Child Abuse

Date posted: 06/22/2009

Larimer County Child Protection caseworkers respond to reports of possible child abuse or neglect. Reports can be made by law enforcement, schools, medical professionals, or anyone who feels there is a situation that warrants investigation by contacting Child Protection Services. Each referral or report is screened and may be investigated by a visit or phone interview (assessment) to determine if follow up is necessary. A substantiated report occurs when an assessment confirms the existence of abuse or neglect. Four types of abuse/neglect are physical abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, and sexual abuse. Definitions are located under Additional Information.

When abuse is confirmed, it may be necessary to remove children from their homes and place them in temporary housing. When in out-of-home placement, children are less likely to be abused or neglected. These out-of-home placement providers may be licensed by either Larimer County or the State.

Types of Out-of-Home Placement

Larimer County Licensed Placements	State Licensed Placements
Family Foster Home Group Home Receiving Home Kinship Placement	Child Protection Agency Residential Child Care Facility Residential Treatment Facility

See Children in Out-of-Home Placement for detailed definitions and more information on the types of out-of-home placements.

What this chart shows: Child Abuse Reports by Disposition, Larimer County, 2008

NOTE: The sum of the categories Substantiated, Unsubstantiated, and Inconclusive is greater than the Total Investigated because original referrals are by family units, whereas findings are by child.

Data Source: Larimer County Human Services - Children, Youth, & Family Division

See data table

What these data tell us:

In 2008, there were more than 3,800 reports of child abuse or neglect in Larimer County. In excess of 2,500 cases merited investigation, which resulted in 412 substantiated cases of child abuse.

What this chart shows: Reports, Assessments, and Substantiated Cases of Child Abuse in Larimer County, 2004-2008

Data Source: Larimer County Human Services - Children, Youth, & Family Division

See data table

What this chart shows: Rate of Reports, Assessments, and Substantiated Reports of Child Abuse, 2004-2008

Data Source: Larimer County Human Services - Children, Youth, & Family Division

See data table

What this chart shows: Child Abuse Reports Resulting in Substantiated Cases, Larimer County, 2004-2008

Data Source: Larimer County Human Services - Children, Youth, & Family Division

See data table

What these data tell us:

The number of initial child abuse reports in Larimer County peaked in 2006 at 4,499. The number of substantiated reports also peaked in 2006 at 533 and has been declining since. See Victims of Child Abuse by Gender & Age chart.

According to the Larimer County Department of Human Services, since 1999 local staff have concentrated on moving toward consistency in application of the State definition of child abuse. During the same timeframe, the Department opened a local juvenile assessment center (The Hub) in Fort Collins. The Hub continues to provide staff 24-hours per day to receive reports of abuse. The creation of an easily accessible and user-friendly reporting system had the effect of increasing initial reports of abuse. Better training among mandatory reporters (i.e., teachers, doctors, nurses) and an influx of methamphetamine ('meth') cases - 650 alleged victims in calendar year 2005 - may have also contributed to the increased number of abuse reports.

Additional Information:

Definition of Child Abuse

The booklet, 'Child Protection Services, A Guide for Larimer County Parents', was prepared by the Program Committee of the Larimer County Child Advocacy Center in consultation with the Larimer County Department of Human Services. The following excerpt defines child abuse:

1. Physical abuse: C.R.S. 19-1-103 states 'Any case in which a child exhibits evidence of skin bruising, bleeding, malnutrition, failure to thrive, burns, fracture of any bone, subdural hematoma, soft tissue swelling, or death and either: Such condition or death is not justifiably explained; the history given concerning such condition is at variance with the degree or type of such condition or death; or the circumstances indicate that such condition may not be the product of an accidental occurrence;'

When someone hurts a child badly enough to cause an injury, break a bone, leave a bruise, a cut, or some other mark. For example, shaking a baby or using an object to spank a child that leaves a mark.

