- Some 56,000 child welfare risk testing procedures
Youth welfare offices in North Rhine-Westphalia investigated approximately 56,000 cases last year due to suspected endangerment of children's welfare. In about one in four cases, either an acute (7,742) or a latent (6,098) danger was confirmed, the Statistical Office of the State announced.
Latent danger means that the current danger cannot be clearly established, but also cannot be ruled out. In around 35 percent of the cases (19,735), while no endangerment of children's welfare was found, there was still a need for help. In most of the cases examined (22,258), no such danger was ultimately found.
Neglect is the most common
The youth welfare offices found the most indications of neglect (7,289), as IT.NRW reported. Other signs of endangerment of children's welfare were psychological abuse (5,070), physical abuse (4,026), and sexual violence (1,016). The statistics also allowed for multiple listings.
Police and justice provide the most tips
In every third case (16,623), the youth welfare offices were alerted to a possible endangerment of children's welfare by the police, courts, or public prosecutors' offices. Further tips came from relatives, acquaintances, or neighbors (7,167) and from schools, kindergartens, or childminders (8,760).
Child welfare is a critical area of focus for the youth welfare offices, as neglect was the most commonly identified issue last year. Despite no clear evidence of endangerment in some cases, it's important to note that a latent danger still couldn't be ruled out, highlighting the continued importance of child welfare interventions.
