2026 OCAP State of the Child Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Our first State of the Child report marks a new chapter in Riverside County’s commitment to strengthening families and cultivating the conditions every child needs to grow, learn and thrive. Curated by the Riverside County Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP), this report brings together data from four pillars of child well-being: health, economics, education and safety. These data provide insight into how local children and families are doing today and where action might be needed to prevent child abuse and neglect before it occurs. Riverside County Department of Public Social Services established the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in January 2025 through the federal Family First Prevention Services Act. Riverside County OCAP brings together public agencies and community partners across health, education, behavioral health, law enforcement, youth organizations, tribal nations, family resource centers and faith-based sectors to expand prevention initiatives and ensure families can access resources without fear, stigma or barriers. RivCoONE, a coordinated network of

county agencies, is also an important partner in our vision to improve health and socioeconomic outcomes for children and families. By increasing access to resources and addressing stressors that contribute to child maltreatment and neglect, our partners are helping families stabilize before challenges escalate into crisis. This inaugural report highlights encouraging gains in college readiness, improvements in timely placement and permanence for youth in foster care, and progress in programs that reduce recidivism among justice-involved youth. The data also show that families are facing increased economic pressure to keep pace with housing and other costs of living, and that racial disparities in health and economic well-being continue to affect many households across the region. Thank you to all our partners. Together, we are advancing as One Community with One Vision of Zero Abuse , united in our commitment to protect children and build a safer, brighter future for every child in Riverside County.

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