Protecting Children from Abuse and Neglect: Trends and Issues
Protecting children from abuse and neglect is a critical and challenging responsibility of
government in California. Each day, county child welfare agencies investigate reports of child abuse and neglect and make decisions whether children will enter or exit foster care, the latterby reunification, adoption, or guardianship. This report provides an overview of child abuse and neglect in California and the Child Welfare Services (CWS) system that was developed to address it. The report explains the federal, state