Data on Fatalities Reported to CDSS
Fatality numbers presented in the charts below reflect the Statement of Findings and Information (SOC 826) forms submitted to CDSS by county child welfare agencies and have been reconciled with all California counties through quarterly reconciliations. Numbers may fluctuate each quarter as updates are provided to the state by California counties.
| 2008-2025 Child Fatality Incidents By Placement and Calendar Year
|
| Placement Type
|
| Calendar Year
|
In Home
|
Out-of-Home
|
3PHs
|
Total Fatalities
|
| 2008
|
114
|
6
|
*
|
120
|
| 2009
|
119
|
5
|
*
|
124
|
| 2010
|
128
|
4
|
*
|
132
|
| 2011
|
120
|
2
|
*
|
122
|
| 2012
|
138
|
1
|
2
|
141
|
| 2013
|
101
|
3
|
31
|
135
|
| 2014
|
101
|
3
|
24
|
128
|
| 2015
|
107
|
6
|
40
|
153
|
| 2016
|
110
|
5
|
36
|
151
|
| 2017
|
114
|
0
|
32
|
146
|
| 2018
|
114
|
4
|
36
|
154
|
| 2019
|
119
|
3
|
34
|
156
|
| 2020
|
118
|
1
|
39
|
158
|
| 2021
|
137
|
6
|
39
|
182
|
| 2022
|
137
|
4
|
29
|
170
|
| 2023
|
109
|
5
|
30
|
144
|
| 2024
|
96
|
8
|
22
|
126
|
| CY 2025 (Q1)
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
- Chart 1: CY 2012 is the first year CIOS unit started to receive SOC 826s for Third Party Homicides of children 17 years of age and under, referred to in these charts as “3PHs”.
- A third party homicide fatality is defined by CDSS as “situations wherein a child was a victim of homicide by a perpetrator other than a parent/guardian or a person acting as a caregiver and there was no contributory abuse or neglect by a parent, guardian or caregiver.”
- Chart 2: The numbers reflect all SOC 826s officially accepted by the CDSS as of December 31, 2024. Data will be updated as needed per reporting requirements and through quarterly county reconciliations.