Abuse Deaths on Arizona CPS’ Watch Rise

“While the number of child fatalities in Arizona has decreased significantly  over the past six years, the number of deaths due to maltreatment edged up last  year.

Still, the number of maltreatment-death cases in which Child Protective  Services had been actively investigating or had previous involvement nearly  doubled from 2010 to 2011.

The statistics were contained in a statewide review of child fatalities  released Tuesday.

“Overall, 837 children younger than 18 died in 2011, a 3 percent decline from  2010, when 862 children died.

CPS had been involved in 34 of 71 child-maltreatment deaths in 2011. The 71  deaths represented the highest number in six years. Of those 34 investigations,  15 were still being actively investigated at the time of the child’s death. Last  year’s report documented 70 maltreatment deaths, of which 18 had previous CPS  involvement. Five of those cases were still being investigated by CPS when the  child died.”

Profile

“The typical child who dies by abuse or neglect is an infant. Half never  reached their first birthday. Five times out of six, the child dies at the hands  of a parent or parent’s partner. About 70 percent of the time, drugs or alcohol  is involved.

The causes are well-known: substance abuse, a young mother, separated  parents, a family history of physical abuse, mental illness and poverty. Add to  the mix reductions in social-welfare resources and a recession that has cost  people jobs and homes, and many parents take out their frustrations on their  children.”

Homicides, Drownings and Suicides Increase

“Among the findings in the latest report:

Child homicides rose in 2011 to 42, compared with 36 in 2010. Nearly a third  involved guns….

In 2011, 32 children drowned. Two-thirds were 4 or younger….

More than half of the children killed in abuse cases came from families that had  been or were being investigated by CPS….

The number of child suicides shot up to 39 from 24, more than 60 percent. One  was a 7-year-old, the youngest child to commit suicide since Arizona began  keeping track, said Markay Adams, suicide-prevention coordinator at the  Department of Health Services.”

Abuse deaths on CPS’ watch rise

[Arizona Republic 11/13/12 by Sean Holstege]

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