2. Emotional abuse: C.R.S. 19-1-103 states 'an identifiable and substantial impairment of the child's intellectual or psychological functioning or development or a substantial risk of impairment of the child's intellectual or psychological functioning or development.'

Treatment which makes children feel that they are not loved or wanted. An adult's words or actions lead a child to be harmful to themselves or others. For example, repeatedly calling a child names or exposing them to violent situations.

3. Physical neglect: C.R.S. 19-1-103 states 'Any case in which a child is a child in need of services because the child's parents, legal guardian, or custodian fails to take the same actions to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision that a prudent parent would take.'

Not providing a safe place to live, food, clothing, or medical care; leaving young children alone or with someone whom is not appropriate to care for them.

4. Sexual abuse: C.R.S. 19-1-103 states 'Any case in which a child is subjected to sexual assault or molestation, sexual exploitation, or prostitution;'

Child sexual abuse occurs when a child is used for the sexual gratification of another. Sexual abuse also includes taking pornographic pictures or making a child available for prostitution.

In Colorado

• In 2005, more than 30,000 children were reported abused or neglected and referred for investigation in Colorado.
• Nearly 9,000 of these cases were substantiated.
• Approximately 80% of abuse is perpetrated by parent or caregiver.
• An average of 20 children die per year in Colorado from suspected neglect or abuse.
• 11,927 children spent some portion of 2005 in foster care.

Source: Childabuse.org

On Compass -

• Adult Abuse
• Children in Out-of-Home Placement
• Domestic Violence
• Juvenile Arrests
• Population by Age
• Youth Alcohol, Tobacco, & Other Drugs

Outside Compass -

• Alternatives to Violence: Agency in Loveland committed to the intervention, education, and prevention of domestic violence, sexual assault and other violent crimes.
• Child Abuse-Statistics, Research, and Resources: Resources on child abuse, including statistics from the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia.
• Crossroads Safehouse: The largest direct service provider for victims of domestic violence in Larimer County.
• Larimer County Human Services - Child and Family Services: Information on Child Protection, foster care, special needs adoption, and other services.
• Larimer County Human Services, Child and Family Services - Foster and Kinship Care: Information on the County's foster and kinship care program.
• Lutheran Family Services of Colorado: Agency providing adoption, foster care, and family education and therapy services.
• Namaqua Center: Agency providing residential, day treatment and outpatient programs for victims of child abuse.
• National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect: A data archive serving researchers performing secondary analysis. Research data relevant to the study of child abuse and neglect.
• Prevent Child Abuse America: Nationwide organization for the prevention of child abuse. Provides parent programs, education, and advocacy to help reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect.

Standards or Targets: The federal Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 sets permanency standards for children in state care. A main component of ASFA's goals is to reduce the amount of time children spend in an out-of-home, or a non-permanent, situation. The law states that children who are in continual care of a state for 19 months must have parental rights terminated and be placed for adoption.

Data Tables:

Child Abuse Reports by Disposition - Larimer County, 2008

Report by Disposition	Number of Reports
Investigated Reports	2,582
Reports Not Investigated	1,281
Total Referrals	3,863
Substantiated Reports	412
Unsubstantiated Reports	1,698
Inconclusive Reports	784

See chart

Number and Rate of Reports, Assessments, & Substantiated Reports of Child Abuse - Larimer County

Year	Reports	Assessments	Substantiated Reports	Population (0-17 Years)	Rate of Reports	Rate of Assessments	Rate of Substantiated Reports
2004	4,414	1,466	366	62,482	70.6	23.5	5.9
2005	4,143	1,729	439	62,358	66.4	27.7	7.0
2006	4,499	2,602	533	62,683	71.8	41.5	8.5
2007	3,752	2,647	449	63,406	59.2	41.7	7.1
2008	3,863	2,582	412	64,258	60.1	40.2	6.4

See charts -

Number Chart

• Rate Chart
• % of Substantiated Cases Chart

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