Children holding signs advocating for children's rights and voices.

Alex Miller’s Leadership Is Rebuilding Minnesota’s CASA Program

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Protection, childabuse, Public Policy, Reporting and News - MN Specific

Minnesota’s Guardian ad Litem and CASA program has been under real strain—lost volunteers, rising caseloads, and stressed systems have put vulnerable children at risk. Alex Miller’s Minnesota CASA leadership as Chief Information Officer and Interim Program Administrator is helping move the program from crisis toward recovery. By modernizing technology, strengthening data security, and working transparently with the State Guardian ad Litem Board, he has helped stabilize turnover and rebuild trust. The result is a system that is slowly regaining its footing and putting more trained, supported advocates in the lives of abused and neglected children.

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Part 3: Scaling the “Minnesota Model” for Maximum ROI Impact

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Data, Day Care and Education, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, Statistics

Market-based scholarship programs like Minnesota’s Early Learning Scholarships (MELS) prove these returns are scalable. MELS provides vouchers to low-income parents, empowering them to choose high-quality programs. Result: an 18% inflation-adjusted public ROI—higher than the S&P 500’s historical average111210. The keys to replicating this success are: Targeting at-risk children: Returns exceed $17 per dollar in high-poverty neighborhoods7. Parent empowerment:…

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Part 4 of 5: Why Early Childhood Investment Outperforms Remedial Spending

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Protection, Data, Day Care and Education, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, Statistics

Compared to other government expenditures, early childhood programs are uniquely cost-effective. K–12 education spends ~$15,000/student annually with diminishing returns; prison systems cost $40,000/inmate yearly with high recidivism. Meanwhile, early childhood interventions like Head Start save $4.8B–$16.1B per

Illustration of trauma's impact on person, family, and people, emphasizing decontextualization over time.

Northeastern University Study on the Child Welfare Crisis With Projections

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, childabuse, Guest Posts, Public Policy, Stunning Statistics

Official child welfare numbers may capture only part of the crisis. This analysis explains how poverty, Family Assessment practices, underreporting, misreporting, and weak transparency can hide the true scale of harm to children—and why future projections must account for what the system fails to record.

Silhouettes of a family with two adults and one child.

In Custody, In Crisis (podcast episode #1)

Adoption, Foster and Kinship Care, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Protection, childabuse, Mental Health + Over Medication, PODCAST & STREAMING, PODCASTS, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based

dive into the “ground truth” of the foster care system — exposing the often-unseen hardships children face even after being placed in protective care. Through heartbreaking stories like Alex’s and alarming statistics on abuse

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Why We Hide Child Abuse Data

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Public Policy, Reporting and News - MN Specific

Social workers face secondary trauma and burnout in a child protection system that hides basic child outcome data. When CPS agencies use HIPAA as a “red herring” to block even de identified information, lawmakers and communities can’t fix what’s broken—and children and workers continue to suffer in the dark.

Silhouettes of a family with two adults and one child.

Recruiting Child Soldiers (yes, we do)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Children's Rights, Public Policy, Religion, Politics + the Law, Reporting and News - US Based

This article from 2013 is still true today with no signs of changing. It needs to be shared with your states lawmakers: The United States is the only nation that has not signed the United Nation’s International Rights Of the Child Treaty of the 1980’s.  A primary reason we refuse to sign the treaty is…

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Part 2: The Science Behind Early Childhood Returns (ROI)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Data, Day Care and Education, Education, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, Statistics

The extraordinary ROI of early childhood programs stems from neurobiological and economic synergy. During ages 0–5, the brain forms 1 million neural connections per second, creating foundational skills that dictate lifelong learning, health, and behavior56. Programs like Child-Parent Centers leverage this plasticity: at-risk children receiving enriched preschool and parent mentoring achieved $10.83 in societal benefits per dollar spent by age…

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Foster Care Mental Health Needs, Costs, and Facts for Minnesota & The Nation

Adoption, Foster and Kinship Care, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, Mental Health + Over Medication, Public Policy, Reporting and News - MN Specific, Stunning Statistics

There is an underappreciated reality that Child Protective Services is the only safe haven for children living with rape, violence and neglect as they are too young to defend themselves.

Sign advocating for social justice and children's rights.

