An overview of child abuse

Child Protective Services (CPS) is the public agency mandated to protect children from abuse and neglect within their own families or foster care homes. The agency is sometimes referred to as Child Welfare.

In federal fiscal year 2007, there were 13,306 incidents of abuse/neglect, a decrease of 11.7 percent from 2006.

Mothers and fathers are the most prevalent perpetrators of child abuse and neglect. Abusive families often have at least one of the following stresses: substance abuse by parent, unemployment, parental involvement with law enforcement and domestic violence.

We provide the following topics on child abuse and neglect on our Web site:
Child protective services. Child protective services are provided to children and families by the Department of Human Services as the public agency mandated to protect children from abuse and neglect within their own families or foster care homes. Oregon Child Abuse reporting Law, ORS 419B.005 to 419B.05D, was enacted in 1971 and has been updated several times. The law was designed to provide early identification and protection of children who have been abused.

Data & publications
We publish annual reports that describe child abuse and neglect and provide statistics.

Keeping kids safe
Stopping child abuse before it starts gives a child the best chance at a good future. The Department's Family-based services build on family strengths to help meet a child's safety & attachment needs. Other preventive and restorative programs are available to families.

Laws & policies
Refer to Oregon Child Abuse Reporting Law, ORS 419B.005 to 419B.05D; Oregon Administrative Rules 413-015-0100 through 413-015-1125, and to Child Welfare policies.

Reporting abuse & neglect
If you've ever wondered who has to report child abuse, how to do it, if you can do it anonymously, and what happens to a complaint, you'll want to read this section.