Program Description
This program provides funds for States to improve their child protective service systems (CPS). CAPTA has been amended several times and was last reauthorized on December 20, 2010, by the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-320). It was amended in 2015, 2016, and 2018, and most recently, certain provisions of the act were amended on January 7, 2019, by the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-424).This program assists states in improving:
- Intake, assessment, screening, and investigation of child abuse and neglect reports;
- Risk and safety assessment protocols;
- Training for child protective services workers and mandated reporters;
- Programs and procedures for the identification, prevention, and treatment of child abuse and neglect;
- Development and implementation of procedures for collaboration among child protection services, domestic violence, and other agencies; and • services to disabled infants with life-threatening conditions and their families
Statistics
Child abuse and neglect continue to impact a large number of children and families in this country:
- During 2017, an estimated 674,000 children were found to be victims of abuse and neglect; an average of 1,800 children each day.
- An estimated 4.1 million referrals of abuse or neglect concerning approximately 7.5 million children were received by CPS agencies. More than one-half of those referrals were accepted for investigation and treatment.
- Nationally, 74.9 percent of child victims experienced neglect (including medical neglect), 18.3 percent were physically abused, 8.6 percent were sexually abused, and 2.3 percent were emotionally or psychologically maltreated.
- An average of four children died every day as a result of abuse or neglect in 2017.
Budget Information
The funding for FY 2019 is 25,310,000. Currently 48 States, DC, Puerto Rico receive the grant. The territories receive funding through the Consolidated Grant process.
Program Highlights
Under this program, states perform a range of prevention activities, including addressing the needs of infants born with prenatal drug exposure, referring children not at risk of imminent harm to community services, implementing criminal record checks for prospective foster and adoptive parents and other adults in their homes, training child protective services workers, protecting the legal rights of families and alleged perpetrators, and supporting citizen review panels. CAPTA requires states to convene multidisciplinary teams to review the circumstances of child fatalities in the state and make recommendations.