International Rights of the Child Treaty (& why jails are full)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Children's Rights, Juvenile + Criminal Justice, Mikes Favorite Posts, Public Policy, Religion, Politics + the Law, Reporting and News - International, Reporting and News - MN Specific, Reporting and News - US Based

Over 25 years ago the rest of the world (194 nations) decided that children have basic human rights and begin signing the International Rights of the Child Treaty. Under this document, children are to have the rights to education, safety and well being including not to be made soldiers, not to be enslaved).

America is the only nation that has not signed that agreement, largely because we still demand that southern states continue to militarize youth as young as eleven, through military schools.

A black face mask with the phrase 'GIVE KIDS A VOICE' printed in white.

Family First & Child Neglect Studies and Reporting

Adoption, Foster and Kinship Care, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, Featured Articles, Public Policy, Reporting and News - MN Specific, Reporting and News - US Based

Contrary to a common assumption, neglect is not less damaging than abuse. Research shows neglect victims have lifelong problems because they miss developmental milestones around language, self-control, and bonding with others.

A constant dilemma in neglect cases is whether to traumatize children by removing them from their families, or leave them in situations where their brains aren’t developing normally.

Quality Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs can make it possible to leave children at home while helping their parents improve parenting skills.

This study documents that neglect victims who got ECE moved quickly from having a language deficit to the normal range. Language development is critical to academic success and positive interpersonal relationships.
ECE can help many children avoid foster care and still obtain the baseline skills they need to thrive.

Join the Discussion on Facebook

Make a difference for the children of Minnesota today,
Donate Here!

Message highlighting the impact of neglect on children's protection.

“Kids Are Slowly Being Neglected To Death” – Hennepin County Judge Jane Ranum (Thank You from the children in my caseload)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, Children's Rights, NEGLECT, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are not just difficult memories—they’re powerful risk factors that shape how a child’s brain and body develop across a lifetime. In this Kids at Risk Action podcast, hosts Alex and Jordan explore how abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and other ACEs can lead to PTSD like symptoms, chronic stress, and higher risks of mental illness, addiction, and early death. They connect these experiences to systemic gaps in child welfare, schools, and health care, where children too often receive help only after they are in crisis instead of when early warning signs appear. The episode calls for trauma informed care, ACEs screening, and policy changes that fund prevention and resilience building, urging listeners to advocate for better support and a more compassionate, proactive approach to child welfare.

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The Foster Care Data We Don’t Track – And How This Hurts Children

Adoption, Foster and Kinship Care, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child self harm and suicide, Public Policy, Reporting and News - MN Specific, Reporting and News - US Based

Most of what we know about foster care comes from very thin data: how many children are in care, how many enter or exit each year. That’s not enough to guide policy or spending. This post explains which foster care outcomes Minnesota and other states still don’t track—years stuck in care, abuse in placement, endless moves, school disruption, medication without therapy, and what happens after youth age out—and why demanding honest, de‑identified data is one of the most powerful things you can do for abused and neglected children in your community.

Logo of Invisible Children, advocating for at-risk youth.

Children Are Under Attack: How Federal Funding Cuts Are Dismantling Kids’ Lifelines

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Protection, Children's Rights, Education, KARA News and Events, Media, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based

Across the country, children’s lifelines are being quietly dismantled. Federal budget cuts and Project 2025–aligned proposals are targeting Medicaid and CHIP, SNAP and school meals, Head Start, child care, disability supports, civil rights protections, and even child abuse prevention and CASA programs. These changes will deepen child poverty and hunger, push more families into crisis, and “decimate the human services field,” according to the Child Welfare League of America. This post pulls together sources on what’s being cut, who is most at risk—especially immigrant, disabled, and LGBTQ+ children—and how you can call your elected officials and demand that child serving programs be protected, not eliminated.

A colorful figure behind window bars in a sketch style.

Child Abuse & Prosecution in Texas: Kids, Courts, and a Broken System

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Protection, Juvenile + Criminal Justice, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, The States

Child abuse and prosecution in Texas tell a complex story that goes far beyond headline grabbing stings. Operation Soteria Shield rescued more than 100 children and led to over 200 arrests in a major FBI led crackdown on online child exploitation, while new state laws now require Texas schools to report educator misconduct and abuse more rigorously. At the same time, federal investigators have found unconstitutional conditions across Texas juvenile justice facilities, including sexual abuse, excessive force, and prolonged isolation, and judges have called the state’s use of psychotropic medications on foster youth “appalling,” with many children prescribed multiple powerful drugs without adequate oversight. Rising youth violence, racial disparities in child welfare and school discipline, and a documented child to prison pipeline mean that prosecution alone cannot keep children safe. This KARA report brings together data and sources on child abuse cases, foster care failures, juvenile justice, mental health, and recent legal reforms in Texas—and calls for trauma informed services, diversion programs, and stronger accountability to truly protect vulnerable children instead of merely reacting after the harm is done.

