In a recent meeting of the Senate Human Services Committee, officials discussed the complexities of the Child Protective Services (CPS) process, highlighting the significant volume of calls received and the subsequent actions taken. The meeting, held on September 30, 2025, aimed to provide clarity on how families and children navigate the CPS system, particularly in cases of alleged abuse and neglect.

The presentation revealed that the CPS intake hotline receives approximately 120,000 to 130,000 unique calls each year. These calls represent requests for intervention, although not all are classified as reports of abuse and neglect. In fact, about 90% of these calls do pertain to such allegations, with roughly 32% leading to some form of agency response, which may include a 24-hour investigation or a family assessment response.

Importantly, the discussion emphasized that an investigation or case opening does not automatically result in a dependency status or out-of-home placement for children. In the fiscal year 2024, only 2,700 children were placed in out-of-home care, a small fraction of the total interventions reported. This statistic underscores the complexity of the CPS process and the careful consideration given to each case.

The officials stressed the human impact of these numbers, noting that each call represents a family in need. They also pointed out that critical incidents, which will be addressed in further discussions, account for only 0.01% to 0.02% of the total population served by CPS, indicating that while the system is engaged with many families, the majority do not result in severe outcomes.

As the meeting progressed, the committee members were encouraged to consider the broader implications of these statistics on community welfare and the importance of supporting families through the CPS process. The discussions set the stage for future conversations about improving services and responses to families in crisis, emphasizing the need for ongoing evaluation and support within the system.