Child Deaths Decline in Gila County

The 19th annual Arizona Child Fatality Review report shows that the number of child deaths in Gila County declined from 12 in 2010 to 9 in 2011.

However, the statewide number of deaths of children under the care of Child Protective Services is at a six-year high.

The number of child deaths overall has declined. A total of 837 children died in Arizona during 2011. That’s down from 862 in 2010.

Of the 71 child deaths due to abuse in 2011, 34 were cases in which CPS had either a past report or an open case. Fifteen of them were still open at the time of the child’s death. Last year,  of the 70 cases of death due to abuse, 18 had previous CPS intervention. Only five of the cases were open at the time of death. That’s an increase of 66% in the number of open and ongoing CPS cases failing children.

The report also showed a 38% increase in child suicides. The full report is available at www.azdhs.gov.