Between 2012 and 2022, more than 2,600 children in the state died from either sleep-related causes or violent means. Of the child deaths caused by homicide, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) consistently estimates that over 90% of these fatalities could have been prevented each year.                 

While the rest of the country has made some progress in reducing child maltreatment and improving interagency coordination, Georgia outpaces the national average in child lethality statistics. In 2022, the State reported a maltreatment-related child death rate of 4.54 per 100,000 children,  66.3% higher than the U.S. average of 2.73. That same year, Georgia ranked fifth worst among all U.S. states and territories in child maltreatment fatalities. These are not simply statistics, they reflect missed interventions, failed coordination, and a system unequipped to protect its youngest and most vulnerable citizens.

While a number of deaths stem from violence or blunt force trauma – much more than the national average – a large proportion are also linked to unsafe sleep environments, co-sleeping, and sudden unexplained infant deaths (SUIDs). Despite the fact that Georgia averages three infant sleep-related deaths every week, and despite long-standing public health campaigns, sleep-related fatalities continue unabated.

In addition to sleep safety failures, there is another silent contributor: prenatal substance exposure (IPSE). In 2021, one in every 29 infants born in Georgia had been exposed to drugs in utero, a rate more than 260% higher than the national average. That year, Georgia had only 3% of the nation’s infant population but accounted for 8% of IPSE cases nationwide. This problem is not only persistent but growing, and it disproportionately impacts communities already struggling with poverty, limited access to care, and generational trauma.

Behind every undesirable statistic is a systemic failure. Officers and first responders, who are often the first to interact with at-risk children, lack adequate training in child development, trauma recognition, and referral protocols.

Currently, Georgia law enforcement does not receive standardized instruction on how to recognize less obvious forms of neglect or abuse. Many do not understand the stages of childhood development or how traumatic exposure during critical stages of early development can shape lifelong outcomes. There is also a lack of clarity in how officers are expected to collaborate with other agencies like the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), Child Advocacy Centers (CAC), and Public School Districts, and what information can be shared between the agencies. 

In response, the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police formed a Child Lethality Ad Hoc Committee in early 2024. The Committee’s mission was straightforward: review the state’s current practices, identify systemic weaknesses, and recommend implementable strategies to reduce child fatalities.

The committee conducted a statewide review, including access to unpublished data from GBI and findings from the Department of Public Health (DPH), information from the DFCS and Child Advocacy Centers, and meetings with national experts in child development, trauma, and law enforcement. From this, a white paper was produced that outlines both the depth of the problem and the path forward.

One of the key outcomes of the Committee’s work was the development of two POST-approved training courses for peace officers. The first is a six-hour course designed for instructors, and the second is a three-hour version tailored to patrol officers. These courses equip officers with practical tools to identify both obvious and subtle signs of risk. They also introduce a new standardized instrument, the CARE (Child At Risk Evaluation) assessment tool, which provides officers with a field-ready, trauma-informed approach to evaluating a child’s risk. This tool was designed by committee member Saul Glick, with input from law enforcement practitioners, and can be administered easily in patrol settings. The courses are now available, and the Committee recommends that they be mandated in Georgia for all active-duty law enforcement.

Beyond training, the Committee has identified the need for integrated, interagency communication systems. Referrals from law enforcement to DFCS, Child Advocacy Centers (CAC), and School Districts, are submitted in varying formats, with no centralized data collection or tracking mechanism for law enforcement.

During the pilot phase, Albany Police Department used a bespoke software system to streamline communication and case tracking across agencies. That software showed significant promise for improving workflow, ensuring accountability, and creating transparency. The Committee recommends statewide adoption of similar systems, with financial support through grants to departments that wish to participate.

During the first year of piloting this initiative in Albany, and other locations, there have been dramatic successes. Within just 6 minutes (the average takes to complete a CARE form online), officers are able to send relevant information about a child at-risk to their own CID/investigation department, both local & state DFCS, members of the school support network, and local non-profits like CACs.

