The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 requires states to make information available concerning the aggregate number of deaths, serious injuries and substantiated instances of child abuse that occur in child care settings each year. In California, there are two child care provider types for which this data will be reported: licensed child care centers, and licensed family child care programs.

The following information includes the aggregate number of deaths that occurred in different child care settings by calendar year.

Child Care Facility Fatality Data

What does this information mean?

This table shows the annual number of deaths that occurred in licensed child care settings throughout the state.

Our goal is to keep children safe. We have rules in place for these child care settings, regularly inspect them, and provide training and support to help programs and providers understand and meet these rules. However, children are naturally curious explorers and sometimes get hurt, even under ideal conditions. Also, child care providers sometimes make mistakes and unknowingly or knowingly violate the rules, which may result in child injury.

Where does this information come from?

Child care providers are required to report to Community Care Licensing when a child is seriously injured or dies in care, even if it wasn’t the result of a rule violation, and they are required to report to us when a child is abused in child care. We also receive complaints from parents or others regarding children’s safety. Complaints can be reported by emailing letusno@dss.ca.gov or by calling 1-844-LET-US-NO (1-844-538-8766).

What types of child care does this information apply to?

• Licensed child care center: Provides care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and/or school-age children all or part of the day. These facilities may be large or small and can be operated independently by nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, churches, school districts, or other organizations. Licensed by the California Department of Social Services (DSS), Community Care Licensing (CCL).
• Licensed family child care home: Care offered in the home of the provider, often a parent. Small family child care homes have one provider and can accept up to eight children, depending on their ages. Large family child care homes have two adults and can take up to 14 children, depending on their ages. Care is often provided for children of different ages. The homes are licensed by Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing.

What do serious injury, death, and substantiated child abuse in child care mean?

A serious injury is an injury that requires medical attention from a healthcare provider.

Death in child care is the death of a child that occurred while the child was in licensed center, licensed home, or state-certified family, friend, and neighbor care.

Substantiated child abuse includes physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or maltreatment that was investigated and
found to be true.