The Children’s Data Network (CDN): Harnessing the Scientific Potential of Linked, Administrative Data to Inform Children’s Programs and Policies is an open-source and peer-reviewed article appearing in the newest issue of the International Journal of Population Data Science, Work Designed to Influence Policy and Practice. The article and the associated blog summarizes the CDN’s history, approach, accomplishments, and impact over the past eight years. It is our sincere hope that our experience—and lessons learned—can advance and inform work in other fields and jurisdictions. We are incredibly proud to have our work featured in this way and have been humbled by the response it has received. But, more than anything, we are intensely grateful for the partnership, guidance, and support of our data, research, and funding partners that has made this impactful and important work possible.

A USC article, Children’s Data Network research inspires transformative policy for incarcerated girls and young women in LA County, describes how the work from LA Dual System Study informed a recent County Board of Supervisors motion on the decarceration of girls and young women in LA County Probation camps and halls. This work was also reported in an article by Witness LA , which highlighted the study finding that female youth who have contact with probation, especially Black female youth, are especially vulnerable to dual system involvement. The analytic work was generously supported by the Reissa Foundation. The CDN also receives essential infrastructure funding from First 5 LA, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and the Heising-Simons Foundation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of our lives, and California’s most vulnerable children and families are no exception. Fewer reports of child abuse and neglect have been made to the Child Protective Services (CPS) Hotline, but it is unlikely that this is a true indication of a reduction in maltreatment. In fact, child abuse and neglect may be increased due to the effects of the pandemic (potentially related to unemployment, school closures, and changes in service delivery). It seems likely that patterns in the number and types of CPS reports will continue to be affected by the pandemic for quite some time. To better understand current and potential changes in CPS reports we examined pre-pandemic baseline information on CPS reports in California and Los Angeles County (years 2017 -2019). This summary shows the distribution of reports by reporter type (i.e., the individual who reported suspected maltreatment to the Hotline). Data were also disaggregated by race/ethnicity in response to concerns about racial disparities at all levels of CPS involvement.