Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach says child deaths hit a record low in 2021 despite an increase in homicides and fentanyl overdoses.
Overall deaths went from 365 in 2020 to 349 in 2021. The overall child death rate two years ago was 49.6 per 100,000, the lowest number and rate of death since the State Child Death Review Board was created and started tracking stats in 1994.
While the number of deaths due to natural causes continued its decline, down 100 since 2018, the number of homicide deaths went from 22 in 2020 to 32 the following year, a 45-percent increase. Fentanyl deaths, which were zero from 2017-2019, were at 20 total in 2020 and 2021.
Besides the data, the annual report includes a series of recommendations to prevent deaths related to child abuse and neglect:
*Increase access to affordable, high-quality child care
*Increase family-friendly workplaces with flexible work schedules, paid parental leave, child care, breastfeeding support and livable wages
*Adopt and consistently follow a “best practices” approach in the investigation of allegations of abuse and neglect
*Enhance training and access to appropriate information for child welfare professionals
*Improve reporting of child abuse and neglect
The report also includes recommendations to prevent youth suicides:
*Increase accessibility to crisis services and mental health services
*Increase the depth of suicide investigations
*Ensure training of education professionals regarding the prevention, assessment and intervention of suicide
*Promote safe reporting and messaging about youth suicide
Click here for the Kansas Attorney General’s information page.
