Child Protective Services
During 2004, an estimated 3,503,000 children in the United States were subjects of child protective services investigations due to reports alleging abuse or neglect.[2] The role of the child protective services agencies is to respond to the needs of the children who were alleged to have been maltreated and ensure that they remain safe. The SSBG is a critical source of Federal funds for the agencies that protect and care for these children and youth. Thirty-eight States reported using the SSBG to fund child protective services, which was the fifth largest of the 29 service expenditure categories in 2004.
The SSBG provides funds to States, in proportion to their population, to assist with the provision of social services. States have substantial discretion in the use of SSBG funds and may determine what services are provided and who is eligible to receive them. In addition, a State may transfer up to 10 percent of its annual Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant allocation into its SSBG program. States report on SSBG expenditures and recipients annually in a postexpenditure report. The term SSBG expenditures refers to the expenditures of the SSBG allocation combined with funds transferred from TANF into SSBG.
In 38 States, approximately 1.4 million children received child protective services that were funded in whole or in part with the SSBG during 2004. Child protective services are designed to prevent or remedy abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children. These children may have been harmed through physical or emotional injury; sexual abuse or exploitation; or a lack of adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care. Component services or activities may include:
- Conducting investigations and assessments;
- Providing emergency medical services and shelter;
- Providing case management and referral to service providers;
- Initiating legal action;
- Counseling the child and the family;
- Assessing and evaluating family circumstances; and
- Arranging alternative living arrangements, including foster care.
- Approximately 1.4 million children received child protective services funded with the SSBG. Two States also reported adult recipients of child protective services. Most often, adult recipients were the parents of the children receiving services.
- States spent approximately $194 million on child protective services during 2004, which was approximately 8 percent of all SSBG expenditures.
- Nine States reported more than 20 percent of their SSBG expenditures on child protective services. Three States -- Hawaii, Kentucky, and South Dakota -- reported one-half or more of their SSBG expenditures were used for child protective services.
- Of the States with the largest expenditures on child protective services, five States each reported more than $10 million of SSBG expenditures on child protective services during 2004. One State -- Florida -- spent more than $20 million.
Highlights of SSBG's role in the funding of child protective services are listed below
Table 1 details the expenditures data, and table 2 details the recipient data for child protective services.
| Table 1. Expenditures for Child Protective Services | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | SSBG Allocation | TANF Transfer | SSBG Expenditures | Percent of State SSBG Expenditures |
| Alabama | $6,943,602 | $6,943,602 | 19% | |
| Alaska | $744,493 | $482,930 | $1,227,423 | 17% |
| Arizona | $3,007,153 | $3,007,153 | 5% | |
| Arkansas | ||||
| California | ||||
| Colorado | ||||
| Connecticut | $2,803,794 | $2,803,794 | 6% | |
| Delaware | ||||
| District of Columbia | $52,580 | $52,580 | 1% | |
| Florida | $6,261,111 | $29,533,702 | $35,794,813 | 22% |
| Georgia | $4,767,533 | $4,767,533 | 10% | |
