Child Fatality Report Fact Sheet
KEY INFORMATION:
 Our infants and toddlers are most vulnerable
 The report reveals a number of societal issues that are
linked to almost every one of these cases
 This pattern of stress factors points to a larger and more
widespread concern than DCS can address alone
 We need communities—leaders, organizations and neighbors—to continue pulling together and working hard to
address these stress factors to PREVENT child abuse and
neglect

SFY 2012
  Total number of child abuse and neglect fatalities assessed: 295
  Total number of substantiated fatalities due to child abuse or
neglect: 34
  Total number of fatalities due to abuse: 15 (44%)
  Total number of fatalities due to neglect: 19 (56%)
  Total number of cases with prior history: 7 (21%)
  Percentage of abuse victims 1 year or younger: 60%
  Percentage of neglect victims 1 year or younger: 63%

 Federal law requires DCS to make every effort to keep the
child safely in the home
 DCS is continuously improving our processes and training
to keep in line with new policies, statutes, laws and child
welfare best practices
 DCS is a key participant in the Commission on Improving
the Status of Children in Indiana
 DCS has increased access to wraparound services via
community partners
 DCS continues to collaborate with the Child Fatality
Review Team
Risk Factors
  Low Income: 49%
  Substance Abuse: 25%
  Domestic Violence: 10%
Patterns
  Biological parent is offender: 68%
  Biological parent’s partner: 17%
  Primary cause of abuse fatality is head trauma
  Primary cause of neglect fatality is exposure to hazards
  177,542 total reports into the hotline in 2012

SFY 2013

SFY 2014

  Total number of child abuse and neglect fatalities assessed: 286
  Total number of substantiated fatalities due to child abuse or
neglect: 49
  Total number of fatalities due to abuse: 13 (27%)
  Total number of fatalities due to neglect: 36 (73%)
  Total number of cases with prior history: 7 (14%)
  Percentage of abuse victims 1 year or younger: 54%
  Percentage of neglect victims 1 year or younger: 58%
Risk Factors
  Low Income: 41%
  Substance Abuse:
  11% abuse
  20% neglect
  Domestic Violence:
  20% abuse
  7 % neglect
Patterns
  Biological parent is offender:
  47% abuse
  61% neglect
  Biological parent’s partner or another relative:
  48% abuse
  8% neglect
  Primary cause of abuse fatality is head trauma
  Primary cause of neglect fatality is failure to provide
appropriate supervision
  187,465 total reports into the hotline in 2013

  Total number of child abuse and neglect fatalities assessed: 239
  Total number of substantiated fatalities due to child abuse or
neglect: 66
  Total number of fatalities due to abuse: 12 (18%)
  Total number of fatalities due to neglect: 54 (82%)
  Total number of cases with prior history: 4 (6%)
  Percentage of abuse victims 1 year or younger: 50%
  Percentage of neglect victims 1 year or younger: 46%
Risk Factors
  Low Income: 61%
  Substance Abuse:
  31% abuse
  28% neglect
  Domestic Violence:
  19% abuse
  19% neglect
Patterns
  Biological parent is offender:
  63 % abuse
  77 % neglect
  Biological parent’s partner or another relative:
  31 % abuse
  14 % neglect
  Primary cause of abuse fatality is head trauma
  Primary cause of neglect fatality is failure to
provide appropriate supervision
  198,684 total reports into the hotline in 2014