2026 OCAP State of the Child Report

SUBSTANTIATED CHILD ABUSE RIVERSIDE COUNTY’S CHILD ABUSE RATE IS HIGHER THAN THE STATE’S, WITH GENERAL NEGLECT AS THE LEADING FACTOR DESCRIPTION OF INDICATOR This indicator tracks substantiated child abuse allegations across Riverside County, showing how cases are distributed by community, type, and overall rate. It also allows for comparison to California as a whole and identifies the most common types of substantiated abuse, providing a clear picture of where and how child abuse occurs in the county.

Why is this indicator important?

Findings 1 • General neglect accounts for more than 80% of substantiated cases, making it the primary driver of child maltreatment, pointing to ongoing challenges related to caregiver capacity, economic stress, and access to basic supports. • While the total number of child abuse and neglect allegations has increased over time, the number of substantiated cases has remained generally consistent. That may indicate opportunities to provide additional training to mandated reporters about when a report of suspected child abuse or neglect should be made. • Substantiated abuse rates vary widely across communities, underscoring the need for community-based, targeted strategies.

Monitoring substantiated child abuse helps the county understand patterns and trends over time, identify communities or populations at higher risk, and prioritize resources and interventions. By highlighting the most frequent types of abuse and differences from statewide trends, this indicator supports evidence-based planning, targeted prevention strategies, and efforts to reduce child maltreatment overall.

1 Riverside County DPSS, Office of Research, Assessment, and Data Services (RADS). (2025). CWS/CMS 2025 Q2.

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