The Record · IA
Iowa
Iowa: federal child-welfare figures and 65 pieces of KARA reporting, in full.
Federal child-welfare figures and KARA's reporting on Iowa.
Child maltreatment victims
NCANDS, FFY2024
Entered foster care
AFCARS, FY2022
In foster care on Sept 30
AFCARS, FY2022
Sources: NCANDS Child Maltreatment 2024; AFCARS state tables. Full record — every metric, every year, gaps labeled — on KARA SIGNAL
KARA reporting on Iowa
65 articles, newest first, republished in full.
June 28, 2026 · KARA Reporting
Kudos to Wisconsin for Tracking Child Death and Egregious Harm
Wisconsin’s public website for child death and egregious CPS incidents shows what honest tracking can look like. Minnesota’s Safe Passage child fatality report revealed children murdered by caregivers while known to CPS,
Arizona · California · Colorado · Iowa · Minnesota · Wisconsin
June 19, 2026 · KARA Reporting
Best & Worst States For America's Children
Where does your state rank in protecting children & what can you do to make improvements. These statistics tell the stories of our best and worst states around the nation
Arizona · Arkansas · California · Connecticut · Florida · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Iowa · Louisiana · Maine · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Mississippi · Nevada · New Hampshire · New York · North Dakota · Oklahoma · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wyoming
June 6, 2026 · KARA Reporting
America’s Child Abuse Emergency: 546,000 Victims, 2,000 Deaths, and a System That Chooses This
Child abuse in the United States is not rare or random. It is the predictable outcome of policy choices. In 2023, about 546,000 children were confirmed victims of abuse or neglect and an estimated 2,000 were killed, rou
Alaska · Florida · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Maine · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Mississippi · Montana · New Hampshire · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Dakota · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia
April 9, 2026 · KARA Reporting
Tracking Foster Youth Into Adulthood: What Leading States Already Know
To understand how Child Protection Works (and doesn't work) tracking CPS/foster youth into adulthood by linking child welfare to education, work, housing, and justice data needs to happen across America. These examples s
California · Illinois · Iowa · Washington · Wisconsin
April 8, 2026 · KARA Reporting
Best and Worst Hospitals For U.S. Children (Beckers Hospital Review)
Which states give kids the best chance at a healthy life? This review ranks all 50 states and D.C. on children’s healthcare, nutrition, and oral health, and the gaps are stark.
Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Connecticut · Georgia · Hawaii · Iowa · Kentucky · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Mississippi · Montana · New Jersey · New York · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · Texas · Vermont · Wyoming
February 15, 2024 · KARA Reporting
America's Crazy World of Child Protection (find your state here)
America's Crazy World of Child Protection (find your state here)
December 1, 2022 · KARA Reporting
MN Child Abuse News Week of 11.30.22
37% of children overall and 44% of Black children are reported to child protection services in America by the time they turn 18. (American Journal of Public Health 1.17)
January 30, 2022 · KARA Reporting
Other People's Children Are Not Society's Problem - Senator Ron Johnson
Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson is not alone in publicly stating the expensive and mean spirited political platform Other People's Children Are Not Society's Problem - Senator Ron Johnson
Alabama · Arizona · California · Iowa · Minnesota · New York · Wisconsin
October 4, 2021 · KARA Reporting
October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Watching your mother being beat up or raped is the same trauma as being beaten or raped to a five or nine year old. Untreated trauma lasts forever and it changes a person forever. The United Nation's-Secretary General An
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
May 16, 2021 · KARA Reporting
Child Abuse News & Statistics In Your State
CHILD ABUSE & CHILD PROTECTION IN YOUR STATE
California · Iowa · Michigan · Missouri
November 20, 2020 · KARA Reporting
Lawsuits and the Death of Two Year Old Arianna Hunziker
Arianna was wrapped in sheets, left alone in a closed room and slowly starved to death. Foster parents Sherrie and Bryce Dirk will go to prison for murdering Arianna. This solves nothing. There is something terribly dist
September 14, 2020 · KARA Reporting
Signs That You Are a Mental Health Worker
Andy Steiner’s social workers as backbone of the mental health workforce Minnpost article belies a much deeper truth about the depth and scope of mental health in our communities at this time. Generational child abuse ha
California · Iowa · Maine · Minnesota · New Hampshire · North Dakota · Virginia
