas for improvement in child welfare policies and practices. The report is released annually and includes recommendations for preventing future deaths.
The Administration for Children's Services (ACS) Annual Report
ACS releases an annual report that provides information on the number of child abuse and neglect cases investigated, as well as the agency’s efforts to support families and protect children. The report also includes data on the outcomes of investigations and the use of foster care and other services.
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Child Protective Services Report
This report provides data on child abuse and neglect cases in New York State, including information on the number of investigations, the types of abuse and neglect reported, and the outcomes of investigations. The report is released annually.
The Child Welfare Watch Reports
The Child Welfare Watch is a publication of the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School that provides in-depth analysis of child welfare issues in New York City. The reports cover a wide range of topics, including the use of foster care, child protective services, and the impact of policies on families and children.
The New York City Comptroller's Report on Child Protective Services
This report provides an assessment of the effectiveness of child protective services in New York City, including recommendations for improving policies and practices. The report examines the use of preventive services, the quality of investigations, and the outcomes for children and families.
Prevention Services: Family Experience Survey 2021
ACS conducts this annual survey to survey all families in contracted prevention programs about their experiences in prevention services. The purpose of the survey is to better understand the lived experiences of families while participating in prevention services.
The New York City Child Fatality Review Advisory Team Report
This report examines child fatalities in New York City and identifies areas for improvement in child welfare policies and practices. The report is released annually and includes recommendations for preventing future deaths.
The Administration for Children's Services (ACS) Annual Report
ACS releases an annual report that provides information on the number of child abuse and neglect cases investigated, as well as the agency’s efforts to support families and protect children. The report also includes data on the outcomes of investigations and the use of foster care and other services.
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Child Protective Services Report
This report provides data on child abuse and neglect cases in New York State, including information on the number of investigations, the types of abuse and neglect reported, and the outcomes of investigations. The report is released annually.
The Child Welfare Watch Reports
The Child Welfare Watch is a publication of the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School that provides in-depth analysis of child welfare issues in New York City. The reports cover a wide range of topics, including the use of foster care, child protective services, and the impact of policies on families and children.
The New York City Comptroller's Report on Child Protective Services
This report provides an assessment of the effectiveness of child protective services in New York City, including recommendations for improving policies and practices. The report examines the use of preventive services, the quality of investigations, and the outcomes for children and families.
Prevention Services: Family Experience Survey 2021
√ Data sets
Administration for Children's Services (ACS) data
ACS collects and reports data on child welfare services in New York City, including reports of abuse and neglect, investigations, and services provided to families. This data is available through the ACS website.
New York City Open Data
The New York City government provides access to a wide range of data sets through its Open Data portal. This includes data on child welfare, such as the number of children in foster care, the use of preventive services, and the outcomes for children in the child welfare system.
Child Welfare Watch
The Center for New York City Affairs at The New School produces the Child Welfare Watch publication, which includes data and analysis on child welfare issues in New York City. This includes data on the use of foster care, preventive services, and other child welfare programs.
Child Fatality Reports
Child deaths in New York State that allegedly resulted from abuse or maltreatment are reported to the Statewide Central Register (SCR) of Child Abuse and Maltreatment and investigated by the local department of social services (LDSS). By law, certain reports are investigated in coordination with law enforcement. The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is required by statute to conduct a review of each fatality investigation and issue a summary report within six months of the local investigation.
√ Data visualizations
Keeping Track Online
Children in Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations – CCC New York4: This data set provides information on children in child abuse and neglect investigations.
Data Brief: Child Welfare Investigations
Center for New York City Affairs. This brief provides data on child welfare investigations in New York City.
New York State Child Abuse and Maltreatment Register Annual Report
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services publishes an annual report on child abuse and neglect in the state, which includes data visualizations on the types of maltreatment, the age and gender of the child, and the relationship between the child and the alleged perpetrator.
Administration for Children's Services
Monthly Flash Indicators: This report provides graphs showing monthly trends in numerous child welfare, child care, and juvenile justice statistics, such as children using vouchers for childcare, child protective caseloads, and the number of admissions to detention.
Annual Community District Snapshots CY 2022: These reports provide community district child welfare, child care, and juvenile justice statistics.
Administration for Children and Families
The Children’s Bureau develops the annual Child Maltreatment reports, which include data provided by the states to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System.
√ STATISTICS
Abuse or neglect reports
2022
Child Fatality investigations
2021
Percent of investigations substantiated
%
FY 2023
Child abuse and neglect cases
ACF: National Cases
For FFY 2021, 51 states reported 588,229 victims of child abuse and neglect. This equates to a national rate of 8.1 victims per 1,000 children in the population. Estimating for missing data, there are 600,000 victims of maltreatment for FFY 2021.
Child abuse rate in the United States by Race
In 2021, the child abuse rate for children of Hispanic origin was at 7.7, indicating 7.7 out of every 1,000 Hispanic children in the U.S. suffered from some sort of abuse. This rate was highest among American Indian or Alaska Native children, with 15.2 children out of every 1,000 experiencing some form of abuse.
