Not One More Child in Arapahoe County Arapahoe County Department of Human Services Children, Youth and Family Services 2012, 2013 and 2014 Child Abuse and Neglect Fatality, Near Fatality and Egregious Harm Data

Today’s Presentation Colorado law related to fatalities, near fatalities and egregious harm incidents Arapahoe County workload data Fatality, Near Fatality and Egregious Harm Arapahoe County Data for 2012 – 2014 Lessons Learned Why You are Important

Why Do We Study What You are Going to See? Colorado has required reporting of all suspicious child fatalities for many years New legislation in 2012 added mandated reporting of near fatalities and egregious harm incidents Reported incidents are taken to the state level Child Fatality Review Team when there is prior child welfare involvement within three previous years Use what we learn to help educate ourselves, our partners and the community to improve practice

Definitions CAN -- Child Abuse and Neglect CAN Fatality -- death caused by substantiated abuse/neglect CAN Near Fatality -- a near death substantiated by abuse or neglect and confirmed by a physician CAN Egregious Harm -- injury caused to a child from abuse or neglect involving significant violence, torture, use of cruel restraints, or other similar, aggravated circumstances, “shocking to the conscience” Substantiated -- enough evidence is produced during an assessment to support that the alleged abuse/neglect did occur Inconclusive -- not enough evidence is produced to substantiate, but enough to cause concern

Workload Statistics Over 25,000 calls per year to the Abuse and Neglect Hotline Approximately 8800 per year are actual reports of suspected abuse or neglect. About 43% (3800) meet criteria for assessment. About 10% of those assessed are in need of long term intervention and high level services in order to assure safety. About 1200 children open for services on any given day. About 50% of those in out of home care. Nearly all are reunited with about 10% having to be placed into alternative permanency.

Fatality, Near Fatality and Egregious Harm Data 2012, 2013 and 2014

Fatalities Reported 1 screened out -- medically related 4 CAN related (all 4 due to neglect, 1 with history, too old for review) 3 inconclusive CAN ( 1 physical abuse by father,1 neglect -- drug ingestion, 1 accidental, but neglectful)

Fatalities Reported 1 CAN related death (father, with history) 10 non-CAN related deaths (auto, medical, ingestion, sleeping/accidental suffocations, 7 with history) 2 Egregious Harm Incidents Reported Both CAN related (physical abuse, both fathers, 1 with history) 4 Near Fatalities Reported 3 CAN related (1 physical abuse, 2 neglect, all with history) 1 non-CAN related (suicide attempt of 8 year old)

2014 Year to Date 5 Fatalities 0 CAN related 1 inconclusive for CAN (co-sleeping and substance use) 4 non-CAN (12 year old suicide, one cause pending, 1 in foster care from previous abuse case in Denver County, 1 accidental in a baby swing, no history) 2 Near Fatalities 1 pending (physical abuse, mother suspected, with history, military involved) 1 non-CAN related (teen overdose, with history) 3 Egregious Harm Incidents All CAN related (serious bodily injury, all with history, 1 military involved, mother suspected)

2012 – 2014 Big Picture 24 Fatalities Reported 5 CAN related deaths 2 with Child Protection history 6 Near Fatalities Reported 3 CAN related 5 with Child Protection history 5 Egregious Harm Incidents Reported 5 CAN related 1 with Child Protection history

Patterns Emerged Physical Abuse Vulnerability of child (0 – 6 years of age) Previous child welfare involvement Male caretakers Neglect Risk factors include vulnerability of child (0 – 3 year of age) Inadequate parental supervision Impairment of parental capacity Domestic Violence

What Have We Learned and What Are Potential Community Messages Supervision and Protection of Vulnerable Children Domestic Violence Substance Abuse Mental Illness Video game/technology addictions Young Parents Military Young Families Isolation Maternal/Paternal Depression Marital Stress Substance Abuse

Parental/Caretaker Frustration Human to Human responsibility to acknowledge, support and respond Permission to “need support” Community Education Co-sleeping/Safe Sleeping Substance Use/Abuse and Impact on Parenting Capacity Identification of Childhood/Youth Mental Health Issues What Have We Learned and What Are Potential Community Messages

Next Steps For Further Information: Angela W. Lytle Michelle Dossey

Breakout Group Discussion What more can we do as community to help prevent child abuse and neglect and strengthen families? Discuss in your breakout groups and come back with your top 3 ideas.