June 10, 2020 · KARA Reporting
The Pandemic Impacting Child Abuse and Foster Care (state by state)
Because schools are closed, after-school activities are canceled and churches aren't having youth groups and community activity with trusted adults outside the home have evaporated - the chances an abused child can find
Alaska · Arizona · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Florida · Georgia · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Rhode Island · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Virginia · Washington · Wisconsin
December 16, 2019 · KARA Reporting
Guardian ad-Litem Blogs & News
Guardian ad litem program needs volunteers in Anderson area Anderson Independent Mail Trained volunteers in the Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem Program helped more than 10000 abused or neglected South Carolina chil
Colorado · Connecticut · Florida · Illinois · Iowa · Minnesota · Montana · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Virginia
August 22, 2019 · KARA Reporting
American Crime Costs & Statistics
READ TO THE END TO LEARN THE COSTS OF CRIME IN AMERICA TODAY
Arizona · California · Georgia · Illinois · Iowa · Louisiana · Minnesota · Mississippi · New York · Oklahoma
August 1, 2019 · KARA Reporting
CASA Guardian Ad Litem Activity Around the Nation (where you live)
News and stories from around the U.S. from June and July 2019. Find your CASA news here;
Iowa · Montana · New Mexico · Oklahoma · Rhode Island · South Carolina · Texas · Utah · Virginia · Washington · Wisconsin
May 23, 2019 · KARA Reporting
Recent Child Suicide & Self-Harm Reporting & Statistics (Part III)
This reporting over the last 45 days is a fraction of the child self-harm & suicide in our communities today
Arizona · California · Colorado · Florida · Illinois · Iowa · Montana · South Carolina · Washington · Wyoming
March 26, 2019 · KARA Reporting
Preteen Moms & Why (stories & statistics)
May had her first child while living as a state ward in a group home when she was 16 and her second child when she was 18 before aging out of foster care. Her mother was 17 when May was born. Her grandmother was even you
January 2, 2019 · KARA Reporting
Recent Child Suicide Reports & Statistics (part I)
Most child suicide is underreported & obfuscated self-harming behaviors remain almost unknown except to those involved… find your state here;
Arizona · Connecticut · Florida · Georgia · Iowa · Michigan · North Carolina
August 21, 2018 · KARA Reporting
July Child Sex Abuse/Child Trafficking (part 4)
hundreds of allegations of missing children and child sex trafficking
California · Illinois · Iowa · Maryland · Pennsylvania · Virginia
August 13, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Child Trauma and Torture Reporting for July 2018 (part 5)
KARA (Kids At Risk Action) tracks current news about at risk children bringing transparency and attention to our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. This reporting is only sampling of what should be reported – the gre
California · Florida · Iowa
August 9, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Child Sex Abuse for July 2018 (part 4)
37% of children overall and 54% of Black children are reported to child protection services in America by the time they turn 18. (American Journal of Public Health 1.17) 6 to 12 million children a year are reported to ch
California · Illinois · Iowa · Pennsylvania · Virginia
August 3, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Infant & Child Death July 2018 (part 2)
KARA (Kids At Risk Action) tracks current news about at risk children bringing transparency and attention to our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. This reporting is only sampling of what should be reported – the gre
Georgia · Indiana · Iowa · Maryland · Massachusetts · Ohio · Texas · Utah
July 20, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Articles, Stories & Statistics About Adoption and Foster Care for June 2018
Group home caters to LGBT foster children Cronkite News Redmond said she wanted to provide a real home for LGBT foster children and her group home was immediately at capacity. They usually go on … Flag as irrelevant Adop
Arizona · California · Iowa · Kentucky · Michigan · Montana · North Carolina · Ohio · Texas
July 4, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Child Welfare State By State for May 2018 (8)
SC: South Carolina, Under Lawsuit Settlement and Needing 1,500 Foster Homes, Could Become 20th State To Create Ombudsmans' Office (Commentary) Chronicle of Social Change - April 30, 2018 South Carolina is set to become t
July 1, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Child Trauma & Torture, May 2018, find your state here (6)
Iowa sees spike in confirmed child abuse cases Seattle Times DES MOINES, Iowa (AP). Officials say publicity around high-profile child abuse cases in Iowa has caused a surge in such reports. Confirmed child … Iowa sees s