Empty classroom with text about ACES impact and hashtag #WEARENOTOK.

School Performance, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow & What To Do

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Education, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, Statistics, Stunning Statistics

• “Since 2020, national and state test data show steep declines in foundational reading and math skills that are not bouncing back on their own. If current trends hold, by 2034 a majority of U.S. students will need remedial support, deepening poverty, crime, and inequality across whole communities. This post pulls together NAEP, ACT, SAT, and state level projections—and outlines what leaders, advocates, and communities can do right now to change the trajectory.”

Illustration of trauma's impact on person, family, and people, emphasizing decontextualization over time.

Sometimes People Get Shot

Aces and Trauma, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Gun Violence and Control, Juvenile + Criminal Justice, Mental Health + Over Medication, Public Policy, Reporting and News - MN Specific, Reporting and News - US Based

• “From Cedarbluff, Mississippi, to parties in Houston and homes in Indiana, early 2026 brought mass shootings that briefly made headlines and then faded. This essay connects those tragedies to a deeper crisis: how our systems ignore childhood trauma, underfund mental health, and invest billions in punishment instead of care—creating adults who are dangerous because we failed them as children.”

A black face mask with the phrase 'GIVE KIDS A VOICE' printed in white.

Family First & Child Neglect Studies and Reporting 2

Adoption, Foster and Kinship Care, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, Featured Articles, Public Policy, Reporting and News - MN Specific, Reporting and News - US Based

Contrary to a common assumption, neglect is not less damaging than abuse. Research shows neglect victims have lifelong problems because they miss developmental milestones around language, self-control, and bonding with others.

A constant dilemma in neglect cases is whether to traumatize children by removing them from their families, or leave them in situations where their brains aren’t developing normally.

Quality Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs can make it possible to leave children at home while helping their parents improve parenting skills.

This study documents that neglect victims who got ECE moved quickly from having a language deficit to the normal range. Language development is critical to academic success and positive interpersonal relationships.
ECE can help many children avoid foster care and still obtain the baseline skills they need to thrive.

Join the Discussion on Facebook

Make a difference for the children of Minnesota today,
Donate Here!

Black T-shirt with white text promoting kids' voices.

Cost Neutral Child Protection: The Deadly Lesson of Gabriel Fernandez

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, Their stories

When paramedics arrived, eight-year old Gabriel Fernandez was not conscious. His skull was cracked. Three ribs were broken. Bruises and burns covered his body. Two teeth were knocked out of his mouth. X-rays would later show that the third-grader had BB pellets embedded in his lung and groin. Gabriel’s mother, Pearl Fernandez, 29, and her boyfriend Isauro Aguirre, 32, told the paramedics that Gabriel’s injuries were self-induced. Later Aguirre said that he delivered ten or so blows to Gabriel’s stomach for lying and “being dirty.”

Before Gabriel’s death, his mother was the target of six investigations of child abuse. One of Gabriel’s teachers reported the boy coming to school battered. One of Gabriel’s therapists reported that Gabriel said that he was forced to perform oral sex on a family member. Gabriel told a teacher he’d been beat with a belt buckle until he bled and his mother shot him with a BB gun. Gabriel wrote a suicide note, found by his teacher.

According to documents obtained by the LA Times and a recent wrongful death lawsuit filed by Gabriel’s grandparents, Gabriel was never interviewed privately by a social worker about his abuse. Fernandez and Aguirre have been charged with first degree murder of a child. The two have yet to enter their pleas. Two months after Gabriel’s death, four DCFS employees related to his case were fired.

Silhouettes of a family with two adults and one child.

Child Abuse and the Domino Effect: Why Lawmakers Need Real Data

Aces and Trauma, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Abuse and Deaths, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based

When lawmakers finally see the human and financial numbers behind child abuse and neglect, our politics can treat it as the national emergency it is—not a niche social‑services problem. Over a lifetime, the “domino effect” of abused and neglected children touches every system we claim to care about: schools, crime, taxes, public health, and public safety

Silhouettes of a family with two adults and one child.

