Most Monroe County child abuse investigations are unfounded, new report finds – WXXI News

Report on Child Protective Services Investigations in Monroe County and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A recent report indicates that Child Protective Services (CPS) in Monroe County dismisses over three-quarters of child abuse and neglect investigations due to a lack of credible evidence. This systemic issue places a significant strain on public resources and inflicts trauma on families, particularly those in lower-income and marginalized communities. The current framework inadvertently penalizes poverty, creating a cycle of surveillance that conflicts with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). This report analyzes the findings and proposes legislative reforms aimed at realigning the child welfare system with these global objectives.

Analysis of Child Protective Services (CPS) Data

Data from the Office of Child and Family Services for 2024 reveals significant inefficiencies and misallocations within the current system. These findings highlight a disconnect between the system’s intent and its actual impact, undermining the goal of building strong and just institutions (SDG 16).

• Unsubstantiated Cases: Of 6,768 CPS investigations initiated, 5,140 (76%) were determined to be unfounded.
• Financial Impact: Investigations into unsubstantiated claims result in an annual cost to taxpayers of $11.5 million, averaging $2,243 per investigation. These funds could be redirected to support programs aligned with SDG 1 (No Poverty).
• Nature of Allegations: Nearly 97% of all cases included claims of neglect. However, only 22% of these neglect claims were ultimately substantiated, suggesting that poverty and lack of resources are frequently misinterpreted as neglect.
• Confirmed Abuse Statistics: In contrast, substantiated cases of physical abuse constituted 3.6% of reports, followed by medical neglect (1.5%), sexual abuse (1%), and psychological abuse (0.2%).
• Caseload Burden: Monroe County’s rate of 44.8 CPS cases per 1,000 children exceeds the state average of 36.3, indicating a higher level of systemic strain.

Systemic Impacts and Conflict with Sustainable Development Goals

The current mandated reporting system is shown to exacerbate societal inequalities rather than mitigate them, placing it in direct opposition to core SDG principles.

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The system disproportionately targets and surveils families struggling with poverty, housing instability, and lack of resources. Instead of receiving support, these families are subjected to punitive investigations, which perpetuates the cycle of poverty and widens inequality.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The investigative process itself is a source of significant trauma and stress for both children and parents. Fear of investigation deters parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse from seeking necessary help, negatively impacting community health and well-being.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The high volume of unfounded reports demonstrates an inefficient and ineffective institution. It wastes public funds and erodes trust between communities and government services, failing the objective of building accountable and inclusive institutions.

Policy Recommendations for SDG Alignment

To address these systemic failures, the report advocates for a shift from a punitive model to a supportive one through specific legislative actions. These reforms are designed to strengthen families, reduce inequality, and build more effective institutions in line with the SDGs.

1. The Supporting Families Together Act: This proposal seeks to remove civil and criminal penalties for mandated reporters. This reform supports SDG 16 by aiming to improve the quality of reports, reduce fear-based reporting, and allow professionals to exercise judgment, thereby creating a more just and effective system.
2. The Maternal Health, Dignity, and Consent Act: By requiring verbal and written consent before drug testing pregnant individuals and newborns, this bill promotes bodily autonomy and dignity. This directly supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by ensuring respectful and equitable healthcare practices for mothers.
3. The Child and Family Well-Being Fund: This initiative proposes investing directly in community-based services and nonprofits that address the root causes of family instability. This approach is a direct investment in SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), as it provides tangible support for housing, childcare, and other essential needs, thereby preventing the conditions that lead to unsubstantiated neglect reports.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses issues that are directly and indirectly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals. The analysis identifies the following SDGs as most relevant:

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article repeatedly emphasizes that poverty is being mistaken for neglect, and families are being investigated for struggling with bills, childcare, and housing rather than being offered support.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The text highlights the psychological trauma inflicted on children and families by investigations. It also mentions parents struggling with mental health and substance abuse who fear seeking help, and a proposed bill concerning maternal and newborn health.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The article explicitly states that the current system disproportionately affects “predominately lower-income families of color” and “marginalized communities,” pointing to a system that perpetuates inequality.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – The core of the article is a critique of a public institution (Child Protective Services) and the legal framework of mandated reporting. It calls for institutional reform to create a more just, effective, and accountable system that protects children without punishing poverty.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific problems and solutions discussed in the article, the following targets can be identified:

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty. The article’s focus on families “struggling to pay bills, access childcare, or manage inconsistent housing” directly relates to this target. The proposed “Child and Family Well-Being Fund” aims to address these root causes of poverty.
   • Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems. The proposal to invest in nonprofits and services in impoverished communities is an effort to create a social protection system that supports families in need, rather than investigating them.

2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being. The article states that investigations “are likely to increase trauma to children and to their families.” It also notes the fear of parents “who struggle with mental health” to seek help, highlighting a need to promote well-being without punitive consequences.
   • Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. The mention of parents with “a substance abuse problem” who are afraid to come forward for help connects directly to the need for better, more accessible support systems for substance abuse treatment.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of race, ethnicity, or economic status. The article points out that the system is used to “surveil Black, brown, and marginalized communities,” indicating a failure of social inclusion that needs to be rectified.
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory policies and practices. The argument that the current mandated reporting system “penalizes poverty” and disproportionately affects families of color suggests it is a discriminatory practice leading to unequal outcomes.

4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation… and all forms of violence against… children. While the article questions the system’s methods, its fundamental purpose is to protect children. The data on substantiated cases of physical (3.6%) and sexual (1%) abuse shows this target remains relevant.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The report’s critique of the CPS system’s ineffectiveness (76% of cases unfounded) and high cost ($11.5 million annually) is a direct call for a more effective and accountable institution.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article provides several explicit quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure the problems and track progress towards the goals and targets.

1. Indicators for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)

   • Proportion of unsubstantiated CPS investigations: The article explicitly states this is 76% (5,140 out of 6,768 investigations). A reduction in this percentage would indicate a more effective reporting and investigation system.
   • Number of CPS cases per 1,000 children: The article provides this data for Monroe County (44.8), the state (36.3), and other counties. This can be used as a comparative measure of the system’s burden.
   • Public expenditure on unsubstantiated investigations: The article quantifies this cost at “$11.5 million annually, or $2,243 per investigation.” Tracking this expenditure is a direct measure of institutional efficiency.
   • Proportion of substantiated abuse/neglect cases by type: The article provides a breakdown: neglect (22% of neglect claims), physical abuse (3.6% of reports), medical neglect (1.5%), and sexual abuse (1%). These statistics are direct measures related to Target 16.2.

2. Indicators for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

   • Demographic data of families investigated by CPS: While not providing specific numbers, the article implies this is a key indicator by stating the system affects “predominately lower-income families of color.” Collecting and analyzing this data would be essential to measure progress on Target 10.2.

3. Indicators for SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

   • Investment in community support services: The proposed “Child and Family Well-Being Fund” implies an indicator: the amount of funding directed towards supportive services versus punitive investigations. An increase in this investment would measure progress.
   • Prevalence of fear among vulnerable parents to seek help: Assemblymember Clark’s statement implies a qualitative indicator related to whether parents struggling with poverty, mental health, or substance abuse feel safe seeking support. This could be measured through community surveys.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

Source: wxxinews.org