The downstream interventions have been extremely promising. After one-year, a study of the children attending the public school system in Albany suggests students subject to a CARE report are 678% more likely to receive a social work referral in school. Children requiring forensic interventions from CACs receive on average 14% more service per incident. Moreover, a significant drop in children experiencing sexual, physical, and domestic violence related crimes has been experienced. While it is still early, these results – and others in pilot areas including Carroll and Haralson County – indicate this must become a statewide initiative in order to protect children and ensure they don’t fall through the cracks.

The approach adopted by Albany is grounded in the details of the white paper, which emphasizes the importance of reducing trauma exposure during enforcement actions. Whenever practicable, officers should avoid arresting a parent or guardian in the presence of a child, as this moment can create long-lasting psychological harm. Policies must be adapted to emphasize trauma-informed enforcement, particularly when children are present..

The economic cost of doing nothing is staggering. Between 2012 and 2022, the preventable deaths of children in Georgia from maltreatment and unsafe sleep practices cost the state between $3.2 and $41.2 billion, depending on the valuation method. This figure does not include the costs associated with long-term trauma, loss of educational attainment, workforce productivity, or health disparities. Children exposed to high levels of toxic stress, such as those who experience or witness domestic violence, substance abuse, or neglect, are more likely to suffer from chronic illness, struggle in school, develop behavioral disorders, and live in poverty as adults. Georgia’s future economy and public health landscape will continue to be shaped by the experiences of its youngest citizens.

The evidence and the path forward are clear. Law enforcement agencies must be equipped with training, tools, and policies that allow them to act as frontline partners in child welfare. The model pioneered by Albany PD, and followed by other pilot sites, is the best route forward. The approach is simple, putting minimum burden on officers while still enabling them to communicate information to agencies that can make timely interventions in children’s lives. . Georgia has the opportunity to strengthen its response and become a model for child safety. Moving forward requires not just awareness, but sustained, systems-based solutions.

At the beginning of 2024, there were no enhanced training programs, risk assessment tools, or technologies available for Albany Police Department (APD) officers to identify and respond to risks faced by children in the community. The initiative, formally known as the Child At-Risk Evaluation (C.A.R.E.) project, would come to be recognized across Georgia as “Georgia C.A.R.E.: The Albany Model.”

Collaboration became the cornerstone of the project. This system connected APD officers with critical partners, including Lily Pad (a local child advocacy nonprofit), the Dougherty County School System, and the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Together, these stakeholders created a coordinated safety net for children most at risk.

On June 11, 2024, the CARE project officially launched. Officers began receiving specialized training to recognize risk factors linked to child abuse and fatalities. Using standardized assessment tools, they could triage cases and transmit information instantly to partner agencies. This ensured that children were not only identified as at-risk but also connected to resources and protective services in real time.

Within months, the results of the CARE initiative were undeniable. Comparing data from September 1, 2024, through January 31, 2025, to the same period the year before revealed measurable improvements. There was a 26 percent reduction in physical and sexual assaults against children, and a 13 percent reduction in domestic violence cases involving child victims. The project also produced a 52 percent increase in forensic interviews per reported child crime and a 103 percent increase in sexual assault nurse exams per reported child crime. Perhaps most striking was that over 400 school referrals were made for at-risk children, where previously there had been none.

The CARE project underscored several key lessons. Early intervention matters: when officers are trained to identify risks before tragedies occur, children’s lives are saved. Collaboration multiplies impact: law enforcement alone could not solve this issue, but working hand-in-hand with schools, advocacy groups, and social services created a stronger safety net. Data drives change: accurate, real-time information empowered policymakers and practitioners to make informed decisions.

The most profound lesson was that breaking the cycle of victimization has long-term potential to reduce both crime and violence in the community. By intervening early and consistently following up with referrals, the Albany Model showed that law enforcement can play a pivotal role not only in responding to crime but in preventing harm altogether.

The CARE initiative stands as one of the most ambitious and successful child protection interventions led by law enforcement worldwide. Its early outcomes demonstrate that with innovation, collaboration, and commitment, communities can turn the tide against preventable tragedies. As Albany continues to analyze long-term results, the lessons learned will inform not only local practice but also the future of child protection across Georgia and beyond.