Protection from Abuse & Neglect

Child abuse or neglect leads to the death of at least 1,770 children every year in the U.S., and an estimated 509,300 children are seriously harmed due to abuse or neglect. We need to be sure that we, through our child welfare system, do everything we can to protect these children.

CAI's work to improve the child welfare system has included impact litigation, state and federal legislative and regulatory advocacy, research and publication of special reports, and more. Specific areas of focus include ensuring states' compliance with current federal child welfare laws, such as those mandating the public disclosure by states of information regarding child abuse or neglect fatalities and near fatalities (to enable the public to identify and fix systemic problems in the state's protection of children); ensuring trained, competent, child-directed attorneys for children in dependency court proceedings; ensuring an adequate supply of quality foster homes—the best setting for most children in foster care; opening up the dependency court process to increase public awareness about the important work being done by the overburdened and underresourced child welfare and dependency court systems; improving the quality of life for children in foster care; and enhancing the quality and quantity of resources that are available to older youth as they transition out of the foster care system.

CAI's work in this area includes the following:

• CAI's Ed Howard featured in Fox40 story on proposal to keep dozens of Sacramento social worker positions vacant (June 11, 2019)
• Chronicle of Social Change Publishes OpEd by CAI's Bob Fellmeth: On Legal Fees for Parents and Children, Trump Administration Scores One for Basic Republican Values (Feb. 7, 2019)
• CAI advocacy results in federal policy shift allowing IV-E reimbursement to states for providing children with legal representation in child abuse and neglect cases (Jan. 7, 2019)
• CAI Releases Steps Forward: First Progress Report on Within Our Reach, A National Strategy to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities, the Final Report of the Federal Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities (Jan. 31, 2018)
• NACC's The Guardian Features Article by CAI's Amy Harfeld on the Child Welfare Oversight and Accountability Act (Nov. 27, 2017)
• Voices Around the State Demand that Policymakers Ensure Appropriate Caseloads for Attorneys Representing Abused and Neglected Children (June 2017)
• CAI Helps Design Resource Family Approval Guide, to Help Walk Caregivers through the Resource Family Approval Process (Feb. 10, 2017)
• San Francisco Chronicle Supports Efforts to Increase Public Disclosure of Child Abuse and Neglect Near Fatalities (Aug. 10, 2016)
• CAI's Ed Howard Featured in KCRA Story Discussing DSS' Attempt to Limit Public Disclosure of Abuse/Neglect Near Fatality Information (May 25, 2016)
• Sacramento Bee Editorial Supports CAI's Position on Abuse/Neglect Near Fatality Disclosures (May 19, 2016)
• CAI OpEd on Chronicle for Social Change Urges President Obama to Make His "Last Lap Count for Kids" (Apr. 11, 2016)
• Huffington Post Features CAI Blog Discussing Variables Contributing to Child Abuse Deaths (Apr. 4, 2016)
• Huffington Post Features CAI Blog on Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities Final Report (Apr. 1, 2016)
• CAI Joins Amicus Brief Urging U.S. Supreme Court action in M.A. v. Padilla (Mar. 21, 2016)
• CAI Issues Press Release on Final Report of Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities (Mar. 17, 2016)
• CAI Releases Statement on ACF’s 2012 Changes to the Child Welfare Policy Manual’s Public Disclosure Provisions and the Impact on Future Issues of State Secrecy and Child Deaths in the U.S. (Nov. 19, 2015)
• CAI Supports Motion to Create Los Angeles County Blue Ribbon Commission on Child Protection (June 24, 2013)
• CAI Joins Coalition in Opposing Proposed Elimination of Foster Youth Services Program (Feb. 21, 2013)
• CAI and Morrison & Foerster Obtain Victory for Children in SB 39 Litigation (Jan. 3, 2013)
• CAI Panel Discusses Child Welfare Law Enforcement at NACC Conference (Aug. 14, 2012)
• CAI, First Star and National Center for Youth Law Respond to ACF's Interpretation of CAPTA's Public Disclosure Mandate (May 2012)
• 3rd Edition: A Child's Right to Counsel—A National Report Card on Legal Representation for Abused & Neglected Children (May 2012)
• 2nd Edition: State Secrecy and Child Deaths in the U.S.: An Evaluation of CAPTA-Mandated Public Disclosure Policies about Child Abuse or Neglect Fatalities or Near Fatalities, with State Rankings (Apr. 2012)

• CAI OpEd on Los Angeles County Juvenile Court Blanket Order (Mar. 21, 2012)
• CAI Joins Advocates in Urging Action by Congressional Caucus on Foster Care(Feb. 25, 2012)
• CAI Announces New Project: "Foster Kids First: Does Press Coverage Help Foster Kids?" (Feb. 15, 2012)
• CAI Litigation Challenges DSS' Regulations Implementing SB 39 (Disclosure of Child Abuse/Neglect Fatality Data
• Federal Court Strikes Down California's Reimbursements to Foster Parents, Rules That California Illegally Shortchanges Abused and Neglected Children
• CAI Comments on Department of Social Services' Regulations Adding “Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard” in Group Homes and Foster Parent Training Regulations (May 12, 2010)
• CAI and First Star Release  2nd Edition of Child's Right to Counsel National Report Card (Oct. 15, 2009)
• CAI Comments on Draft Recommendations of the California Child Welfare Council (July 2009)
• CAI Comments on Department of Social Services' Proposed Regulations on Foster Family Homes (June 15, 2009)
• CAI Comments on Victim Compensation Program Regulations (March20, 2009)
• CAI, the National Center for Youth Law, and the California Newspaper Publishers Association Submit Joint  Comments on DSS' Proposed Rules Implementing SB 39 (Mar. 13, 2009)
• CAI Comments on Proposed ABA Model Act Governing the Representation of Children in Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency Proceedings (Feb. 27, 2009)
• Testimony Submitted by First Star and the Children’s Advocacy Institute to U.S. Senate, Subcommittee on Children and Families, regarding the reauthorization of CAPTA (June 26, 2008)
• CAI Comments on Judicial Council's Proposed Juvenile Dependency Court Performance Measures (June 2008)
• CAI Comments on Judicial Council's Proposed California Rule of Court Implementing Portions of SB 39 (Migden) (June 2008)
• CAI Comments on California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care Draft Recommendations (May 2008)
• State Secrecy and Child Deaths in the U.S.: An evaluation of public disclosure practices about child abuse or neglect fatalities or near fatalities, with state rankings (Apr. 2008)
• They Deserve a Family; Higher Foster Family Home Rates Could Lead to Better Outcomes, Including More Adoptions, for California’s Foster Children (May 2007) (BROKEN LINK)
• Expanding Transitional Services for Emancipated Foster Youth: An Investment in California's Tomorrow (Jan. 2007)