This flow chart shows what happens when a child abuse report is made in Minnesota. Roll over a circle to learn how often counties decide to pursue a report to determine if a child is safe, whether child protection investigates the report and how often children are re-reported for abuse. Click on a solid circle to reveal more steps in the process.
The possible paths one of the 67,888 reports filed with Child Protective Services can take:
17% Repeat Reports
After family assessment, children reported as abuse or neglect victims are the subject of new reports within 12 months.
14% Repeat Reports
After an investigation, children reported as abuse or neglect victims are the subject of new reports within 12 months.
Source: Department of Human Services Child Welfare reports, Star Tribune analysis, based on 2012 and 2013 data.
Note: Some totals add up to more than 100 percent due to overlapping responses.