Why Minnesota’s Youngest Students Are Turning Violent: Childhood Trauma in K–3 Classrooms

Aces and Trauma, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Education, Mental Health + Over Medication, Public Policy, Reporting and News - MN Specific

“157 staff injuries and 142 cleared classrooms in a single year raise a hard question: Why are Minnesota’s youngest students turning violent? This piece traces those outbursts back to unhealed childhood trauma—and outlines what K–3 schools, families, and policymakers must do differently if we want safer classrooms instead of more suspensions.”

Mother comforting her child outside a brick building.

Cash vs. CPS: What $14 Million Really Buys

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, childabuse, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, Statistics, The States

Flint’s Rx Kids program has spent about $14 million giving pregnant and new parents roughly $6,250 per baby in flexible cash—money families use for rent, food, diapers, and medical care. By contrast, CDC linked research puts the lifetime cost of a single child maltreatment case at roughly $830,000, and a year of foster care can cost $41,000 or more per child. If cash support keeps even a small share of vulnerable families out of CPS, the investment likely pays for itself many times over—while sparing children the trauma of removal and system involvement.

Children of diverse backgrounds holding hands around Earth.

Nation Out of Step: An Early Childhood Education Manifesto for 2026

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Education, Featured Articles, Public Policy, Reporting and News - International, Reporting and News - US Based, Stunning Statistics

Education is the engine of progress and prosperity. A nation that underinvests in its children’s earliest years limits its own future. Neuroscience and economics now converge on a simple truth: what happens from birth to age five shapes the brain, health, behavior, and earning power for life—and early childhood education is where that development can be steered toward success.

Two hands gently holding each other in a comforting gesture.

From Classrooms to Homeless Shelters: How Our Choices Hurt Children

Aces and Trauma, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Protection, childabuse, Education, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, Stunning Statistics

Compared to other advanced nations America treats children and the people who care for them as an afterthought and then acts surprised when our schools and child‑welfare systems are overwhelmed with troubled children suffering from health and mental health issues.

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Fosters and the Orphan Tax: How States Take Social Security from Foster Youth ________________________________________

Adoption, Foster and Kinship Care, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Protection, Children's Rights, Mikes Favorite Posts, Public Policy, Reporting and News - MN Specific, Reporting and News - US Based, Statistics

Most foster youth only discover years later that Social Security benefits meant for them were taken by counties to “reimburse” foster care costs, leaving them to age out with no savings, no housing deposit, and no money for school or a car. With up to one third experiencing homelessness by their mid 20s and earning far less than their peers, every dollar matters. This post explains how the so called “orphan tax” works, why the complexity argument is specious, and how existing Social Security and ABLE style accounts could be used to protect foster youths’ benefits instead of padding agency budgets.

Black T-shirt with bold white text promoting kids' voices.

America’s Child Protection Crisis: Last Week’s Most Alarming CPS Cases and Reforms

Aces and Trauma, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, The States

Each week, children are escaping brutal homes, being harmed in foster care, and caught in CPS systems that too often miss clear danger or punish families without proof. From multimillion‑dollar settlements and court battles in Texas, Washington, New York, and Illinois to new laws and policies that could reshape how abuse and neglect are investigated, this roundup highlights the most urgent child protection stories advocates, professionals, and concerned community members need to see right now.

Close-up of a child's face with braided hair and intense eyes.

Child Abuse, Foster Care, and Youth Self-Harm and Suicide

Aces and Trauma, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child self harm and suicide, Mental Health + Over Medication, Mikes Favorite Posts, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based

Research across foster care, ACEs, and maltreatment shows that abused and systems‑involved children face dramatically higher risks of self‑harm and suicide. This post walks through key studies and calls for concrete changes in child welfare policy and practice to prevent avoidable deaths.

Logo for Kara, Kids at Risk Action organization.

The Physics of Child Protection in America

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Protection, Children's Rights, Mikes Favorite Posts, NEGLECT, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based

Child protection in America behaves like a complex system engineered for surveillance, not support. Poverty, racism, and weak safety nets keep generating the same tragedies. What would happen if we rebuilt it around children’s rights, prevention, and healing?

Silhouettes of a family with two adults and one child.