Arkansas · California · Iowa · Michigan · Missouri · New Mexico · Pennsylvania
July 1, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Child Abuse & Child Protection May 2018 (5)
City's toughest neighborhoods also plagued with high instances of child abuse WBAL Baltimore Some of the city's toughest communities, those plagued by crime and drugs, are also notorious for another adverse distinction:
Arkansas · California · Iowa · Maryland · Michigan · Missouri · New Mexico · Pennsylvania
June 16, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Child Burns, Sex Abuse & Beatings May 2018 (find your state here) 1
Accused child killers plead not guilty in Seneca County Court Rochester Democrat and Chronicle The mother and stepfather of a 3-year-old taken off of life support last week after being beaten until he was brain dead plea
Arizona · California · Florida · Georgia · Iowa · Michigan · New York · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · Tennessee · Wyoming
April 27, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Child Abuse & Trauma March 2018 (XI)
Jehovah's Witnesses accused of silencing victims of child abuse The Guardian Former and current members, including 41 alleged victims of child sexual abuse, described a culture of cover-ups and lies, with senior members
Alaska · California · Florida · Idaho · Iowa · Montana · New York
March 27, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Sad Stories Part VIII Feb 1-13 (child protection - find your state here)
KARA (Kids At Risk Action) tracks current news about at risk children bringing transparency and attention to our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. KARA’s reporting is only sampling of what should be reported – the g
Arizona · California · Florida · Georgia · Idaho · Illinois · Iowa
March 22, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Sad Stories Feb 2018 Part VI (foster care stories and statistics)
KARA (Kids At Risk Action) tracks current news about at risk children bringing transparency and attention to our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. KARA’s reporting is only sampling of what should be reported – the g
Arizona · California · Connecticut · Iowa · Kentucky · Minnesota · Oregon · Texas · Virginia
February 1, 2018 · KARA Reporting
January Sad Stories 2018 Part I (find your state here)
American states are struggling to find answers for ending adverse childhood experiences and saving at risk children by reversing the explosive growth of child abuse and neglect. Today, many state ward children are the 4t
Arizona · Colorado · Georgia · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Michigan
January 8, 2018 · KARA Reporting
MN At Risk Children's News July - September 2017 (I)
KARA gathers news about Minnesota’s abused children to provide a snapshot of Child Protection and how our state values its children. Only a fraction of serious child abuse makes the news. All Adults Are the Protectors of
December 31, 2017 · KARA Reporting
Sad Stories December 2017 Part III (child abuse stories & articles from your state)
Today, many state ward children are the 4th and 5th generation of abused children raising their own families without parenting skills and with serious drug, alcohol and mental health issues 37% of children overall and 57
California · Florida · Illinois · Iowa · Louisiana · Michigan
December 3, 2017 · KARA Reporting
November Sad Stories Part I (find child abuse stories in your state here)
American states are struggling to find answers for saving at risk children and reversing the explosive growth of child abuse and neglect. Today, many state ward children are the 4th and 5th generation of abused children
California · Colorado · Iowa
November 22, 2017 · KARA Reporting
Statistics & Data About America's Abused Children
This page is for those of you who know the value of data and the importance of tracking information about the issues of child abuse. KARA will work to update it regularly and we encourage you the reader to send compellin
April 1, 2017 · KARA Reporting
Sad Stories March 2017 Part III
Sign Up Here For KARA’s Free Friday Morning Real Story KARA tracks current news about at risk children bringing transparency and attention to our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. These pages are a sampling of what
Connecticut · Florida · Georgia · Iowa · Kentucky · Minnesota
March 4, 2017 · KARA Reporting
February 2017 Sad Stories Part IV
AKARA tracks current news about at risk children bringing transparency and attention to our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. This is only a sampling of what should be reported – the great majority of child trauma,
Arizona · California · Florida · Idaho · Indiana · Iowa · New York
December 31, 2016 · KARA Reporting
December Sad Stories Part II
CA: Culp: Looking at 2016 in the Rear-View Mirror (Opinion) TechWire - December 28, 2016 One of the biggest sessions at the American Public Human Services Association's Information Systems Management Conference this year
