Report Release: An Analysis of System Responses to Child Fatalities

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Subject: Report Release: An Analysis of System Responses to Child Fatalities

An Analysis of System Responses to Child Fatalities: Report Release

Child deaths overall, and specifically those due to maltreatment, have been increasing both nationally and in Virginia for the last several years. Nationally, between 2021 and 2022, there was a 3.3% increase in all-cause infant mortality. Child fatalities due to abuse and neglect increased 9.6% from 2019 to 2023. In State Fiscal Year 2021, Virginia experienced the highest rate of founded child maltreatment deaths in the past decade.

Our youngest children continue to be the most vulnerable to child maltreatment deaths. Nationally, 66.9% of these deaths involved a child younger than three years old. Virginia’s rate is above the national average with 76% of child maltreatment deaths in SFY 2023 involving a child under three years old.

In response to this increase and complexity of the topic, FACT has developed an analysis report on system responses to child fatalities in Virginia.

The purpose of this report is fourfold:

provide a central reference document outlining the current efforts for child fatality investigations and review in Virginia,
to highlight available data on these cases,
to identify where gaps in data exist and,
to provide points for consideration on ways to improve child fatality investigation and review processes to increase effective prevention strategies and protect our most vulnerable Virginians.

Read the full report >>

Download the full infographic (PDF) >>

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Subject: Report Release: An Analysis of System Responses to Child Fatalities