A Closer Look At Child Fatality and Egregious Incident Reporting

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, Data, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, Statistics

Child Fatality & Egregious Incident Reporting: A U.S. Overview America’s approach to exposing and understanding the gravest harms done to children—fatalities, near-deaths, torture, and catastrophic agency failures—reveals a nation deeply divided by geography, law, and political will. The result is a patchwork of minimal transparency. Some states shine a light on information that has been…

Silhouettes of a family with two adults and one child.

Smoke‑Free or Hooked for Life? Selling Nicotine to Children and Youth (w/videos)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Abuse and Deaths, PODCAST & STREAMING, Public Policy, Rebuttals & Guest Posts, Religion, Politics + the Law, Reporting and News - International, Reporting and News - US Based

Big tobacco talks about a “smoke‑free future,” but its marketing tells a different story. This post gathers key videos and articles that show how major tobacco companies push vapes, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco to children and youth while claiming to care about health.

Close-up of a child's face with braided hair against a dark background.

All Adults Are the Protectors of All Children (Don Shelby)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Abuse and Deaths, Children's Rights, Public Policy, Reporting and News - International, Reporting and News - MN Specific, Reporting and News - US Based

Policies that keep children in homes with life‑threatening harm on the grounds of unproven or unscientific beliefs—account for avoidable homicidal deaths of hundreds of MN children and many more tortured and near-death experiences annually. When Child Protection becomes more transparent when studies like the one linked above become common, this reality will be recognized in all…

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Child Abuse Sad Stories & Statistics (1ST 45 days in 2026))

Aces and Trauma, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, Data, Domestic Violence, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, Stunning Statistics, The States

Child abuse doesn’t stop for holidays or election years. In just the first 45 days of 2026, sad stories and new statistics are already piling up. This post tracks those cases and numbers to show how many invisible children still need our protection.

Silhouettes of a family with two adults and one child.

The Quantum Mechanics of Childhood Abuse & Trauma

Aces and Trauma, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, Stunning Statistics

Childhood abuse leaves epigenetic “scars” that behave like quantum events in a child’s developing brain—shifting the whole trajectory of a life and even echoing across generations. This post links trauma, ACEs, and America’s worst health, violence, and inequality statistics.

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COVID + ICE RAIDS Impacting America’s Schools

Aces and Trauma, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Day Care and Education, Education, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, Stunning Statistics

COVID school closures and ICE raids have combined to drive U.S. reading, math, history, and civics scores to historic lows. This post outlines national NAEP data, the states with the deepest learning loss, and what these trends mean for children’s futures, especially in immigrant and high poverty communities.

Close-up of a child's face with braided hair and intense eyes.

Florida Child Abuse Reporting

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Domestic Violence, NEGLECT, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, Statistics, The States

Why Florida Child Abuse Reporting Matters: Florida’s child abuse and neglect is just one part of KARA’s reporting mission and our nation’s child‑death problem. Florida reviews hundreds of abuse‑related child deaths each year. This is an investigative report recently completed in Minnesota that needs to happen in all states. 

Silhouettes of a family with two adults and one child.

New Jersey Recent Child Abuse Death, Egregious Harm & Child Protection Issues

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, Public Policy, Reporting and News - US Based, Their stories

New Jersey’s recent child abuse tragedies—from Ne’Miya Duncan’s death days after a welfare visit to two brothers killed in Hillsborough—show deep failures in DCPP’s ability to protect children. This post highlights specific deaths, lawsuits, and state fatality data that reveal a child protection system still in crisis.

Silhouettes of a family with two adults and one child.

Minnesota’s Children and Federal Policy: Local Pain For Children From National Decisions

Adoption, Foster and Kinship Care, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Day Care and Education, Public Policy, Reporting and News - MN Specific

Federal decisions on health care, food, child care, and social services are reshaping daily life for Minnesota’s children, especially those already at risk. When Washington freezes or cuts key programs like Medicaid, SNAP, Head Start, child care funds, SSBG, and TANF, the damage shows up in our counties, schools, clinics, and courtrooms. This post explains how national politics is putting Minnesota kids in harm’s way—and what we can do about it.

Silhouettes of a family with two adults and one child.

Aaliya Goodwins Death & Why (podcast)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, Public Policy, Reporting and News - MN Specific, Their stories

This episode of KARA’s podcast tells the story of 5 month old Aaliya Goodwin, who died of positional asphyxia while in the care of her drug abusing parents. Drawing on the Safe Passage for Children investigation, we explore eight prior reports, repeated “Family Assessments,” and the systemic choices that left Aaliya unprotected.