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Best and Worst States for Very Young Children in CPS: New Data on Risk, Failures, and Hope

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, Guest Posts, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, RESEARCH

This article uses NCANDS data to identify the best and worst states for very young children in CPS, highlighting where infants and toddlers face the greatest risk of severe harm or death and how troubled, overwhelmed child protection systems are struggling with heavy caseloads and too few resources. It points lawmakers, advocates, and communities toward more transparent CPS reporting, stronger early childhood support, and data driven reforms that can actually protect kids and support families.

Silhouettes of a family with two adults and one child.

Deep Dive Into Northeastern University Child Welfare Crisis Research

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, childabuse, Education, Guest Posts, Reporting and News - US Based, RESEARCH, Statistics, The States

This deep dive expands on KARA’s child welfare crisis post by walking through five Northeastern University capstone projects. Together, they use national data, infant mortality models, county level forecasting, and poverty analysis to show where children are most at risk—and how KARA AND YOU can use this research to drive policy change.

Black T-shirt with white text promoting kids' voices.

Be a Tester: KARA’s Interactive Child Abuse Information Hub

Aces and Trauma, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Data, Education, KARA News and Events, Reporting and News - US Based, RESEARCH

KARA is piloting an AI driven, interactive child abuse and child protection information platform—and we need your help to shape it. By exploring the pilot and sharing what works, what’s confusing, and what’s missing, you’ll help us build a tool that truly serves educators, child advocates, families, policymakers, and others working with traumatized children. Your feedback in this early stage will guide how we organize data, refine answers, and add features before a wider launch.

Logo of Kara, an organization for kids at risk action.

Child Neglect & Substance Abuse Study

Aces and Trauma, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, NEGLECT, RESEARCH, Statistics

This study of 251 neglected children and 502 community matched control group over a 17 year period found that 32% of child abuse fatalities occurring in the same year were attributed to child neglect alone. Most of these children were unnoticed by teachers, law enforcement, healthcare workers and others and received no child protection or welfare services.