Report Finds Young Children At High Risk For Abuse In NJ Foster Care System

A shocking new report by Advocates For Children of New Jersey finds young children are at the most risk for abuse and neglect in the state's foster care system.

"We were pretty surprised to see data showing that young children represent a majority of children in supervision by the state, 25% are three years-old and younger, 34% of children in placement, but more compelling is they represent 80% of the child deaths by abuse or neglect," said Ceil Zalkind, executive director of Advocates For Children Of New Jersey. "We started to look at specifics, with this very high percentage of children in placement, does the state do enough to meet their needs and what we discovered is no, not really," she added.

Zalkind is calling on the state to do more.

"They should look at retraining employees, requiring more visits between foster kids and their parents and they should provide greater oversight for employees when monitoring the safety of babies and toddlers."