Every year, dozens of children in Minnesota die as a result of abuse and neglect– and deaths continue to rise. Yet we hear very little from state agencies about these numbers.
Although painful to confront, we must bring these tragedies to light. On Monday, Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota released a new report that explores child fatalities caused by maltreatment.
The Minnesota Child Fatalities from Maltreatment, 2023-2024 Report examines deaths determined to be the result of abuse or neglect between June 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024.
Key findings include:
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At least 44 Minnesota children were killed as a result of abuse or neglect at the hands of their caregivers– about two children per month
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Neglect was responsible for well over half of those deaths
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One-fifth of all the deaths were caused by fentanyl exposure/ingestion
This is unacceptable.
Over the past week, several organizations and lawmakers have reached out to Safe Passage to discuss our findings and recommendations. We’re willing to partner with any individual or organization, regardless of politics, who believes child safety should be the top priority.
Protecting children cannot fall to one system alone– it requires collaboration among policymakers, professionals, communities, and families.
We’re gearing up for the 2026 session and we hope to partner with you, too!