Report: Child Abuse Deaths In Pennsylvania Spiked During Pandemic

Child abuse deaths in Pennsylvania skyrocketed during the pandemic, according to a new report, which is driving calls for more reforms to the state’s troubled child welfare system.

The report, released by state Department of Human Services last week, found child abuse deaths increased by 43 percent from 2019 to 2020, with at least 73 children dying and 115 children nearly dying as a result of abuse.

A majority of the children died from “a violent act” but many others died or nearly died from ingesting prescription drugs or illegal narcotics, according to the report.

Last year, 43 children reportedly almost died from illegal or prescription drugs, according to the report, compared to 21 near fatalities in 2019. In 2020, at least 11 children died from ingesting drugs, while in 2019 three died.

State health officials say the data is reflective of the impact of the opioid epidemic on the state, which has surged amid the pandemic.

“Drug use in the home has been the highest reason for the significant injuries to children,” Jon Rubin, DHS deputy secretary, told reporters during a news briefing.

Meanwhile, reports of suspected child abuse to the state Child Protective Services fell 22 percent, from 32,919 reports in 2019 to 42,252 reports in 2020, according to the report.

The Wolf administration noted efforts that have improved outcomes for abused children in foster care and their families, citing an increase in the percentage of children in foster care who are placed in kinship care with family.

As of April 2021, 44 percent of children in foster care were placed with relatives – compared to 31.5 percent in 2015, according to the Wolf administration.

Pennsylvania officials also point to a decline in the use of congregate settings – such residential group homes – in the state’s foster care system.