Child abuse cases up 67 percent since 2012

Feb. 18--The rate of child abuse and neglect cases reported in Massachusetts is higher than any other state, according to new federal data, but advocates for children say the dubious ranking is actually a sign of progress.

From 2012 to 2016, cases of reported abuse in Massachusetts increased 67 percent to 32,093, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's latest report on child maltreatment.The rate of child abuse and neglect cases reported in Massachusetts is higher than any other state, according to new federal data, but advocates for children say the dubious ranking is actually a sign of progress.

From 2012 to 2016, cases of reported abuse in Massachusetts increased 67 percent to 32,093, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's latest report on child maltreatment.

In federal fiscal year 2016, the state's rate of 23.3 victims per 1,000 children was more than double the national average. It marked the third year in a row that Massachusetts had the highest rate of child maltreatment in the nation.

Advocates say the data, while troubling, reflect the state's aggressive stance toward identifying and investigating allegations of neglect and abuse.

Thomas King, executive director of the Massachusetts Children's Alliance, an independent advocacy group, said the state has one of the nation's lowest thresholds for reporting alleged abuse, which has increased the number of complaints referred to the state Department of Children and Families.

"We're setting the bar high as a state," he said. "And as a consequence, our numbers are high."

Jetta Bernier, executive director of Massachusetts Citizens for Children, or MassKids, said the public is playing a greater role in flagging suspected abuse cases, which is likely another reason for the growing number of allegations.

High-profile cases of abuse -- such as the death of Jeremiah Oliver, a 5-year-old Fitchburg boy who went missing while under state custody in 2013 and later turned up dead -- create a heightened sense of public awareness, she said.

Roughly 95 percent of the nearly 32,000 reported child abuse cases in the federal report dealt with allegations of neglect, while only 9 percent involved physical abuse and 2.4 percent sexual abuse. Children under age 1 were the largest group of abused or neglected children, with 4,198 reported cases.

Bernier points out that the federal data only scratch the surface, because an estimated 90 percent of child abuse goes unreported.

Massachusetts in recent years has expanded the list of individuals required to report abuse, which includes teachers, doctors, nurses and child care workers.

The state is also one of six that doesn't require physical evidence or corroborating reports to launch an investigation of child abuse, Bernier said.

"The data state by state is different, because the laws are different," she said. "There isn't one consistent definition of child abuse."

New Hampshire had a rate of 3.5 victims per 1,000 children in 2016, according to the federal data. Rhode Island's rate was 14.1 per 1,000, while Maine was 13.5, Connecticut 10.4, and Vermont 6.9.

The national average in 2016 was 9.1 per 1,000 children.

Meanwhile, a new report from the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate, an independent watchdog, shows the number of allegations of abuse and neglect in foster homes and other residential settings fell by 21 percent during the last fiscal year, from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, with 655 reported incidents.

Despite the decline, at least 40 children under state supervision or custody died during that year -- an increase from 35 a year earlier. Those children who died last year included 18 cases of a sudden or unexpected death, such as accidental suffocation in a bed.

Rocked by scandals involving the Department of Children and Families' handling of abuse cases, the Baker administration has increased funding for the agency by nearly $155 million and hired about 350 new workers to reduce caseloads, improve staff supervision and upgrade technology.

Department spokeswoman Andrea Grossman said the administration has devoted tremendous resources to improving the agency's work. She points out that cases outlined in the state and federal reports account for only one-tenth of the estimated 50,000 children the agency supports through its programs and oversight.

"Every child fatality or injury is one too many, and every report is thoroughly investigated by the department to prioritize child safety," she said.

DCF also attributes the rising numbers of child abuse and neglect cases, in part, to the combination of a lower evidence threshold and heightened public awareness.

"Our increased vigilance allows the department to capture a broader view of children potentially in need of DCF services," Grossman said.

King and other advocates praise the Baker administration for making good on pledges to shore up the beleaguered state agency.

"They're actually making substantial changes to the department -- it's not just politics," he said. "We haven't seen this kind of response in a long time."

Rep. Linda Campbell, D-Methuen, said the Legislature has provided more funding to reduce caseloads but said there's more work to be done.

"We need to devote more resources to keeping children in their homes," she said. "But to do that we have to offer more services to those families."

In December, State Auditor Suzanne Bump criticized DCF for being "unaware" of 260 incidents involving serious bodily injuries to children under its care from 2014 to 2015 and identified 118 incidents of sexual abuse of a child in state care that were not reported to the Office of the Child Advocate, as required.

Her report said another 19 incidents of abuse and neglect "were not formally reported to and received by district attorneys."

Gov. Charlie Baker blasted those claims as "irresponsible" because they relied on old data and ignored reforms put in place by his administration has put in place.

Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group's newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhi.com.

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