The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) Child File dataset consists of child-specific data of all investigated reports of maltreatment to State child protective service agencies. The NCANDS is a federally-sponsored annual national data collection effort created for the purpose of tracking the volume and nature of child maltreatment reporting. The Child File is the case-level component of the NCANDS. States participate on a voluntary basis and submit their data after going through a process in which the state’s administrative system is mapped to the NCANDS data structure. Submitted data consist of all investigations or assessments of alleged child maltreatment that received a disposition in the reporting year. Records are provided at the level of each child on a report, also known as the report-child pair. Data elements include the demographics of children and their perpetrators, types of maltreatment, investigation or assessment dispositions, risk factors, and services provided as a result of the investigation or assessment.

Reporting Period: Federal Fiscal Year

Data Source: NCANDS Child Victim Count (duplicate value). Vermont child population estimates, by year, used to calculate rate per 1,000. Current reporting period uses VDH 2024 population estimates (latest available). 

Last updated: September 2025

Updated by: Department for Children and Families 

We want to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect as part of our efforts to ensure that all Vermonters are healthy and safe.

Child abuse and neglect in Vermont is a population-level problem. While the Agency of Human Services (AHS) and its departments are responsible for intervening in and working to reduce the rate of child abuse and neglect in Vermont, AHS recognizes that preventing abuse and neglect is something many other partners contribute to.   

In Vermont, the rate of substantiated child abuse and neglect per 1,000 children has decreased from 9.0 in 2018 to 6.2 in 2024. Several factors over the last few years have led to this trend including, though not limited to, Vermont's sustained efforts to treat the opioid epidemic, intentional focuses on increasing the use of Structured Decision Making® tools, and ongoing collaboration with staff, stakeholders, and community partners. This cross-sectional, statewide approach has allowed Vermont to bring voices and resources together to improve the safety and wellbeing of children, youth, and families. 

Many of our community partners have made key investments in child abuse prevention, early childhood services, and comprehensive family supports, all of which have served to improve outcomes. AHS has worked to include many of these collaborations into state and federal level strategic plans as a way to reinforce that one Agency cannot turn the curve alone; there are many partners who have a role to play making a difference.