Minnesota media have reported seven children killed by their caregivers in 2017, five just since May, all infants and toddlers.
It’s not unusual that all were young. As the national Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities reported, half of children killed by maltreatment are less than one year old, and 75% are under three.
The Commission also found that usually either a community member, child protection, or another institution knew the child was in danger. So despite their ages, not all the children’s situations were hidden, and some deaths were preventable.
To reduce these fatalities we can:
- Encourage family and community members to report risky situations
- Have child protection check on newborns in families known to them
- Urge physicians, police and other institutions to report maltreatment more consistently