Child welfare services are intended to prevent the abuse or neglect of children; ensure that children have safe, permanent homes; and promote the well-being of children and their families. As the U.S. Constitution has been interpreted, states bear the primary responsibility for ensuring the welfare of children and their families. At the state level, the…

Children in rural areas face particular risks to their health and well-being. Some risks relate to their demographic characteristics; rural children are more likely to live in poverty than those in urban areas. Some relate to their physical environment; the risks of injury and of death from injury are greater among rural children. Since 2003,…