California · Indiana · Iowa · Mississippi · Nebraska · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Tennessee
November 19, 2016 · KARA Reporting
November 2016 Sad Stories Part I
IN: Child re-sentenced for murder: A sign of juvenile justice reform? Christian Science Monitor - October 31, 2016 Paul Gingerich was 12 years old when he helped fatally shoot a friend's stepfather in a small Indiana tow
Arkansas · California · Connecticut · Florida · Iowa · Maine · Michigan · New Jersey · North Dakota
September 17, 2016 · KARA Reporting
CASA guardian ad Litem News & Stories for August 2016
Jan. 17 trial date set in Sullivan County homicide Terre Haute Tribune Star Tribune-Star/Lisa TriggDefendant Joshua Travis Hall is led from the Sullivan Superior courtroom by Sheriff Clark Cottom following a hearing Mond
California · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kentucky · Missouri · Montana · New Jersey · New Mexico · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Washington
September 10, 2016 · KARA Reporting
Minnesota Child Protection News August 2016
KARA gathers news about abused Minnesota’s abused children every month and works to provide a snapshot of Child Protection and how our state values its children. If you are an aspiring writer/reporter, KARA needs you to
August 10, 2016 · KARA Reporting
MN Child Protection News July 2016
Hundreds of Minnesota teens confined, abused for no … - Star Tribune www.startribune.com/confined…teenager…minnesota…/389387061/ Star Tribune 4 days ago - Confined without charges, a teenager's ordeal reveals strains wit
June 25, 2016 · KARA Reporting
June 2016 Sad Stories (part 1)
MN: Washington County: Child protection changes increase caseload South Washington County Bulletin - May 27, 2016 State funding will allow Washington County to hire three more child protection workers, but officials say
Colorado · Florida · Illinois · Iowa · Michigan · Pennsylvania · Texas
March 16, 2016 · KARA Reporting
March Sad Stories (2016 KARA reporting)
MN: Research Shows Washburn Center for Children Treatment has Significant Impact on Children's Social, Emotional and Behavioral Health (Press release) Business Wire - March 10, 2016 A new report by the Center for Advance
California · Florida · Indiana · Iowa · Missouri · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · Texas · Wisconsin
February 22, 2016 · KARA Reporting
More Americans Killed By Toddlers With Guns Than Terrorists
Toddlers with guns have murdered 5 people with guns in America this year, terrorists 3. Would we be safer if the NSA were spying on children, or just keeping an eye on pistol packing families? Here's a list of this years
Alabama · Arizona · California · Florida · Idaho · Indiana · Iowa · Kentucky · New Jersey · New York · Ohio · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · West Virginia
December 22, 2015 · KARA Reporting
December Sad Stories
All Adults Are The Protectors of All Children. This page is a gathering of child abuse articles during the month of December - find your state/community here. These children needed our help to have a safe and loving holi
California · Connecticut · Iowa · Louisiana · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania
October 20, 2015 · KARA Reporting
What's It Like?
What's it like to be; The admitting person in the psychiatric ward of a metro hospital turning away violently troubled children because there is no space? HCMC in Minneapolis averages about 900 emergency psych visits a m
September 25, 2015 · KARA Reporting
Child Death and Child Abuse Articles (for September 2015 – find your state/country here)
Every month KARA publishes articles that go unnoticed outside of the community they occur. These stories are gathered from different sources all around the nation and some international stories. Please share this page wi
Arkansas · California · Connecticut · Florida · Idaho · Iowa · Massachusetts · Tennessee
September 2, 2015 · KARA Reporting
Thank You Prairie Care & Washburn Center For Children's Mental Health (the uphill battle in addressing children's mental health in Minnesota)
Prairie Care’s new 50 bed hospital for Children’s mental health is a tiny step in providing badly needed services for the traumatized children passing through Minnesota institutions. HCMC alone sees 800 to 1000 emergency
August 19, 2015 · KARA Reporting
Child Death and Child Abuse Articles (for August 2015 - find your state/country here)
CA: County responses unacceptable (Opinion) Ukiah Daily Journal - August 02, 2015 The Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency's response to the Grand Jury is one of the most twisted documents I have ever read.
Colorado · Illinois · Iowa · Kentucky · Massachusetts · Texas · Virginia · Wisconsin
July 5, 2015 · KARA Reporting
Child Abuse & Child Welfare Stories For June 2015
KARA compiles news from various sources across the nation each month. Find your state here (international news is also included).
