Child Maltreatment Report Shows Significant Improvements

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- The Child Maltreatment 2009 report was released by the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF).  The report is based on national and state child maltretment statistics from data collected and reported by child protective services agencies in the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS). The report noted significant improvements in the Child Protective Services in Oklahoma:

Absence of maltreatment in foster care - The safety of children in out-of-home care in Oklahoma improved in 2009. Oklahoma performed at 99.8 percent which is above the national standard of 99.6 percent  This means 99.8 percent of children in out-of-home care did not experience maltreatment while in care. Oklahoma was one of only 24 states that met or exceeded this national standard.

Rate of maltreatment in Oklahoma – Oklahoma improved to 8.3 victims per 1,000 children, which is below the national average of 9.3 victims per 1,000 children.

Absence of maltreatment recurrence of children – Oklahoma showed an improvement from 90.8 percent in 2005 to 94.2 percent in 2009, meaning fewer than 6 percent experienced repeat maltreatment (defined as a subsequent confirmed report within six months of a confirmed report).

Reduction in removals of children from their homes - Oklahoma has seen a 30 percent reduction in the number of children in out-of-home care since July 1, 2007. In state fiscal year 2009, 25 percent fewer children were removed than in SFY 2007.

CPS response time - Between 2005 and 2009, Oklahoma reduced the average response time by 50 percent when child maltreatment was reported. The response time average in 2009 was 81 hours, down from the average of 161 hours in 2005. The number is calculated using both priority one and priority two numbers, a system used to categorize the severity of abuse and required response time. Priority one requires a same day response. Priority two requires a response between 2-15 days.

For more information about the Child Maltreatment 2009 report, go to http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/index.htm (Link opens in new window).

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