Family Violence Indicator: CPS Completed Family Assessments

This indicator reflects the number of family assessments completed by Child Protective Services in response to a report of child abuse or neglect. Family assessments are the preferred response when a child is not in immediate danger and include developing plans to remedy and/or prevent risk of future abuse.

Source: Virginia Department of Social Services, OASIS

*Data maps show the most recent year of data available.

Notes:

Upon validating a report of child abuse or neglect for an investigation response, a local department of social services determines whether the investigation is founded based on a preponderance of evidence showing that maltreatment has occurred. Types of child abuse and neglect for which an investigation may be founded include physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse, mental abuse/neglect, and medical neglect. Certain local agencies serve multiple counties. For example, the same rate will be displayed for York and Poquoson as the information for these combined localities can be difficult to accurately disaggregate. A full list of combined localities can be found in the Data Guide.

A large number of valid reports of child abuse and neglect receive a family assessment response rather than an investigation; assessments are not included in these data. Family assessments are the preferred response when a child is not in immediate danger and include developing plans to remedy and/or prevent risk of future abuse. Investigations are conducted when there are immediate concerns about child safety, a prior history of child abuse, and/or the reported allegation is severe. This indicator reflects the number of founded investigations for any type of child abuse/neglect, not the number of children abused/neglected; children may be counted more than once if they experience more than one type of abuse/neglect.

Additional information about indicator data and data limitations can be found at: http://www.fact.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Data-Guide.pdf

Data Last Updated: June 1, 2022