Arizona · California · Colorado · Georgia · Iowa · Louisiana · Michigan · Mississippi · Oklahoma · South Carolina · Texas
May 6, 2015 · KARA Reporting
Child Protection Stories Around the Nation (find your state here)
Child abuse reports gathered from around the nation from January through May 4th (find your state here). Post comments here about how your state is protecting children. All adults are the protectors of all children (pass
Alabama · California · Colorado · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Iowa · Kansas · Louisiana · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Nevada · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · Pennsylvania · Vermont · West Virginia · Wisconsin
May 6, 2015 · KARA Reporting
KARA Child Abuse Reporting This Spring (March, April, May)
Recent child abuse reporting from around the nation (find your state here)
Alabama · California · Colorado · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Iowa · Louisiana · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Nevada · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Vermont · West Virginia · Wisconsin
November 10, 2014 · KARA Reporting
Child Abuse Stories Across the Nation
MN: Lessons from child abuse deaths go unheeded in Minnesota (Opinion) Minneapolis Star Tribune - November 09, 2014 A Star Tribune examination of state and county records shows little evidence that the mortality reviews
Alabama · California · Colorado · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Minnesota · Montana · New Hampshire · North Carolina · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Texas
April 22, 2014 · KARA Reporting
This Week's News For At Risk Children
VA: State finds Richmond DSS not at fault in two child deaths WTVR - April 18, 2014 A review conducted by Virginia's Department of Social Services determined Richmond's Department of Social Services (RDSS) did not contri
Florida · Hawaii · Illinois · Iowa · Michigan · Minnesota · New Hampshire · New Jersey · North Carolina
February 3, 2014 · KARA Reporting
A Glimmer Of Hope (push for preschool)
Preschool is having its moment, as a favored cause for politicians and interest groups who ordinarily have trouble agreeing on the time of day. President Obama devoted part of his State of the Union address to it, while
Alabama · Georgia · Iowa · Michigan · Minnesota · Montana · New York · Oklahoma · Tennessee
September 8, 2013 · KARA Reporting
America’s Amazingly False Answers To Mental Health Issues
Criminalizing mental health,…, denied treatment,…Michael Schuler stabbed himself in both eyes after spending 40 days in jail”) identifies the iceberg tip that is the crisis of this nation’s failure to deal with mental he
July 12, 2013 · KARA Reporting
A Big Step For Mental Health In Minnesota (and hopefully your state next)
A few years ago, Red Lake MN added a 3.5 million dollar mental health facility to insure that the 15 people that died in the terrific homicide / suicide never happens again. 16 year old Jeff Weise had written, blogged, a
Connecticut · Iowa · Minnesota · New Jersey
December 16, 2012 · KARA Reporting
Our Only Hope For A Safe, Livable America; Talking About Mental Health
Friday’s horrific national tragedy - the murder of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut - has ignited a new discussion on violence in America. In kitchens and coffee shops ac
California · Connecticut · Idaho · Illinois · Iowa · Minnesota
August 14, 2012 · KARA Reporting
Destroying Child Protection Records In Iowa, A Better Iowa For Children?
On several occasions in my guardian ad-Litem work I was unable to bring charges against very dangerous child abusers and I observed their continued violent and sexual abuse of children over many years (I would venture on
July 20, 2012 · KARA Reporting
Michael Swanson, Jeff Weise, James Holmes, Virginia Tech; Tons of Avoidable Pain
I know parents who have lost children to murder and violent death. It ruins lives far beyond the coffin. Violent Death spouse and children images stay with us forever. Still, no likes the conversation. Virginia Tech, Men
Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Michigan · Minnesota · New Jersey · Virginia
October 3, 2011 · KARA Reporting
Nebraska's Privatized Child & Family Welfare Collapse
The following article brings to light the commonality of for profit youth prisons and I think the abundance of meanness and poor management that combine to further damage the lives of America’s youth.
Iowa · Nebraska · Pennsylvania
March 15, 2010 · KARA Reporting
Abused & Neglected Children Around The Nation
Without reduced funding to manage the increased calls coming in from the community distress that results from the poverty and chaos from our declining economy, social service agencies are becoming unable to respond adequ
California · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Illinois · Iowa · Michigan · Minnesota · Nevada · New York · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Tennessee · Texas · Washington · Wyoming
February 3, 2006 · KARA Reporting
Worth Reprinting
State must make early childhood investments a priority KELLY DORAN During a speech in Hong Kong near the end of his China trade mission late last year, Gov. Tim Pawlenty expressed his amazement at the "scope" of China's