Children Safe in their Families and Communities

The quality of life in our communities depends upon feeling and being safe in our communities. Children are among our most vulnerable citizens. They require protection and nurturing to help them grow up to become responsible, law-abiding and nurturing adults. It is our desire that all children are safe as measured by:

• Reduction in the number of homeless children.
• Reduction in the number of abducted or missing children.
• Reduction in the percentage of children harmed or killed due to violent crime.
• Reduction in the percentage of children who have "some indication" or "verified" evidence of being abused or neglected.
• Reduction in the percentage of children who have "some indication" or "verified" evidence of being re-abused or neglected within two years of the first report.
• Reduction in the rate of domestic violence in homes with children and/or pregnant mothers.
• Increase in the rate of treatment for children exposed to domestic violence and child abuse.
• Reduction in the percent of children dying from injuries.
• Reduction in the percentage of illnesses and deaths due to poisoning from environmental hazards or toxins.

If these positive outcomes can be achieved, when Florida's infants and young children become older we will impact spending and save taxpayer resources by:

• Reducing the growth rate of emergency room use and costs for injuries due to violence (e.g., murder, forcible sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, etc.) and non-violent crime (e.g., burglary, breaking and entering, larceny, theft, motor vehicle theft, etc.).
• Reducing the growth rate in use and costs of juvenile detention facilities and treatment programs.
• Reducing the growth rate of foster care homes and associated payments.
• Reducing the growth rate of adoptions subsidies.
• Reducing the growth rate of costs associated with child abuse/neglect investigations, protective supervision and court processing.

Back to Top

---