Every other week, The Imprint will feature one key indicator from Kidsdata, which offers comprehensive data about the health and well being of children across California.
As this chart shows, the rate of substantiated child abuse or neglect cases in California declined 27 percent from 2002 to 2012. Child welfare experts differ on the reasons for the decline but many suggest that public awareness of child abuse, prevention programs, and changes in how cases are investigated may play a role.
For more information on this and other key indicators related to California youths and the systems that serve them, click here to visit the Kidsdata website.