Jessica Calefati

1 month ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Zona Byrd |Jessica Calefati

The Department of Human Services last week released corrected data showing that far fewer Maryland children have died from abuse or neglect in recent years than the state previously reported. The number of such deaths in each of the past five years is dozens lower than what the agency submitted to the federal government, human services staff discovered, though the death rate still exceeds the national average.

1 month ago | wypr.org | Sheilah Kast |Jessica Calefati

Scores of children in Maryland have died from abuse and neglect in recent years -- one of the worst records in any state. We hear from Baltimore Banner investigative reporter Jessica Calefati why that news is just now reaching the public, and what’s being done. Links to Calefati's reporting can be found here. US Dept. of Health and Human Services Children's Bureau 2023 Child Maltreatment report can be found here. On The Record On the RecordWYPR ProgramsChild Abuse

2 months ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Jessica Calefati

Amid state lawmakers’ growing concerns about the accuracy of child welfare data, the Department of Human Services for the first time endorsed a bill that would boost transparency following some deaths from alleged abuse or neglect. House Bill 1209, authored by Dels. Susan McComas and Robin Grammer Jr., would require officials to promptly release requested information about children in foster care who die from suspected maltreatment.

2 months ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Jessica Calefati

Maryland’s independent budget and policy analysts have recommended lawmakers withhold $850,000 from the state Department of Human Services until the agency responsible for child welfare can fix a slew of problems with its data. The recommendation comes after The Banner questioned the growing number of child maltreatment fatalities in Maryland. The agency responded by saying its own data was inaccurate. Now, the extent of the agency’s data problems has grown.

2 months ago | ourcommunitynow.com | Jessica Calefati

Some were beaten to death. One was tortured. Another was shot. As many as 83 Maryland children died from abuse or neglect in 2023, according to the most recent data reported by states to the federal government. That’s more than one death per week on average, making the state’s published rate of child maltreatment fatalities among the worst in the nation. But the alarming number of deceased children reported that year wasn’t a blip or an outlier.