| Hawaii | $3,762,652 | $5,690,000 | $9,452,652 | 69% |
| Idaho | $1,029,278 | $394,672 | $1,423,950 | 12% |
| Illinois | $113,220 | $113,220 | 0% | |
| Indiana | $6,070,714 | $2,000,000 | $8,070,714 | 22% |
| Iowa | ||||
| Kansas | $1,387,862 | $1,387,862 | 7% | |
| Kentucky | $14,928,720 | $14,928,720 | 58% | |
| Louisiana | $1,402,145 | $2,539,282 | $3,941,427 | 10% |
| Maine | $1,150,984 | $1,150,984 | 8% | |
| Maryland | $1,978,879 | $3,701,261 | $5,680,140 | 10% |
| Massachusetts | ||||
| Michigan | $2,921,824 | $11,748,625 | $14,670,449 | 17% |
| Minnesota | $1,690,609 | $515,313 | $2,205,922 | 6% |
| Mississippi | $1,911,394 | $4,457,222 | $6,368,616 | 25% |
| Missouri | $86,412 | $43,216 | $129,628 | 0% |
| Montana | ||||
| Nebraska | $3,521,219 | $3,521,219 | 35% | |
| Nevada | ||||
| New Hampshire | $457,453 | $457,453 | 6% | |
| New Jersey | ||||
| New Mexico | $422,758 | $83,510 | $506,268 | 4% |
| New York | ||||
| North Carolina | $109,463 | $109,463 | 0% | |
| North Dakota | $349,487 | $349,487 | 9% | |
| Ohio | $8,728,740 | $6,286,345 | $15,015,085 | 11% |
| Oklahoma | $329,121 | $329,121 | 1% | |
| Oregon | $3,766,804 | $3,766,804 | 14% | |
| Pennsylvania | $12,291,613 | $12,291,613 | 12% | |
| Rhode Island | $928 | $928 | 0% | |
| South Carolina | $6,596,308 | $6,596,308 | 23% | |
| South Dakota | $1,514,887 | $1,646,297 | $3,161,184 | 50% |
| Tennessee | ||||
| Texas | $204,738 | $204,738 | 0% | |
| Utah | $916,713 | $253,100 | $1,169,813 | 6% |
| Vermont | ||||
| Virginia | $6,279,464 | $6,279,464 | 10% | |
| Washington | $2,289,546 | $5,347,935 | $7,637,481 | 16% |
| West Virginia | $3,418,358 | $2,025,563 | $5,443,921 | 31% |
| Wisconsin | $2,255,744 | $1,087,097 | $3,342,841 | 7% |
| Wyoming | ||||
| Total | $113,664,509 | $80,639,864 | $194,304,373 | 8% |
| Table 2. Recipients of Child Protective Services | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Children | Adults | Total Recipients |
| Alabama | 10,899 | 10,899 | |
| Alaska | 12,088 | 12,088 | |
| Arizona | 536 | 536 | |
| Arkansas | |||
| California | |||
| Colorado | |||
| Connecticut | 231 | 231 | |
| Delaware | |||
| District of Columbia | 3,073 | 3,073 | |
| Florida | 68,148 | 68,148 | |
| Georgia | 30,550 | 30,550 | |
| Hawaii | 7,153 | 7,153 | |
| Idaho | |||
| Illinois | 10,896 | 10,896 | |
| Indiana | 61,492 | 61,492 | |
| Iowa | |||
| Kansas | 43,102 | 43,102 | |
| Kentucky | 122,284 | 122,284 | |
| Louisiana | 26,705 | 26,705 | |
| Maine | 729 | 729 | |
| Maryland | 38,500 | 38,500 | |
| Massachusetts | |||
| Michigan | 41,730 | 41,730 | |
| Minnesota | 26,430 | 12,088 |
38,518 |
| Mississippi | 20,126 | 20,126 | |
| Missouri | 219 | 219 | |
| Montana | |||
| Nebraska | 20,129 | 20,129 | |
| Nevada | |||
| New Hampshire | 31,456 | 31,456 | |
| New Jersey | |||
| New Mexico | 18,749 | 18,749 | |
| New York | |||
| North Carolina | 45,022 | 45,022 | |
| North Dakota | 5,429 | 5,429 | |
| Ohio | 61,136 | 61,136 | |
| Oklahoma | 28,799 | 28,799 | |
| Oregon | 10,622 | 10,622 | |
| Pennsylvania | 13,150 | 13,150 | |
| Rhode Island | 124 | 124 | |
| South Carolina | 17,091 | 17,091 | |
| South Dakota | 16,643 | 16,643 | |
| Tennessee | |||
| Texas | 314,300 | 286,294 |
600,594 |
| Utah | 34,299 | 34,299 | |
| Vermont | |||
| Virginia | 56,000 | 56,000 | |
| Washington | 78,437 | 78,437 | |
| West Virginia | 16,124 | 16,124 | |
| Wisconsin | 69,090 | 69,090 | |
| Wyoming | |||
| Total | 1,361,491 |
298,382 |
1,659,873 |
[1] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services. Social Services Block Grant Program Annual Report 2004 available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/ssbg/index.html.
[2] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families. Child Maltreatment 2004 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2006).