“The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children”

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ALBANY, NY — March 2026 — The New York State Citizen Review Panels (CRP) for Child Protective Services (CPS)  released their 2025 Annual Report to the New York State Office for Children and Family Services, providing a direct assessment of a child welfare system in crisis. The 2025 report, From Crisis to Accountability, based on the 2024 Federal Child and Family Services Review (CFSR), shows that New York did not meet federal standards in any of the seven outcome areas for child safety, permanency, and well-being.

 

The report cites concerning statistics: New York State has the highest rate of maltreatment recurrence nationally and the third highest rate for children already in foster care. Additionally, over 75% of calls to the Statewide Central Register (SCR) are unfounded, with many neglect reports linked to family poverty. The Panels also found that while the state invests approximately $34.3 billion in child protection activities annually, child maltreatment rates and fatalities have not seen meaningful reductions.

“The Citizen Review Panels exist because government agencies should not be the only voice evaluating whether they are protecting children,” the report states. “We answer to the children and families of New York State, not to the agencies we oversee”. 

 

The 24 recommendations in the report aim to t increase public accountability, expand the service array, advance equity, invest in a stable workforce, and enforce permanency timelines. They are not suggestions; they represent a mandatory roadmap for protecting New York State’s most vulnerable citizens. Each proposed action is a vital step in transitioning from a system of surveillance toward one of genuine community support.

Systemic Failures and Racial Disparities

The 2025 CRP report describes a system that is often “better at investigating families than helping them.” The Panels found that families are over-surveilled and under-supported, with significant shortages in mental health, substance use treatment, and housing services, particularly in rural and Spanish-speaking communities.
 

Racial inequities continue to be a significant challenge. The report notes that Black children in New York are more than twice as likely to enter foster care and are less likely to achieve permanency within 12 months compared to their peers. In New York City, Manhattan, Bronx, and Kings counties represent 42% of foster care days statewide but 53% of all maltreatment victimizations in care.

 

A Call to Action: A Framework for Structural Reform

In the second section titled Reimagining Child and Family Services, the Panels propose a fundamental departure from current practices. Key recommendations to the State and the incoming New York City administration include:

 

• Distinguish Poverty from Neglect: Revise policy so that resource-related hardships, such as food or housing insecurity, are addressed with services instead of investigations and family separations.

• Clarify the Role of Attorneys for Children: In cases involving very young children or those unable to express preferences, clear guidelines should specify the attorney’s role while preserving the distinction between legal representation and other forms of advocacy. 

• Expand Universal Home Visiting for Newborns: Research consistently demonstrates that voluntary home visiting programs are effective in preventing child maltreatment and promoting healthy child development.

 

Thousands of New York families encounter CPS each year; while some are helped, many  are not. The Panels insist that New York must do better, starting now. The report includes a specific addendum for New York City’s Mayor Mamdani noting that because the five boroughs significantly influence statewide performance, targeted borough-level strategies must be a priority in the administration’s first 100 days. 

 

A Statement from the NYSCRP Co-Chairs:

"New York spends billions on a system that is failing to keep its most vulnerable children safe or stable. Our 2025 report makes it clear: we cannot continue to confuse poverty with neglect or rely on a data system that only tracks failure after it happens. We are calling for immediate transparency through a unified public dashboard and a shift toward voluntary, community-based support that keeps families safely together. Anything less is a disservice to the families who have been failed by this system for decades. We hope this report stimulates vigorous discussion and action. We welcome feedback and opportunities to hear ideas from across the state, particularly from the families and caregivers the system is designed to serve". ~ NYSCRP Chairs

 

The release of this report is intended to stimulate vigorous discussion and immediate action among policymakers and the public. The Panels also highlight a critical need to fill the 15 current vacancies on the Citizen Review Panels to ensure continued, robust independent oversight.

 

About the New York State Citizen Review Panels 

The New York State Citizen Review Panels for Child Protective Services are independent oversight bodies mandated by the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). Composed of community members, professionals, and advocates, the three panels (Eastern, Western, and New York City) are authorized to examine the policies, procedures, and practices of state and local child protection agencies to ensure they are effectively discharging their responsibilities.

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Media Contact: Elizabeth Stephenson, estephenson@preventchildabuseny.org, Prevent Child Abuse - New York (Administrative Support for the Panels) 1843 Central Avenue, #133 Albany, NY 12205 (518) 508-3820 www.citizenreviewpanelsny.org

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