Young Children Most Vulnerable
Youngest children were most vulnerable. Children in the first year of their life are 15% of all victims, and more than a quarter (28%) of child maltreatment victims are no more than 2 years old. Girls had a victimization rate of 8.7 per 1,000 girls in the population, higher than boys at 7.5 per 1,000 boys
Preventative Services
In recent years, there has been a shift towards preventive services in New York City, which aim to support families and prevent the need for foster care. In FY 2023 ACS provided preventive services to 16,149 children.
Abuse or neglect reports
2022
Child Fatality investigations
2021
Percent of investigations substantiated
%
FY 2023
Child abuse and neglect cases
ACF: National Cases
national rate of 8.1 victims per 1,000 children in the population. Estimating for missing data,
there are 600,000 victims of maltreatment for FFY 2021.
Child abuse rate in the United States by Race
Young Children Most Vulnerable
Preventative Services
√ Census & American Community Survey
Poverty Status of Families
Education level of Parents
Housing
Language spoken at home
Household composition
Poverty Status of Families
Education level of Parents
Housing
Language spoken at home
Household composition
√ Non-Profits
New York Foundling
New York Foundling is a nonprofit organization that provides services to vulnerable children and families, including those affected by abuse and neglect. They offer foster care, adoption, and family support services, as well as mental health and educational services.
Citizen's Committee for Children
CCC advances well-being, equity, and justice for all of New York’s children through research, advocacy, and civic engagement.
Child Advocacy Center
Child Advocacy Centers are specialized facilities that provide a child-friendly, multidisciplinary approach to investigating and responding to allegations of child abuse and neglect. They bring together law enforcement, child welfare professionals, medical and mental health providers, and other stakeholders to coordinate a comprehensive response to child abuse cases.
Safe Horizon
Safe Horizon is a nonprofit organization that provides support and advocacy for survivors of child abuse and neglect, as well as domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes. They offer a range of services, including counseling, legal assistance, and emergency shelter.
Child Mind Institute
This non-profit organization provides mental health services to children and families, including those affected by abuse and neglect. They offer counseling, assessments, and other support services to help children cope with the effects of trauma.
New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC)
NYSPCC is the first child protection agency in the world and works to prevent child abuse and neglect through education, advocacy, and direct services. They offer counseling, legal assistance, and other support services to children and families.
√ Experts
Mary Pulido
Mary Pulido is the Executive Director of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC), the first child protection agency in the world. She has extensive experience in the field of child welfare and has written and spoken extensively on issues related to child abuse and neglect.
Sharon E. Cooper - Pediatrician
Dr. Sharon Cooper is the Founder of the MACE Foundation and CEO of Developmental & Forensic Pediatrics, P.A., a consulting firm providing medical care, research, training and expert witness experience in child maltreatment cases as well as children with developmental disabilities.
Andrew White - The New School
Andrew White is the Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Planning, NYC Administration for Children’s Services. Previously he was the Executive Director of the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School, which produces the Child Welfare Watch publication. He has written and spoken extensively on child welfare issues in New York City, including the overreliance on foster care and the need for preventive services.
√ Journal Articles
"Association of Housing Stress With Child Maltreatment"
Poverty is an established risk factor for child maltreatment. However, recent research indicates that material hardship (i.e., difficulties meeting basic needs) may serve as a more direct measure of the way in which poverty affects daily life. One form of material hardship that is common among families is housing stress.
"On racial disparities in child abuse reports"
Research suggests children from non-White and Hispanic/Latinx communities are at higher risk for child maltreatment. This study identified in which states children from specific non-White communities were overrepresented in child protective services reports.
"Community Food Insecurity and Child Maltreatment Reports"
Current literature suggests that food insecurity increases child maltreatment risk. Yet, existing evidence is limited to individual-level associations among low-income, high-risk populations based on local, mostly urban data. This study aims to generalize prior findings to community-level associations in general populations, using national data including all urban-rural areas.
"The Association Between Child Abuse and Aggressive Behavior"
"Parental Child Murder and Child Abuse in Anglo-American Legal System"
The sociological and historical approaches and literatures are synthesized to present the historical background of the treatment that child-abusing and child-killing parents are receiving in the legal system today. The roots of the formation of contemporary institutional responses to severe child abuse and child homicide are traced and latest developments are examined critically.
√ Key Issues
High caseloads and staff turnover
Overreliance on foster care
Racial and ethnic disparities
Lack of coordination and communication between agencies
Trauma-informed practices
√ Social Media Accounts
SafeHorizon
A non-profit organization that provides support and resources for survivors of child abuse and neglect in New York City. They share updates, resources, and stories on their Twitter account.
ACSNYC
The official Twitter account of New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services, which is responsible for protecting children from abuse and neglect. They share updates on policies, programs, and initiatives related to child welfare.
CCCNewYork
Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York. Know the facts. Share the facts. Be part of the solution. Every child healthy, housed, educated, and safe.
childwelfaregov
A Twitter account run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau, which provides information and resources related to child welfare at the federal level. They share news and resources related to child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention.
TheNYFoundling
Since 1869, The New York Foundling has supported hundreds of thousands of our neighbors on their own paths to stability, strength, and independence.